The purpose of this site is to list and link to geospatial resources (GPS or global positions system, GIS or geographical information system, and remote sensing)  that will enhance your 4-H Geospatial program. Check here for upcoming events and opportunities, including announcements of grants, conferences, training, and national and regional groups.   We will link to online activities and resources that will support and supplement the 4-H Geospatial curriculum, and provide ideas for geospatial camps and events. We encourage you to share your 4-H program experiences, press releases, and accomplishments!

 

What Is GIS?

GIS is a computer program for storing, retrieving, analyzing, and displaying data. It combines two kinds of information or databases:

• Geographically referenced information: latitude & longitude coordinates, spatial or location information, "where things are".
• Attributes: characteristics or qualities of that place, "what things are like". Examples of attribute data could be census information (e.g., population, housing), natural resources (e.g., trees, soil types), infrastructure (e.g., buildings, roads) or events (e.g., # of accidents).

When the geographic and attribute information are layered or put together, GIS creates a map to show you what the place is like: where accidents occur in your community, where teenagers live in your state, etc.

What layers of information you combine depends on your purpose — you need different information to find the best location for a new soccer field than you do to analyze the environmental damage from a tornado. You may use existing data (e.g., census), or create your own (e.g., walk around your neighborhood and use GPS to record the location of every oak tree). The information is computerized (scan, keyboard entry) and stored until you request that it be mapped in the way you define.

What is GPS?

GPS is a navigational system that can accurately locate your position anytime, anywhere, and regardless of weather on Earth. Developed by the United States Department of Defense, it uses 24 satellites orbiting the earth at altitudes of approximately 11,000 miles to transmit data.

The handheld GPS receiver processes data from several satellites to "triangulate" the receiver's exact location, using latitude and longitude. Uncorrected positions determined from GPS satellite signals produce accuracies in the range of 50 to 100 meters. When using a technique called "differential correction", users can get positions accurate to within 5 meters or less.

GPS has a number of important applications such as search and rescue missions, helping pilots avoid collisions, and accurate application of farm fertilizers and other chemicals. Recreational uses include a navigational tool for orienteering, hiking, hot air ballooning, boating and many other activities. GPS provides any point on earth with a unique address (its precise location).

An important 4-H use of the GPS receiver is to identify or mark the precise location of things or events in their community that are important for your project or program, and then enter location information (e.g., of pine tree, car accident that resulted in 3 deaths, where nitrogen in the stream exceeds a certain level, etc.).

GPS tells us where while GIS tells us what. Together, they help us locate, organize, and map our communities.

4-H Programs and Opportunities to Work with GIS & GPS

Community Mapping Project Criteria for State or County Fair

As Community Mapping projects have become more popular, we want to encourage inclusion of mapping projects in our state and county fairs and events. But how should we judge or determine whether the youth are effectively using GIS technologies, methods, and the resulting maps in their analysis? What evidence are we looking for as far as basic levels? How do we separate the projects that are beautiful to behold but the youth aren’t using a spatial perspective to address the issue at hand, from the projects that do? See the attached file for the criteria adopted by the 2006 National 4-H GIS-GPS Leadership Team: http://www.cyfernet.org/gisgps/GISmapCriteria07.pdf

4-H Alert, Evacuate and Shelter (AES)

The Alert, Evacuate and Shelter Project is a 4-H Community Readiness Network training, teaching teams how to use geospatial technology, develop partnerships, build emergency teams nationwide and how to keep citizens and communities safe. For more information, see their website at http://crn4h.org.