What theWhat theNASA Earth Observing System NASA Earth Observing System

Higher Education AllianceHigher Education AllianceCan Do For YouCan Do For You

Mark AbolinsMark Abolins(mabolins@mtsu.edu),(mabolins@mtsu.edu),Department of Geosciences,Department of Geosciences,Middle Tennessee State UniversityMiddle Tennessee State University

Cutting Edge Teaching with New Tools WorkshopFebruary 11, 2008

OrganizationOrganization

What is the What is the NASA Earth Observing NASA Earth Observing System Higher Education AllianceSystem Higher Education Alliance (“(“GeoBrainGeoBrain”)”)

RequestRequest different kinds of images from different kinds of images from around the globe!around the globe!

CollaborateCollaborate in curriculum development in curriculum development and implementation!and implementation!

ContributeContribute your photos and images your photos and images to our free on-line textbook!to our free on-line textbook!

What is GeoBrain?What is GeoBrain?Slide 1Slide 1

Web-based tools for on-line data delivery Web-based tools for on-line data delivery and image processingand image processing

Headquartered at the George Mason Headquartered at the George Mason University (GMU) Center for Spatial University (GMU) Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems (CSISS)Information Science and Systems (CSISS)

Liping Di, Meixia Deng, and several Liping Di, Meixia Deng, and several additional investigators at GMUadditional investigators at GMU

Nine education partner institutions around Nine education partner institutions around the nationthe nation

The overall project is $1M+ but my part is The overall project is $1M+ but my part is $20K$20K

What is GeoBrain?What is GeoBrain?Slide 2Slide 2

Activities at Middle Tennessee State UniversityActivities at Middle Tennessee State University

REQUESTREQUEST images and maps. On-line and images and maps. On-line and hardcopy delivery of presentation-quality hardcopy delivery of presentation-quality images and maps of any location on Earth.images and maps of any location on Earth.

COLLABORATECOLLABORATE in the development of in the development of geographic information system (GIS) –based geographic information system (GIS) –based curricula specific to curricula specific to YOURYOUR disciplinary and disciplinary and geographic interests.geographic interests.

CONTRIBUTECONTRIBUTE your photos and images to our your photos and images to our image-rich, free, on-line undergraduate image-rich, free, on-line undergraduate textbooktextbook

Physical Regions and FeaturesPhysical Regions and Features of the United Statesof the United States

www.mtsu.edu/~mabolins/geomorph.htmwww.mtsu.edu/~mabolins/geomorph.htm

REQUESTREQUEST images and maps. images and maps.Whats different . . .Whats different . . .

Different kinds of imagesDifferent kinds of images

Presentation-quality cartographic productsPresentation-quality cartographic products• Poster-sized hardcopies for high-impact Poster-sized hardcopies for high-impact

educational useseducational uses

Cloudcover

Urbanareas

Landcover/Seafloorfeatures

Landforms Nightlights(populatedplaces)

Costa Ricafrom space.

(A Blue MarbleNext Generation

image)

Visit http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/to learn more about Blue Marble.

Costa Rica:landforms.

Geology based on mapping compiled by the U.S. Geological Surveyhttp://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/metadata/digital-data/19/metadata.faq.html

COLLABORATECOLLABORATEin curriculum development and in curriculum development and

implementationimplementation

Will develop curricula for Will develop curricula for any level any level of higher educationof higher education

Will develop curricula specific to Will develop curricula specific to your disciplinary and geographic your disciplinary and geographic interestsinterests

Will build curricula around Will build curricula around any any software, web portal, or data software, web portal, or data viewerviewer

CONTRIBUTECONTRIBUTE your photos and imagesyour photos and images to our free on-line textbook! to our free on-line textbook!

Physical Regions and FeaturesPhysical Regions and Features

of the United Statesof the United States

Text by James Henry, Ph.D.Text by James Henry, Ph.D.

Illustrations by Miller Wylie and Mark AbolinsIllustrations by Miller Wylie and Mark Abolins

www.mtsu.edu/~mabolins/geomorph.htmwww.mtsu.edu/~mabolins/geomorph.htm

SummarySummary

Please . . .Please . . .• REQUESTREQUEST imagery for one geographic imagery for one geographic

area (and use it in an educational setting)area (and use it in an educational setting)• CONTRIBUTECONTRIBUTE one photo of an American one photo of an American

landscape or important geologic featureslandscape or important geologic features• COLLABORATECOLLABORATE in curriculum in curriculum

developmentdevelopment

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

NASA Earth Observing System Higher NASA Earth Observing System Higher Education Alliance (Liping Di and Education Alliance (Liping Di and Meixia Deng, George Mason Meixia Deng, George Mason University)University)

Tennessee Space Grant ConsortiumTennessee Space Grant Consortium NSF DUE0431652 to Thomas NSF DUE0431652 to Thomas

Cheatham and co-investigators Cheatham and co-investigators (Middle Tennessee State University)(Middle Tennessee State University)