Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Watershed Visualizations – trials and tribulations
creating a DVD for middle/high school
students and classrooms
Jim WashburneSAHRA, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
w/ Melissa Higgins, John Madden, Tim Seqin
This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Award GEO-0507710.
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Objectives
A DVD & web site that:
• Targets MS/HS students and teachers,
• Illustrates what watersheds are and why they are important,
• Captures student’s attention and improves their conceptual understanding of watersheds and basic hydrologic principles.
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
1950’s era water education
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
21st Century Visualization
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
What we know about spatial reasoning … and maps
• Generally - a poorly developed skill,
• More engaging if well known area or familiar (home)
• Oblique (airplane) view closer to most people’s prior experience vs. nadir view
• Map view requires prior experience with symbology
• Contours hard to interpret
• Colors/shading can help but …
• Artificial band combinations can be confusing
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Concept vs. Reality
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Watershed Processes:Enduring Understandings
1. Definition & representation (maps & scale)
2. Basics: WS components and processes
3. Change: WS’s change over time (natural, anthropogenic)
4. Function: WS’s are complex systems
5. Management: WS management is complex
6. Issues: familiarity with SW watershed issues
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Main Menu Discover a Watershed
Form Formation
Function Issues
History
Overview3D Flythrough
What is a Watershed? Tim’s Animation
Defining watershed boundaries
HydrologicWhere does the waterin a WS come from?
GeologicHow do WS’s form?
GroundwaterHow does recharge occur?
Surface WaterHow do you measure
streamflow?
Landcover ChangeHow does it effect the WS?
PollutionHow do streams become polluted?
Fire
Urbanization
Hohokam
Types of recharge
Effects of pumping
Hydrograph
Bed Load
Trappers Miners
Natural
Anthropogenic
Tectonics
ErosionPrecipitation
Concentration
Water Cycle
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Challenges
“Speculation. Water Monopoly. Land Monopoly. Erosion. Corruption.
Catastrophe” Cadillac Desert, Marc Reisner
Starting. Turnover. Clouds. Software. Compression. Slow Progress.
Watershed Visualizations
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
SoftwareMaya
Autodesk
workflow
AfterEffectsAdobe
PremierProAdobe
AudacityAudacity
3DstudioAutodesk
ArcGISESRI
PhotoshopAdobe
FlashMacromedia
DVDStudioProAppleFinalCutPro
Apple
GoogleEarthGoogle
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Workflow
Concept Storyboard TextArtistic
Interpretation
Key frames Rendering Narration Sequencing AV timing
Labeling/Credits Movie
Outline
DVD Supplements Pilot test
review
review
review
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Storyboard – water cycle
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Watershed Fly-throughGoal: introduction of WS in 3-D perspective before 2-D map
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Watersheds
techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/whatiswatershed.htm
Goal: Definition & representation (maps & scale)
Misconception: WS is area nearest river• Multi-format – video
& animation
• Range of scales – simple maps
• Provides perspective
• Where the water goes
• Bias in representative figure
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Water Cycle
Misconception: Most important parts of water cycle are visible – rain & runoff
Goal: tap into prior knowledge • Coastal and Eastern bias
• Cyclic view vs. simultaneous view
• Representation of reservoirs and fluxes
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
4
Precipitation
• Cloud rendering & animation
• Rain streaks & rate
• Surface shading
• Cloud movement
• Multiple cloud decks
• Real videos
Misconception: Rainfall is uniform
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
4
Orographic precipitation• How to display topo. &
precipitation
• How to animate annual avg. rainfall
• Even monthly/weekly images are averages
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Recharge
techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module06/TheWaterTable.htm
Misconception: Groundwater and Surface water are not connected
• In progress …
• Balance betw. realism and conceptual process
• Next step is to illustrate aquifers at a larger scale
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Chandler balks at
using reclaimed water
South Arizona tribe settles water-rights dispute
High court issues
consolidation decree
for Colorado River
WS management is complex
• Complex Human System
– Culture
– Laws
– Economics
– Politics
– Science
– Values
• Familiarity with local water issues
When Phoenix, Tucson
merge
Experts see peril in
reduced monitoring of
Nations streams and
rivers
Watershed Visualizations, Feb. 2008
Current Status
• Working on Module 4 – infiltration & recharge
• Developing supplemental classroom activities
• Developing web site– www.sahra.arizona.edu/education
• Pilot Testing
• Collaborations– Huth & Hall
– GIS case histories &data analysis