GeoPad and Field Science GeoPad and Field Science Information TechnologyInformation Technology

Peter A. Knoop and Ben van der PluijmPeter A. Knoop and Ben van der PluijmUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

Department of Geological Sciences and School of InformationDepartment of Geological Sciences and School of Information

GeoPadGeoPad

Field-durable, Windows XP-Field-durable, Windows XP-based, TabletPCbased, TabletPC

Integrated GPSIntegrated GPS GIS softwareGIS software Digital dataDigital data Universities of Michigan, Universities of Michigan,

Illinois, and MinnesotaIllinois, and Minnesota Microsoft, U-Mich LS&A ITMicrosoft, U-Mich LS&A IT

Field-durable Windows XP Field-durable Windows XP TabletPCsTabletPCs

Xplore TechnologiesXplore Technologies WalkaboutWalkabout Others coming Others coming

“soon” (Panasonic)“soon” (Panasonic)

Integrated GPSIntegrated GPS

New Low-Power New Low-Power ChipsetsChipsets

Garmin GPS 15H/LGarmin GPS 15H/L DeLorme Earthmate DeLorme Earthmate

(Bluetooth)(Bluetooth)

GIS SoftwareGIS Software

ESRIESRI ArcView 3.3ArcView 3.3 ArcGIS 8.3ArcGIS 8.3 ArcPad 6.0.2ArcPad 6.0.2

OtherOther

What’s out there now…What’s out there now…

Lots of experimentation by various Lots of experimentation by various groupsgroupsRugged laptopsRugged laptopsRugged tabletsRugged tabletsPDAsPDAsArcView, ArcPadArcView, ArcPad

CampCamp DavisDavis

Jackson Hole, WyomingJackson Hole, WyomingUniversity of Michigan Dept. of Geological Sciences

Camp Davis Course Offerings GS-116 Geology in the Rockies (6 credits)GS-116 Geology in the Rockies (6 credits)

Session 1: June 19Session 1: June 19thth to July 25 to July 25thth

Session 2: July 7Session 2: July 7thth to August 12th to August 12th

GS-341 Studies in Environmental Science (4 credits)GS-341 Studies in Environmental Science (4 credits) June 19June 19thth to July 18 to July 18thth

GS-440 (8 credits) Geology Field CourseGS-440 (8 credits) Geology Field Course June 22June 22ndnd to August 12 to August 12thth

Summer 2003Summer 2003

Focus on mapping Focus on mapping exercises in exercises in GEO441GEO441

Experiments in Experiments in other coursesother courses Thematic datasets Thematic datasets

and real-time and real-time observationsobservations

Remote, Remote, collaborative collaborative visualizationvisualization

Digital DataDigital Data

State-level sources mostly…State-level sources mostly… Need to find each source…Need to find each source… Project packageProject package

7.5” USGS Topo Quad (DRG)7.5” USGS Topo Quad (DRG)Aerial Photos (DOQQ)Aerial Photos (DOQQ)Elevation data (DEM)Elevation data (DEM)

ArcMap – Mapping ExercisesArcMap – Mapping Exercises

ArcMap – Multiple LayersArcMap – Multiple Layers

ArcScene - VisualizationArcScene - Visualization

ArcSceneArcScene

ArcObjects - CustomizationArcObjects - Customization

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) QuickQuick PowerfulPowerful Wealth of examples to build fromWealth of examples to build from

Our CustomizationsOur Customizations

Drastically Simplify ArcGIS InterfacesDrastically Simplify ArcGIS Interfaces Add Geology Drawing Tools:Add Geology Drawing Tools:

Strike-DipStrike-DipOutcrop (point and polygon)Outcrop (point and polygon)Observation PointObservation Point

ArcMap – Geology ToolsArcMap – Geology Tools

GS440 Mapping ProjectsGS440 Mapping Projects

AltaAltaInstructional staff use GeoPadsInstructional staff use GeoPadsIdentify and address last-minute issuesIdentify and address last-minute issues

Snake RiverSnake RiverIntroduce to students Introduce to students

Atlantic CityAtlantic CityIncrease reliance, as BIFs and flat terrain Increase reliance, as BIFs and flat terrain

make compasses unreliablemake compasses unreliable

Other Software and DataOther Software and Data

Windows Journal Windows Journal (“field notebook”)(“field notebook”)

Stereonet Stereonet applicationapplication

Thin-section Thin-section imagesimages

AnaglyphsAnaglyphs

Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations

Transport (body harnesses, arm harness, Transport (body harnesses, arm harness, computer backpacks, shoulder bags, computer backpacks, shoulder bags, screen protectors)screen protectors)

Backups (wireless, USB “thumb” drive)Backups (wireless, USB “thumb” drive) Power (generator)Power (generator) Vehicle Use (power adapters, splitters)Vehicle Use (power adapters, splitters) Evaluation of concept and practice (control Evaluation of concept and practice (control

group)group)

Future directions…Future directions… GeoWallGeoWall

GIS on the GeoWallGIS on the GeoWall See the same thing in both placesSee the same thing in both places

Collaboration (Wireless)Collaboration (Wireless) ““van” lectures (GS-116)van” lectures (GS-116) Group mappingGroup mapping Finding peopleFinding people Remote helpRemote help

Social and Technical ChallengesSocial and Technical Challenges Audio-VideoAudio-Video

Audio notebooksAudio notebooks Digital imagingDigital imaging

Real-time analytical measurements and integration (GS-341 stream Real-time analytical measurements and integration (GS-341 stream hydrology and geochemistry)hydrology and geochemistry)

Stratigraphic columnsStratigraphic columns Real-time access to remote resources (e.g., storage, computation, Real-time access to remote resources (e.g., storage, computation,

knowledge)knowledge) More geology drawing toolsMore geology drawing tools

Stratigraphic columnsStratigraphic columns Cartography in GISCartography in GIS