Use Of Geospatial Tools Research Articles

Geospatial tools and data for health service delivery: opportunities and challenges across the disaster management cycle.

As extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity, the health system faces significant challenges, not only from shifting patterns of climate-sensitive diseases but also from disruptions to healthcare infrastructure, supply chains and the physical systems essential for delivering care. This necessitates the strategic use of geospatial tools to guide the delivery of healthcare services and make evidence-informed priorities, especially in contexts with scarce human and financial resources. In this article, we highlight several published papers that have been used throughout the phases of the disaster management cycle in relation to health service delivery. We complement the findings from these publications with a rapid scoping review to present the body of knowledge for using spatial methods for health service delivery in the context of disasters. The main aim of this article is to demonstrate the benefits and discuss the challenges associated with the use of geospatial methods throughout the disaster management cycle. Our scoping review identified 48 articles employing geospatial techniques in the disaster management cycle. Most of them focused on geospatial tools employed for preparedness, anticipatory action and mitigation, particularly for targeted health service delivery. We note that while geospatial data analytics are effectively deployed throughout the different phases of disaster management, important challenges remain, such as ensuring timely availability of geospatial data during disasters, developing standardized and structured data formats, securing pre-disaster data for disaster preparedness, addressing gaps in health incidence data, reducing underreporting of cases and overcoming limitations in spatial and temporal coverage and granularity. Overall, existing and novel geospatial methods can bridge specific evidence gaps in all phases of the disaster management cycle. Improvement and 'operationalization' of these methods can provide opportunities for more evidence-informed decision making in responding to health crises during climate change.

Tendencias espacio-temporales de precipitación y temperatura, así como cambios en clases climáticas de Köppen-Geiger en la subcuenca del río Sila, México (1956-2015)

According to various national and international institutions, which position Mexico as one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate variability, such as extreme hydrometeorological events and climate change, with intensify some of these events. The research was conducted with the purpose of understanding how temperature and precipitation have behaved over a 60-year period (1956-2015), based on the analysis of monthly data from meteorological stations, using process automation (to structure geospatial data, perform interpolations, and classify climate according to Köppen-Geiger), and the use of geospatial tools, in one of the most important sub-basins as a source of drinking water supply, both for the region and for Mexico City, and one of the main agricultural areas in the State of Mexico. The results of the three analyses conducted in this study demonstrate that, although there have been some changes in precipitation and temperature values, these variations have not implied a change in the current climate type. However, it is not ruled out that this situation may be altered at the watershed level, as other authors assert, mentioning that precipitation is decreasing while temperatures are rising throughout the central region of the country. Therefore, integrated environmental conservation actions within the Sila river sub-basin are necessary to maintain current climatic conditions, thus safeguarding the well-being of future generations.

A remote sensing approach to explore the available water spread for fisheries development in the reservoirs of Godavari River Basin, Telangana, India

Reservoirs have tremendous fisheries potential amongst the inland water resources and aptly referred as ‘sleeping giants’, as the fish yield potential of these resources are yet to be tapped. Existing gaps in the availability of absolute information and data on the inland water resources hinder the applicability and implementation of various fisheries development programmes, which in turn impact inland fisheries production. The present study was carried out in the reservoirs viz., Sri Ram Sagar, Kaddam and Swarna from the Godavari Basin, covering the period 2016-2021, as a case study to demonstrate the use of remote sensed data in fisheries stock enhancement planning. The perennial and seasonal water spread area of the reservoirs under study, estimated through composite water maps prepared using Sentinel 2A data ranged between 8 to 19 and 4 to 29%, respectively. Further, the potential area for enclosure fish culture (both cage and pen culture) in these reservoirs were found to range between 14.89% (Sir Ram Sagar) to 48.54% (Kaddam). The field validated results revealed less than 0.1% of the perennial water spread area mapped in these reservoirs is under use for cage culture. This highlights under-utilisation of these reservoirs and demonstrates scope for developing enclosure fish culture or other culture-based fisheries for enhancing the fish production. The study also demonstrates the use of geospatial tools in development planning for expanding enclosure fish culture in the reservoirs and in turn enhancing fisheries production from the reservoirs in India. Keywords: Composite water maps, Enclosure fish culture, Geospatial tools, Godavari River, NDWI, Reservoir, Sentinel 2A data, Water spread area

Geospatial assessment of 32-year changes in vegetation cover of some mangal-rainforest ecotone in parts of Asarama, Andoni, Rivers State.

The use of geospatial technologies, especially the GIS, has been helpful in monitoring and detecting changing patterns in various vegetation zones. The present study on Asarama study location site was on the basis that land use ecology of anthropogenic and natural influences have constantly led to changes in the vegetation ecotypes with attendant depletion and destruction in the study area. The study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility and use of geospatial tools in assessing these changes within the varying vegetation ecotypes (mangrove, ecotone and rainforest) spanning over 32 years at 16 -year intervals. Results of the 1986 Landsat imagery revealed maximum vegetal trend condition across the vegetation ecotypes that were impacted by anthropogenic activities (farming, logging, deforestation, road/bridge construction and urbanisation) with consequent vegetal cover change, loss and depletion as depicted in 2002 and 2018 Landsat imagery, exemplified in the normalised difference of vegetation index (NDVI) and normalised difference of build-up index (NDBE). The greener parts in the NDVI reflecting a higher value showing a healthy vegetal cover and the blue parts of NDBI with high reflectance values revealed areas of anthropogenic influence alterations. This, by implication, signifies the measure of the vegetation health condition and anthropogenic alteration, respectively.

Indoor Environments and Geographical Information Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

The increasing dissemination of geographic information systems (GIS) in recent years has broadened the availability and use of geospatial tools, mostly to analyze the spatial data of different territories. A territory can be viewed at different analysis scales, and some buildings are as complex as small cities, presenting the opportunity to use GIS to study the dynamics, patterns, and phenomena within a building. This study presents a systematic literature review of the relevant evidence focused on the utilization of GIS in indoor spaces. To this end, we searched in three scientific libraries following the PRISMA statement guidelines. All phases were analyzed independently by two of the authors and agreement between them calculated through the Kappa statistic. In total, 50 studies were included. A qualitative synthesis was performed, considering the assessment of data and heterogeneity of methodologies within the included articles. Subsequently, the studies were categorized into five groups: indoor management, indoor geospatial analysis, indoor positioning, indoor data acquisition, and indoor spatial data models. The results demonstrate that research on the use of GIS in indoor spaces is still emerging, despite its great potential to help and GIS users, data producers, researchers, or policymakers to improve their work, providing scientific evidence for decision support.

Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries

Urban cemeteries are increasingly surrounded by areas of high residential density as urbanization continues world-wide. With increasing rates of mortality caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, urban vertical cemeteries are experiencing interments at an unprecedented rate. Corpses interred in the 3rd to 5th layer of vertical urban cemeteries have the potential to contaminate large adjacent regions. The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the reflectance of altimetry, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) in the urban cemeteries and neighbouring areas of the City of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is assumed that the population residing in the vicinity of these cemeteries may be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 contamination through the displacement of microparticles carried by the wind as a corpse is placed in the burial niche or during the first several days of subsequent fluid and gas release through the process of decomposition. The reflectance analyses were performed utilizing Landsat 8 satellite images applied to altimetry, NDVI and LST, for hypothetical examination of possible displacement, transport and subsequent deposition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results showed that two cemeteries within the city, cemeteries A and B could potentially transport SARS-CoV-2 of nanometric structure to neighboring residential areas through wind action. These two cemeteries are located at high relative altitudes in more densely populated regions of the city. The NDVI, which has been shown to control the proliferation of contaminants, proved to be insufficient in these areas, contributing to high LST values. Based on the results of this study, the formation and implementation of public policies that monitor urban cemeteries is suggested in areas that utilize vertical urban cemeteries in order to reduce the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Use of Geospatial Tools in Morphometric Analysis and Prioritisation of Sub-catchments of the Soungrougrou (Casamance Basin)

Abstract The prioritisation of catchments, particularly in the context of catchment plans and management programmes, is part of water resources development. In fact, morphometric analysis assisted by geospatial technology is carried out by prioritising sub-catchments according to their natural resource availability characteristics. Information on the geomorphology and erosion factors of the study area is used in the area in the preparation of local models of ungauged sub-catchments, which otherwise lack an adequate hydrological database. The objective of this paper is to use geographic information systems (GISs) in morphometric analysis to prioritise sub-catchments of the Soungrougrou (a tributary of the Casamance River). In this respect, the integrated methodology involving morphometric aspects from geospatial technology is used. To carry out the geospatial research, basic mathematical equations used in a GIS environment were used to measure a series of aspects of hydrology such as flow length, flow length ratio, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, drainage texture, flow frequency, elongation rate, circularity ratio, form factor, relief and relief ratio. The results divided the whole catchment into three priority areas, namely high, medium and low. The results are relevant for establishing soil and water conservation plans in the Soungrougrou basin, as well as adequate groundwater production and management. The high category (sub-basins 6, 8, 14, 17 and 18) is subject to maximum soil erosion, which requires immediate intervention to avoid possible natural hazards.

Геокогнитивные методы обеспечения анализа и прогнозирования социально-экономического развития территорий

The issues of using geospatial data, information and knowledge in the processes of analysis and forecasting of socio-economic development of territories are considered. It is proposed to expand the composition of a single complex of means for macroeconomic interregional intersectoral planning due to a more complete consideration of the geospatial features of the studied territory and the transition to a new model of spatial and economic policy based on the widespread use of digital geoplatforms. The article provides information on the importance of geospatial support for planning and management of territories for the sustainable development of their economy and social sphere and information on the support of this industry at the international (UN) and national levels of the most developed countries of the world. The purpose of the research is indicated—the substantiation of the methodology for productive and effective geospatial support for the solutions of analytical and forecasting tasks, which increases the level of taking into account the territorial features of the regions. A new term “geocognitive modeling of the territory” and theoretical and methodological approaches to assessing this process to ensure strategic regional planning are proposed. A number of initial conceptual provisions have been formulated, including: geodata and geoinformation are more in demand at the microlevel of the economy, and geoscience at the macrolevel of the economy. geosciences refer to certain subject-spatial heterogeneities and they can be represented as a special type of spatial objects and processed by means of gIS. A list of indicators of a separate geofragment of the territory for use in strategic planning is given. The proposed method for solving the geospatial problem of assessing the synergetic effect in the interaction of natural resources with the transport system by increasing the connectivity of territories is described. As an example, a model of cognitive indexing of geofragments is proposed and its set-theoretic representation is given. The conclusion is made about the need for a more complete use of geospatial tools in planning the development of regions, which will reduce the risks of making unreasonable managerial decisions and take into account the influence of the human factor.

The use of geospatial tools to study the evolution of TB incidence in North Portugal between 2008-18

Abstract Background Tuberculosis continues to be a significant global health problem. Portugal isn't an exception to this health problem, being considered by the ECDC a high incidence country. According to the SDG target 3.3, the world must end the epidemics of tuberculosis by 2030. However, several parishes in Portugal continue to observe extremely high values of TB, taking into account the WHO goal for pre-elimination of 10 TB cases per million people. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with data from the Surveillance System of the National Program against Tuberculosis. Descriptive and regression analyses were carried out using R 3.6.1 and Rstudio 1.2.5033. The geospatial analysis was carried out with ArcMap 10.7.1 using a five-year average of TB incidence. Animations and videos were made with Microsoft Office365 PowerPoint v2002. Results In the period 2008-2012, 55,7% of parishes had registered cases of tuberculosis. That value decreased to 50,6% parishes in the period 2014-2018. For the period of 2014-18, 30,3% of parishes had a five-year average incidence above 20/100.000 people (value defined as high-incidence by the ECDC) and 45,0% parishes an incidence above 10/100.000 people. With ArcMap HotSpot analysis was possible to observe the existence of a significant cluster of TB in the southwest of North Portugal. With animation analysis, it was also possible to see the global spatial reduction of TB cases between 2008 and 2018, and the ongoing problem of a high incidence of TB in specific regions of North Portugal. Conclusions TB continues to be a significant health problem in North Portugal. The spatial analysis pointed to a specific area of North Portugal that needs priority action. Videos produced by the Department of Public Health may guide health professionals and policymakers for future strategies to be implemented to reach SDG3. Key messages The importance of desegregated spatial data for TB elimination. The elimination efforts must be scaled up in specific areas to achieve SDG3.

Understanding needs and barriers to using geospatial tools for public health policymaking in China.

Despite growing popularity of using geographical information systems and geospatial tools in public health fields, these tools are only rarely implemented in health policy management in China. This study examines the barriers that could prevent policy-makers from applying such tools to actual managerial processes related to public health problems that could be assisted by such approaches, e.g. evidence-based policy-making. A questionnaire-based survey of 127 health-related experts and other stakeholders in China revealed that there is a consensus on the needs and demands for the use of geospatial tools, which shows that there is a more unified opinion on the matter than so far reported. Respondents pointed to lack of communication and collaboration among stakeholders as the most significant barrier to the implementation of geospatial tools. Comparison of survey results to those emanating from a similar study in Bangladesh revealed different priorities concerning the use of geospatial tools between the two countries. In addition, the follow-up in-depth interviews highlighted the political culture specific to China as a critical barrier to adopting new tools in policy development. Other barriers included concerns over the limited awareness of the availability of advanced geospatial tools. Taken together, these findings can facilitate a better understanding among policy-makers and practitioners of the challenges and opportunities for widespread adoption and implementation of a geospatial approach to public health policy-making in China.

Geo-epidemiologic mapping in the new public health surveillance. The malaria case in Chiapas, Mexico, 2002.

The new public health surveillance requires at the global, national and local levels the use of new authoritative analytical approaches and tools for better recognition of the epidemiologic characteristics of the priority health events and risk factors affecting the population health. The identification of the events in time and space is of fundamental importance so that the geo-spatial description of the situation of diseases and health events facilitates the identification of social, environmental and health care related risks. This assessment examines the application and use of geo-spatial tools for identifying relevant spatial and epidemiological conglomerates of malaria in Chiapas, Mexico. The study design was ecological and the level of aggregation of the collected information of the epidemiological and spatial variables was municipalities. The data were collected in all municipalities of the state of Chiapas, Mexico during the years 2000-2002. The main outcome variable was cases and types of malaria diagnosed by blood smears in weekly reports. Independent variables were age, sex, ethnicity, literacy of the cases of malaria and environmental factors such as altitude, road type and network in the municipalities and cities of Chiapas. The production of thematic maps and the application of geo-spatial analytical tools such Moran and local indicator of spatial autocorrelation metrics for malaria clustering allowed the visualization and recognition that the important population risk factors associated with high malaria incidence in Chiapas were low literacy rate, areas with high percentage of indigenous population that reflects the social inequalities gaps in health and the great burden of disease that is affecting this important vulnerable group in Chiapas. The presence of road networks allowed greater spatial diffusion of Malaria. An important epidemiological and spatial cluster of malaria was identified in the areas and populations in the proximity of the southern border. The use of geospatial metrics in local areas will assist in the epidemiological stratification of malaria for better targeting more effective and equitable prevention and control interventions.

Using GIS to Select Ideal Sites for Municipal Wastes Transfer Station: Case Study of Embu Municipality

In Kenya, many local authorities face uphill challenges in dealing with wastes especially volume reduction and proper disposal. There is minimal solid waste segregation and recycling further compounding the problem of open dumping. The study’s objective was to identify suitable areas to consider for the construction of a multi-purpose waste transfer and recovery facility within Embu municipality. There was also a need to popularize waste bulking and improve on ways of compiling waste data which was lacking in their municipal waste management system. The study used a mixed approach design encompassing ground surveys, interviews, questionnaires, data modeling and Analysis. In this case study, Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to evaluate Population, land use and proximity to waste receptacles as impact factors influencing waste management in this town. GIS-based analysis identified Kangaru, Blue valley, Majengo and Itabua Wards as suitable areas for the construction of waste transfer station. The identified regions contained a total area of 0.15km2 of suitable sites from the initial 0.40km2 identified as Preliminary sites. These wards had motor able roads, with agricultural land use and were within the town suburbs. GIS provided appropriate tools for compilation, analysis and management of information related to generation, collection and disposal of Municipal Wastes. The study recommends the adoption of an integrated waste management approach where public views and the use of geospatial tools are incorporated in all aspects of municipal waste management.

Emerging Use of Spatial Technologies in Natural Resource Management Services

Spatial technology is a vital technology and opens up new opportunities for sustainable use of natural resources, principally land, water, bio-diversity and helps in increasing productivity in perpetuity without ecological harm. Now a day's spatial technology became an important tool for sustainable agriculture that includes environmentally sustainable, socially sustainable and economically viable. Satellite based imagery are used widely in monitoring agriculture, radar imagery are used during monsoon season. Integrated use of geospatial tools with crop models and ground truthing enables timely crop production forecasts and drought assessment and disaster management. Analysis of spatial, temporal and spectral characteristics of concern objects provide valuable information about the biomass and yield estimation, irrigation infrastructure monitoring & performance assessment, reservoir capacity &loss assessment, vegetation vigor, drought stress monitoring, assessment of crop phenological development, crop acreage estimation, cropland mapping, land-use/land-cover (present and past), and also addressing five natural disasters viz., forest fire, flood, earthquake, cyclone, and landslide. Geographical Information System with decision support tools enable combined analysis of different datasets, their visualization, monitoring and management in a timely and most cost-effective manner.

Use of Geospatial Tools to Prioritize Zones of Hydro-Energy Potential in Glaciated Himalayan Terrain

Sustainable development of the Himalayan region is directly linked to optimal utilization of available renewable resources. There is a need to first select the zones suitable for hydropower sites, and then to focus on them only; as purely field-based surveying of rugged mountainous regions for hydropower generation requires too much of time and effort. We used geospatial tools to identify suitable sites for hydropower generation. A Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tool called Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) was used for computing annual runoff volume using watershed-wise topography and biophysical variables. The zones suitable for hydropower generation were then identified based on calculated hydropower energy using derived runoff volumes and hydraulic head. The model accuracy was checked using well established efficiency criteria: coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.98), RMSE-observations standard deviation ratio (RSR), Percent bias (PBIAS) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). For all these parameters, the model was found to be performing satisfactorily.

Application of geospatial tools for landslide hazard assessment for Uganda

The need to predict possible occurrence of landslides is increasingly becoming a concern of governments and humanitarian bodies in developing countries. The occurrence of landslides and other related disasters in Uganda requires a shift from the current disaster management approach where interventions come into play following the disaster, towards a better approach where mitigation measures are planned before the disaster. In Uganda, studies that utilize spatial technologies to develop tools to support landslide disaster prediction have been limited by the problem of spatial data suitability and availability. This paper explores the suitability of the available spatial datasets as inputs into GIS-based landslide risk assessment in Uganda. The datasets used in this study included digital elevation model, soils, precipitation, vegetation cover and population. The relative importance of datasets was established by a combination of literature review, expert opinion and pair wise comparison technique. Through GIS tools, a prediction map was generated that showed risk levels of various areas in Uganda. The results from GIS analysis showed that the areas of highest risk included mountain slopes associated with high rainfall and clayey soils. The predicted high risk areas coincided with areas where landslides have recently occurred. On the basis of this, it was concluded that the current spatial datasets in Uganda, combined with data in the public domain could still be useful in providing reasonable predictions about landslides at a national level. The results of this research demonstrate the need to incorporate the use of geospatial tools in Uganda’s disaster management strategies.

Combating infectious diseases in the Pacific Islands: sentinel surveillance, environmental health, and geospatial tools

Infectious diseases are responsible for significant disease burden in the Pacific Islands. Environmental drivers of disease transmission and public health challenges vary between diseases, at times of emergence versus outbreaks, and also during the last stages of elimination where prevalence is low. In order to more effectively combat infectious diseases in the region, innovative approaches such as sentinel surveillance, environmental monitoring, the use of geospatial tools should be explored.

Mapping and modelling neglected tropical diseases and poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean

The prospects and opportunities for application of risk mapping and modelling of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Latin America are examined with the aim to broaden the interest in geospatial research there. Special reference is made to the potential use of geospatial tools in health planning and implementation of national disease control programmes.

A One-Health integrated approach to control fascioliasis in the Cajamarca valley of Peru

Fasciola hepatica infection is reported from many Latin American countries, with very high prevalence rates in both humans and livestock in the Andean countries. Due to its environmental characteristics, particularly suitable for liver fluke infection, the Cajamarca valley of Peru has often been chosen as a model to study the epidemiology of liver fluke infection in the Andes. In this paper we describe the profile of a project aimed at a multidisciplinary and integrated approach for the control of fascioliasis in animals and humans in this valley. The One-Health integrated approach applied here is based on accurate and sensitive diagnostics, namely the FLOTAC, and the use of geospatial tools for epidemiological scrutiny.

Building on Lessons Learned from Landscape-Level Integrated Assessment to Inform Key Elements in ILM

Integrated landscape management (ILM) is gaining increasing attention among Canadian practitioners for its capabilities to address environmental, social and economic goals simultaneously, while promoting sustainable development. ILM is relatively new in the family of integrated assessment (IA) approaches. This paper focuses on the lessons learned from the longer history of IA and its spatially explicit applications to inform current applications of ILM in Canada. We specifically focus on the role of spatially explicit information in addressing critical issues already flagged by ILM practitioners. In particular, we focus on challenges in defining roles and benefits of participation, linking environmental and social issues in integrated models and, testing and presenting uncertainties in the integrated models. We illustrate how some of these challenges were addressed using case studies from Canada, the United States and Europe. The experiences from these studies show that using GIS and other geospatial information tools can be effectively integrated into IA to enhance the relevance of IA for decision-making and to assist with participatory engagement activities by introducing new ways to explore and present choices and options to practitioners. The use of geospatial tools also enable integrated modelling to occur at spatially disaggregated levels, which increases the context under which external influences may be considered. Despite these benefits, current applications of these tools tend to be limited to technical representation of system conditions and the visualization of biophysical processes. A deficiency of socio-economic indicators and change information, including policy and management actions and impacts, means that outcomes from these tools currently have limited relevance for policy-makers.

Fostering 21st Century Learning with Geospatial Technologies

Middle grades students learn content through adventures. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2006) calls for a new sort of learning than has traditionally been taught in school: to solve problems in real time, to access information, to work collaboratively, to be creative, to use media to communicate effectively, and to take learning beyond the walls of the classroom. How can educators engage middle grades students in these kinds of 21st century learning experiences? The use of global positioning systems (GPS) receivers in the classroom offers one option. The use of and other handheld digital devices has become common in our society (Bestwick & Campbell, 2010). Anyone who has recently ridden in a bus, a taxi or (for many) a private car has experienced the navigational power of GPS-with satellites in the sky above, maps on the receiver screen below, and possibly a pleasant voice telling the driver where to go. I have taken dozens of middle school classes on GPS adventures in their communities and have worked with many teachers and their students to support them in the use of geospatial tools, including GPS, in their instruction. I have found many teachers are initially hesitant and fearful of geospatial technology, but they are more than willing to give it a try once they see how excited and involved their students become. Soon they, too, get hooked and gain nicknames like geo at their schools. In this article, I share some of the many ideas developed by these teachers and me as we have taken this adventure together, with the hope that you will embark on your own educational journey with GPS. The power of geospatial technology Teachers know that young adolescents want to be a part of what is really happening in the world. A truly responsive middle grades curriculum meets the needs of its students and provides varied teaching and learning approaches that are challenging, integrative, and exploratory (National Middle School Association, 2010). Geospatial tools, including GPS, expand the scope of topics that students can explore, promote interdisciplinary learning, and change the way students learn to reason about and interpret data (Audet & Abegg, 1996). A first step for a teacher beginning to use geospatial tools might be to use online mapping, such as virtual globes (e.g., Google Earth, Virtual 3D Earth, WorldWind). These online tools have made a significant amount of geospatial data readily available and free through the Internet. Google Earth, the most popular of these visualization tools, features learning resources that are accessible through the software on the Google Earth Community website (http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/) and through the sharing of Google Earth files among users by employing Keyhole Markup Language (kml) or zipped kml (kmz) files. The technological capacity of the virtual globe software continues to increase rapidly, and many things are possible today that were not possible just two years ago. Any teacher with access to the Internet can use these geospatial tools. Using latitude and longitude or a physical address, teachers can digitally view their schools or their students' homes. Anyone familiar with receivers and digital photography can create geospatial stories, such as a Google Earth tour of one's school using a kml or kmz file. Using receivers in the classroom Teachers who are ready for a change of pace can instruct their students to use receivers to create and analyze their own data and share their findings with others. Middle grades students enjoy opportunities to use the environment around them as a context for instruction (Broda & Baxter, 2003), so teachers may help increase student achievement by going beyond the classroom walls (Lieberman & Hoody, 1998). The first step is to get students familiar with terminology and teach them how the handheld receiver works. If the number of receivers is limited, teachers should divide the students into small groups so that they can share receivers. …