Some people seem to have a built-in GPS, while others find themselves getting lost time and again. Research shows that many directional cues are in our genes.
Three new GPS satellites are being launched to provide better locational support for troops in Afghanistan. The current constellation of satellites does not provide suitable coverage for troops in the rugged landscape of that area.
There is a collection of new (2009) U.S. farm land data layers available from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. “The images, referred to as cropland data layers (CDL), are a useful tool for monitoring crop rotation patterns, land use changes, water resources and carbon emissions. These crop-specific, digital data layers are suitable for use in geographic information systems (GIS) applications. They can be used by agribusinesses, farmers, government agencies, researchers and academic institutions to study pesticide risk, epidemiology, transportation, fertilizer usage, carbon dioxide flux and other topics.” Quoted from the USDA news release.
Wolves are beneficial to their environment, and could be added to some U.S. parks, says a report published in BioScience. The wolves thin deer and elk herds, which leads to flourishing plants; they are also good for attracting tourists.
The Air Force operates the constellation of GPS satellites that supply data for military and civilian purposes. Over the next few months they will adjust the position of these satellites to improve the coverage over Afghanistan.
A home builder was having problems with thieves breaking into his unfinished homes and stealing the appliances. He hid a GPS transmitter in an oven… and it led police right to the suspected thief’s home!
This article tells about a couple who followed the “shortest” route recommendation of their GPS and got stuck in the snow for three days in a remote area.
GPS is a great tool for people who already know how to read a map. If you are not very good at reading a map, or follow the device blindly, your risks are about the same as not paying close attention to a paper map.
The GeoCorps Positions for 2010 have been posted. Applications for the 65 positions must be submitted by February 1, 2010. These are paid short-term positions with agencies such as the National Park Service, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
Positions include: cave resource technician, coastal geology assistant, education specialist, environmental geologist, fluvial geomorphologist, field paleontologist, GIS technician, hydrogeologist, interpretive geologist, karst technician, oil and gas monitor, video and web content developer, soil scientist and more.
Faculty at Michigan State University have been creating a new type of robot to study water conditions: mechanical fish. The fish will be able to measure things like water temperature, oxygen levels, contaminants, and more.
What landmarks can be used when traveling in space? The GPS reference satellite constellation uses a map of quasars to determine their location. That same map can guide spacecraft and be used to aim telescopes.
Google Earth can become a powerful tool for people and organizations that are striving to help the environment. Google has applauded their efforts by featuring some of their work in a collection of videos.
Researchers have discovered a way to use data transmitted by remotely-located GPS equipment to estimate the thickness of snowpack. This type of information is especially valuable in mountain areas where snow melt is used as a source of water supply or where it can be a cause of flooding. The next question is an estimate of the water content of that snow.
Two MIT students got a cell phone with camera and GPS up to over 90,000 feet at a cost of about $150. Their work acquired some interesting images of the Boston area and a shot of Earth’s curvature.
If you use a GPS in your car you probably have encountered the frustration of inaccurate maps. For the past few years most GPS makers have offered updated maps that you can download from the web and load into your GPS via a USB cable. The problem: these map updates were expensive and were out-of-date by the time you load them – or they had errors that would be fixed in the next edition. Garmin finally has a good idea and is offering “lifetime downloads” for a price that is just a little over the cost of a single map update. Now you can download updated maps for as long as the GPS is in your possession and working.
Protect your important field notes by writing them in a waterproof notebook with waterproof ink. You work hard to collect important field data, don’t take chances with it. Available in spiral and cloth-bound formats.
Here is a website where you can view and print as many USGS topographic maps as you want for free. You can also switch back and forth between Google Maps and Google satellite images.
In Tasmania, GPS will serve a new purpose: helping drivers to avoid a collision with wildlife. The GPS unit can be programmed to notify drivers when they are approaching areas where animals are most frequently hit.
The new technology of “location-based services”, which provides a cell phone’s GPS information to marketing companies and advertisers, will be available soon. This feature, which is to be optional, will offer people discounts on products or services specific to their current location.
Researchers at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry have obtained a GPS tracklog of a Coyote’s wanderings over an 8 month period. This is the first time a coyote has been tracked with this level of detail.
On February 15 a fireball streaked across the Texas sky producing sonic booms and commanding the attention of millions. Geoffrey Notkin, professional meteorite hunter went straight to the field and after several days of searching came home with a number of meteorites. His article shares several interesting photos and stories from the field.
Google reports that over one million people signed up for their free Google Latitude service during the first week that it was available. Latitude is a mobile phone application that allows you to see the location of your friends, and share your location on a Google Map that can be accessed on a mobile phone or personal computer.
A new service has been introduced for Google Maps: Google Latitude. Users can opt to see each others’ locations on their mobile phone or computer screen.
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