Teaching with ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World Apps

Joseph Kerski, Esri

What is the ArcGIS Living Atlas?

The ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World is a collection of authoritative, metadata-rich geographic information from around the globe. It includes maps, apps, and data layers.

It is "living" in 2 senses:

(1) The content updates continuously with new resources;

(2) Some of the layers are live feeds: Earthquakes, wildfire perimeters, traffic, streamflow, and more.

What are the ArcGIS Living Atlas apps?

Web mapping applications using selected content from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World on specific themes, topics, and tools.

Advantages of Teaching with ArcGIS Living Atlas apps

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1

The apps point to data that are rich in content.

2

They focus on maps as analytical tools, not just reference documents.

3

They cover topics and themes that are widely taught.

Topics: Ocean chemistry, population, precipitation, natural hazards, and more. Themes: Change over space and time, scale matters, and more.

4

They give you and your students superpowers!

For asking deep questions and for pursuing the "what if" lines of inquiry.

5

They are tied to real locations, real data, and real issues.

6

They offer Level I, II, and III teaching.

Level I: No sign in required; use app. Level II: Bring the data into ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro for further analysis. Level III: Build your OWN apps!

7

These apps show that we are living in the measured world.

8

Teaching with these apps touch on these 5 forces.

Teaching with the Living Atlas apps adheres to these 5 tenets for all those learning with geotechnologies.

(1) Don't stop at the map itself. The mapping tools are engaging but they are tools for a higher, more noble goal: Understanding something in a deeper, richer way, and then - even a higher goal than that -- taking action or recommending action on that particular issue.

(2) Don't get too attached to the tools! The GIS tools evolve and change. Spend most of the time nurturing the most important tool of all--your BRAIN.

Don't get too attached to your tools. Even this treasured computer (anyone know what it is?) is now relegated to being a doorstop (taken in an actual high school by Joseph Kerski)

(3) All 3 legs of geoliteracy matter. Teaching and learning with GIS is never about just gaining GIS skills.

3 legged geoliteracy stool (Kerski).

(4) Be curious! Curiosity leads to >>> Tenacity. Asking Good questions is a key part of the Inquiry Process.

Geographic Inquiry model.

(5) Being able to work with data and be critical of it!

Let's begin our investigation!


Selected Investigations with the ArcGIS Living Atlas Apps: I

1. Investigating land cover change with the Sentinel-2 land cover explorer app.

How is land cover changing in specific locations around the world? Why is land cover changing? Is the rate of change accelerating or decelerating? What are the implications of the change? What is the relationship of land cover to land use?

Esri | Sentinel-2 Land Cover Explorer

2. Investigating change over space and time with the Wayback Imagery Comparisons

What in the natural world or the human built world is changing in specific locations around the world, such as Las Vegas, Eastbourne England, Saudi Arabia, Exit Glacier Alaska, Mt St Helens, the Three Gorges Dam in China, and elsewhere? Why is the Earth changing? Is the rate of change accelerating or decelerating? What are the implications of the change? What has changed in your own neighborhood?

Esri Wayback imagery.

3. Investigating water issues via the Drought Aware app

What is the pattern of drought in the USA that you see? What are the implications of drought? Check back in 1 month: What has changed, and why? What are the economic implications of drought?

Esri Drought Aware app.

4. Investigating global water via the water balance app.

When is the wet season vs the dry season in the Amazon? In Central India? What is the pattern of precipitation where you live? What do the spikes represent in August and September in coastal Texas? What is the relationship between precipitation and the other variables available to you? What is the wettest place you can find? What place in the world can you find where it hasn't rained in months? Years? What vegetation, agriculture, and population do such places support?

Water Balance App


Selected Investigations with the ArcGIS Living Atlas Apps: II

1. Air Quality Aware:

Air Quality Aware

2. Wildfire Aware:

Wildfire Aware

Example: Teaching about the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Texas using the Wildfire Aware App:

3. USGS Historical Topo Maps Explorer

Topo Map Explorer

4. The new Landsat Explorer!

Esri | Landsat Explorer


Additional Resources:

(1) The ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World apps:

(2) The applications prototype lab apps:

Credits

All

from Joseph Kerski and Bern Szukalski from Esri

Don't get too attached to your tools. Even this treasured computer (anyone know what it is?) is now relegated to being a doorstop (taken in an actual high school by Joseph Kerski)

3 legged geoliteracy stool (Kerski).

Geographic Inquiry model.

Let's begin our investigation!

Esri Wayback imagery.

Esri Drought Aware app.