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Global news with a spatial perspective: Interesting, current supplemental materials for geography students and teachers. http://geographyeducation.org
Curated by
Seth Dixon
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Suggested by Top 10 Lists onto Geography Education |
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Get the inside edge on the stories that connect Americans to the world -- in your ear every week.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This video explains why geography teachers should be interested in Latitude News given it's desire to show how global stories have regional impacts. They often have interesting perspectives on global stories that makes the geographic linkages explicit. They are currently raising funds to expand their reach. Delete the scoop?
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West Virginia aims to put its residents on the map
Seth Dixon's insight:
While this article does occasionally play off of the country bumpkin stereotypes we've all heard about West Virginians, there are some important concepts lying under the surface in the article. All places have a location (both absolute and relative), but not one that is easily discernible to an outsider unfamiliar with the area. Many emergency responders rely on geocoded addresses and GPS systems to location those in need, and the state of West Virginia is trying to ensure that even the most rural of residents is on the grid. Many location-based technologies lose their value as soon as you leave a named road, so these systematic campaign will strengthen the push for modernization and digital systems. How will this change the cultural landscape?
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Wal-Mart de Mexico was an aggressive and creative corrupter, offering large payoffs to get what the law otherwise prohibited, an examination by The New York Times found.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Wal-Mart officials worked hard to ensure that zoning regulations were changed so that they could bring a store to a coveted location. They built a Wal-Mart in the shadows of arguably Mexico's most important world heritage site--the pyramids of Teotihuacán. This investigative report uncovers the illegal steps that Wal-Mart took to force through their agenda. Questions to Ponder: Why would Wal-Mart be so keen on this particular location? Why would some in Mexico oppose this project so fiercely? Would Wal-Mart behave in such a manner in the United States? 
Sam Capron's curator insight,
February 13, 10:35 PM
I knew that Wal-Mart was rather devious in its uses of force, using both bribery and elbow rubbing to get exactly what they want. That being said the extent of the misdoings in Mexico was shocking. In my opinion Wal-Mart is ruining a national landmark and a great tourist attraction. The question I ask myself is, is there any chance that Egypt would ever allow a Wal-Mart to be built next to their Great Pyramids? Delete the scoop?
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Although these were designed specifically for GIS day during Geography Awareness Week, these 2 excellent map-based treasure hunts from ESRI are great any time of year. The answer to the question will only pop up in you are zoomed in the the right region (SHIFT + Make a box = Zoom to area). These links will take you to the World Cities quiz and also to the Mountains quiz. Delete the scoop?
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Learn about the high-tech treasure hunting game being played around the world by adventure seekers! Learn more at http://www.geocaching.com Subscribe to this... Geocaching is great way to get people outdoors, use geospatial technologies and have fun with the whole family. Tags: GPS, edtech, geospatial, technology, location. Delete the scoop?
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Find the latitude and longitude of a point using Google Maps. Simple, straightforward and easy to use. All you do is point and click on the map to get latitude and longitude in both decimal degrees and DMS (degrees, minutes and seconds). You can also quickly enter coordinates in either format an have the location displayed on the map. Delete the scoop?
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The most successful investors in restaurants consider how a style fits an area and track who their customers are, said Hudson Riehle of the National Restaurant Association.
A successful business model for restaurants is about much more than quality food at an affordable price. Ask your students: what geographic factors are important in starting a restaurant? What variables might make an otherwise attractive location less appealing? What would ensure a return on your investment? 
Roland Trudeau Jr.'s comment,
July 6, 2012 8:42 PM
It's always important to consider an investment, especially one as great as a restaurant. Like Mr. Ruban said "be prepared to lose the money". You can't possibly foresee all the problems that will occur, but one of the best ways to increase profit is to pay attention to your demographic. Cater to the audience you wish to bring in, and do so in the right area, that will greatly increase your chances of success.
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The neighborhoods in which children and adolescents live and spend their time play a role in whether or not they eat a healthy diet, get enough exercise or become obese, concludes a collection of studies in a special theme issue of the American...
Spatial analysis shows that numerous disciplines can utilize the 'geographic advantage' to improve research. Delete the scoop?
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Google maps brings the world to your desktop - well, most of it, anyway. Here are 10 locations that governments and other entities have blurred or removed from satellite photos.
A user of geospatial technologies is not free to explore all places of the Earth with equal levels of specificity. Why? Where? How come?
Roland Trudeau Jr.'s comment,
July 6, 2012 7:41 PM
I must say I'm fairly surprised there were not more then 10, unless that is just the number chosen for this article.
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This is an incredible combination of geospatial technologies to create a masterful Geography Education resource. This quiz has the advantages of being able to pan and zoom, while at the same maintains the benefits of a static presentation (the instructions, and question prompts stay in the same size and in the same location on the screen). For a static version of the same quiz (if you don't have internet available where you are presenting) see: http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/presentation.html?webmap=f95d562571d740a6840254ee53ae3024  Delete the scoop?
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The South Bay Power Plant was imploded Saturday Feb 2, 2013
Seth Dixon's insight:
This powerplant was demolished primarily because of location (watch the cool videos of the implosion). The electrical powerplant provided energy for the region, but it's location right on the San Diego Bay doesn't line up with current land uses. When the area's economy was focused more on manufacturing, this was seen an ideal way to use the wetlands on the bay. Today our city planning priorites has shifted. First, how we view wetlands has changed and we no longer see them as "wasted" space. Second, an attractive waterfront that can be used to generate tourism is seen as a greater economic priority today than it was 50 years ago.
Tags: location, planning, economic, space, industry, California. Delete the scoop?
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The idea of flash mobs has spread quickly, diffusing at a time when online video sharing can immortalize the moment in time and social media can amplify the audience beyond just one place.
Seth Dixon's insight:
I LOVE this particular flashmob (as a bonus, 'read' the cultural landscape to try to identify where this took place). While there are many types of successful flash mobs, all share one characteristic: place matters. The place where a flash mob performs is not simply a stage; place is a crucial part of the meaning of the flash mob. An incredibly prominent place with open spaces and many sight lines is a prime location for a flash mob. Beyond these tangible characteristics, if a site has some importance cultural significance, those qualities can be meshed with the meanings of the flash mob. For more of my musings on flashmobs (and extra clips) you can continue reading here: http://geographyeducation.org/whats-new/articles/place-and-flash-mobs/ Tags: place, space, diffusion, popular culture. Delete the scoop?
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Seth Dixon's insight:
During the holiday season, online sales shoot up as distant relatives seek to ship gifts in time for Christmas. Some have noted that online shoppers can stay at home and completely render the tradition physical storefront redundant. Online shoppers, whether they think about it or not, hoping that the physical logistics behind the scenes will work efficiently and quickly. This collection of images is a reminder that while it might appear that geography and location are eliminated with online communications, these virtual interactions in cyberspace are dependent on actual physical locations. Tags: location, economic, space, industry, technology. 
Jim Lerman's curator insight,
December 17, 2012 10:24 PM
Must be a mighty difficult place to work in. Delete the scoop?
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THERE WAS SOMETHING odd about the black car at the junction of Sutter and Hyde Streets. It was an ordinary saloon. Its windows were clear, and it looked in good... Technologies today have allowed us to be digitally connected from anywhere. This impacts geographic patterns from outsourcing to local businesses that rely on interpersonal communications to connect potential demand with resources. Some may see this as geography becoming less of a barrier, and consequently, less relevant. This article in the Economist argues that as these technologies have rendered location more important than ever since they rely on geospatial technologies. "The reports of the death of distance have been much exaggerated." Tags: technology, globalization, location, place. Delete the scoop?
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This is a brief introduction to what geographic information systems are. This is not a tutorial on how to use it, but a conceptual overview on the potential uses and applications for GIS. Tags: GIS, video, Unit 1 GeoPrinciples, geospatial, mapping and location. Delete the scoop?
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According to a new survey from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, three-quarters of U.S.
Smartphones have built-in location features with a host of apps that can be added. However, 1 in 4 smartphone users do not use these features at all. Age, ethnicity, education and gender (or more simply, demographic factors) play a major role. Which groups would you imagine use geo-location features more or less? Why? Delete the scoop?
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Venice, by virtue of its geographic situation will always be sinking as a course of nature. A research team from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the UCSD has recently concluded that Venice is sinking 2 millimeters per year...not catastrophic on a single year basis, but threatens the long-term viability and sustainability of the location.
Urban ecology: what economic forces created the rationale for building Venice? What environmental factors are currently threatening it? Will economic or environmental forces win out? Location: do the economic advantages of a location outweigh the environmental liabilities of the location? How do these competing factors influence the development of a city? For additional information on this story see: http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-03-venice-hasnt.html 
Stephanie Cordeiro's comment,
October 7, 2012 1:28 AM
This is very interesting and surprising. I never really knew that about Venice!! It's kind of scary to think about it as well. Well, if I wanted to see Venice, guess I should get my ticket fast. I feel sorry for them. I would like to picture how it would be if it happened to us and we were in that situation, yikes!! It is sinking because of natural causes, and there isn't anything that they can do about it. The major part of these natural causes are the plate tectonics. The Adriatic plate includes Venice, and it is causing Venice to drop in elevation. Also, floods are increasing in Venice making it difficult for people to even walk. I believe that Venice will just sink because as I said, it is because of natural causes, no matter what they try, they will just be competing in something that they already lost since the beginning.
Matt Mallinson's comment,
October 10, 2012 10:34 AM
2 millimeters a year might not seem to bad right now, but it's weird knowing Venice will be gone sometime in the future.
Derek Ethier's comment,
October 10, 2012 10:08 PM
The waterways of Venice made it not only a cultural capital (especially in the Renaissance) but it also made trade, travel and even communication much easier and more practical. Unfortunately, there is some detriment to settling a city on so much water. This may not be a problem in the next 10 or maybe even 50 years, but eventually foundations will began to crumble and citizens are in for some serious problems.
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Partly just because I love this highly quotable movie with an incredible soundtrack, but this short clip can start be a good conversation starter. I'm hoping to use it when discussing relative location (or isolation) as well as the space-time compression. I ask my student how far away they live from campus and invariably they answer with a unit of time (even though distance was implied in the question). Why answer with time when discussing distance? What technologies are dependent on our temporal analysis of distance? How would our perception of distance change based on our access to transportation and communication technologies?
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All these pictures have really opened my eyes to what is out there in the world. For a guy that was never really interested in traveling these pictures opened the imagination and actually make me think that traveling could be highly rewarding.
it's very cool spot on the plant, thats for sure.