GeoPad

Introduction
Publications
Examples
Hardware
Software
Funding
Participants
Contacts

Introduction

Fieldwork is a cornerstone of many scientific disciplines, such as geology, biology, anthropology, archaeology, natural resources, sociology.  It is generally the first-step in the scientific process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data.  Whereas subsequent steps are typically accomplished once one has left the field, providing access to all such capabilities while still in the field significantly enhances the educational and scientific practices within these domains.  The GeoPad project seeks to do this by providing a real-time data fusion system for collaborative fieldwork.

Recent innovations in Information Technology (IT), especially in the form of increasing portability and new haptic interfaces for personal computers and advancements in Geographic Information System (GIS) software, enable in-the-field, real-time access to powerful data collection, analysis, visualization, and interpretation tools.  The benefits of these innovations, however, can only be realized on a broad basis when the IT reaches a level of maturity at which users can easily employ it to enhance their learning experience and scientific activities, rather than the IT itself being a primary focus of the curriculum or a constraint on field activities.

We envision the GeoPad as a combination of novel technologies that strive to reach that level.  Generally speaking, the GeoPad is a ruggedized TabletPC equipped with wireless networking, a portable GPS receiver, digital camera, microphone-headset, voice-recognition software, GIS software, and supporting, digital, geo-referenced data-sets. Scientists will be able to go out in the field as a group or individually, collect GPS-referenced data and share the data instantaneously with each other and with data fusion collaboratories hundreds of miles away. Furthermore, they will have on-demand access to the large database, data summarization and visualization resources at these distant centers to request site-specific data. The ability to monitor the data and the location of the data gatherers instantaneously creates a group intelligence or context that is not normally possible using traditional field techniques, such as field notebooks. Real-time data gathering and fusion capabilities also allow anomalies or missing information to be discovered and investigated while the data gatherers are still within the physical vicinity.

We explored the potential of such innovative field-oriented IT in an initial case study in field geology education.  In Summer 2003, we integrated GeoPads into the University of Michigan's field Geology course (GS-440), based out of Camp Davis, Wyoming.  In particular, we focused on geologic mapping exercises, a fundamental component of which is developing good spatial reasoning skills.  We believe that the field-based access provided by the GeoPad to advanced visualization and analysis techniques  augments the development of such skills.  Key benefits include the ability to instantly visualize field observations and their relationships to other contextual data using GIS and stereo visualization software, improved ground-truthing through the use of GPS in conjunction with digital maps, coupled with the ability to directly annotate the maps. We also investigated the use of GeoPads to support field trip activities. Wireless networking enables a richer discussion and collaboration through the use of application sharing between field vehicles.  For example, an instructor in one vehicle can point out and comment on interesting features, and occupants in other vans can follow along on their GeoPads and digital maps; having a real-time shared pointer during such collaborative interaction is an important enabling enhancement for such activities. Additional data and information can also be loaded onto the GeoPad to facilitate discussions, (e.g., thin section images, figures or tables from publications, schematic diagrams of features or processes, digital photographs photographs).

The GeoPad project is an extension of the collaborations that were established between geoscientists and computer scientists in the GeoWall and the Continuum projects.

For more information please contact geopad@umich.edu.