: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:03PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi everyone, My name is Michelle, and I am a GIS analyst. GIS stands for Geographic Information System. Basically it is a collection of hardward, software, geographic data and people who know how it all works. GIS was designed to link databases to maps. This combination between data and location makes it easier to understand spatial processes. Here is a link to a basic GIS into button

Eric McDonald: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:14PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Folks: My name is Eric McDonald. I help RAIN maintain GIS servers and services so users like yourselves can access the wealth of GIS data through the internet. GIS is an extremely versatile system, and although much of the initial data and analysis is done with specialized programs, the end product can be viewed with any normal web browser. RAIN is working to have interactive GIS products where teachers and students can take part in building resources that can be shared within a large group that has the same area of interest.

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:26PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Eric

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:27PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Eric

Pam: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:28PM PST (-0800 GMT)
How is GIS useful to my students?

Eric McDonald: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:28PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Michelle: How has the GPS training been going?

Marcy: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:28PM PST (-0800 GMT)
We are live online now and will be chatting - please post good questions about GIS and GPS - simple is fine - jsut jump in ... !

gluna: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:28PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Eric: have you ever gotten a question you could not answer?

Chris @ Pastor: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:29PM PST (-0800 GMT)
What is the difference with a server and a regular computer?

sherie higgins,camp staff: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:29PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Eric, thanks for taking time to help us learn how to do a live chat.

Dante: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:29PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Eric! I would like us to talk more about how to apply GIS in our classrooms--how easy is it really? Will we be thoroughly trained to use it this week? How do we manage our class with its use? Thanks! Dante

Lisa: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:29PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Eric and Michelle! You guys sound like you know lots! Do you have a geography background or a technology background? A list of all degrees would be sufficient (JUST KIDDING)>

sbaca: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:29PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Michelle, When did you first get involved with working with GIS?

msmith: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:29PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Where did you receive your training?

KathleenR.: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:30PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi, Eric. I would like to know what training you had to be able to do your job.

margo: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)
michelle What course work or programs did you complete to help you with your GIS expertise?

: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)

sherie higgins,camp staff: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi Michelle, what made you interested in GIS projects?

Trisha: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Are there any limitations to the GIS system?

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)
GIS is useful for students to understand the relationships between any kind of spatial data, that could be Biology, Geology, distribution of K mart stores, or where all the people who own VW bug live. GIS can analyse almost anything, as long as it is distributed spatially.

: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Where does GIS get its information?

KathleenR.: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:31PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hi, Eric. I would like to know what training you had to be able to do your job.

jan: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:32PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Eric do we download specific database software to use with our GPS units. Does this software generate a map for us?

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:33PM PST (-0800 GMT)
I wnet to school at Mount Holyoke COllege in Massachusetts, where there was a active GIS and remote sensing. I have been doing many types of GIS work for 4 years. In addition to working for RAIN I also work for the chnnel islands national marine sanctuary, where I am writing a GIS marine curriculum

jan: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:34PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Michelle- Do we download specifid database software to use with our GPS units. Does this software generate a map for us?

Eric McDonald: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:35PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Pam: GIS is helpful to your students as they can see a customized visualization of a particular project where they've been involved (i.e. a field trip or long term lab project). This is usually a dynamic map that has various entities each with its own set of identification attributes. The map can be very simple, as in the oak tree map built with data collected by students last year, or it can be very complex with objects indicating regions instead of single points.

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:35PM PST (-0800 GMT)
A GIS is limited to the hardware and software, but most importanly is the imitation of the data that is in the compter. If you want to study the distribution of plants you need to have a data about topography, rainfall, soil types, all these types of large scale data sets can be found at government websites like USGS, which we will look at later.

irene: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:36PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Eric, How old were you when you started working with computers?

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:37PM PST (-0800 GMT)
100

margo: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:39PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Mem Thanks for your input I know the area well my aunt lives in hamden mass . near Longview. I did ateachers workshop for National Educators in Geography Conference in Boston two years ago.

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:39PM PST (-0800 GMT)
In addition to formal school work I go to ESRI technical workshops and I just came back from 8 days in San Diego at the ESRI users conference. This is where I learn about how to make the software do what I want it to do .

MEM : . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:40PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Buy everybody I need to go to GPS

Eric McDonald: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:40PM PST (-0800 GMT)
To those folks who have been asking, I've been working in the technology industry since 1989. Most of my training was received during my period working with Silicon Graphics and the Department of Defense. The difference between a server and a regular workstation is that server is more concerned with answering requests from other machines than handling requests from a user working on that machine itself.

Eric McDonald: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:41PM PST (-0800 GMT)
I started debugging assembly code on my Apple ][+ in 1981. I was 13.

Eric McDonald: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:46PM PST (-0800 GMT)
Before working for RAIN, I worked for the PDC which is located in Hawaii. The PDC is a federal disaster center which was commissioned by Senator Inoyue after Hurricane Inki destroyed most of Kauai in 1992. Hawaii State Civil Defense simply could not bear the burden of this task, especially since a hurricane had hit Kauai in 1982 as well. button

: . . . . Mon, Jul 16, 2:54PM PST (-0800 GMT)
We are beginning the GPS introduction, but ask our trail guides to continue answering questions for a little longer ..