What
is GPS?
GPS is
short for Global Positioning System. A GPS unit is used
for the same purpose as a compass--to find location and
direction. However, it is an electronic device that displays
much more detail, including live maps, elevation, speed,
distance, and more.
What are GPS units used for?
GPS units can be used to
map out your route on a long drive, track your path on
a hike, or to find all restaurants in a specific area.
They can even be programmed to alert you when you are
nearing a defined destination!
How does YET
use GPS?
The YET club
uses GPS units to participate in a variety of outdoor
activities in the warmer months of the school year. YET
members gain hands-on experience using Garmin GPSMAP 76S
units for scavenger hunts and geocaching events.
GPS Activities:
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What
is GIS?
GIS is short for
Geographic Information System. This is a system used to
find, store, analyze, and manage geographical data. For
instance, you could locate and map every Maple tree in
Washington County.
How does YET use GIS?
The YET club uses GIS to participate
in a variety of outdoor and indoor activities that involves
mapping out different types of data in a given area. We
first must go outside to gather the information, then
use the computers (inside, of course) to enter the data
into the GIS software.
GIS Activities:
During one of our GIS activities,
we went outside to locate and mark each fire hydrant in
a given portion of the city of Washington. We then entered
this information into the GIS software, which allowed
us to produce a map of the fire hydrants in this area.
*Image
of Garmin GPSMAP 76S
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