Using GoogleMaps and GoogleEarth to Create and Use Map and Satellite Image Base Layers for Geospatial Field Data

• Activity Number: 216
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Monday, July 30, 2012 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Graphics
• Author(s): Richard C Reeves*+
• Companies: FoxGrove Solutions
• Keywords: Geospatial Data Layers ; GoogleMaps/Google Earth ; Remote Sensing ; Field Data Management ; Base Maps ; GIS

Abstract

Feature-rich open source scientific computing and geo-visualization software, hosted on powerful laptop and tablet computers equipped with high-bandwidth wireless connectivity, create an ideal platform for in-the-field data collection, visualization, analysis, and management. Ecologists and other scientists who collect geospatial data can further augment these platforms with digital environmental data and geospatial analysis and mapping software for a truly comprehensive data management solution.

This paper describes and then briefly demonstrates the software components for a portable field data management system which uses open-source geospatial and statistical software to perform an analysis. GoogleMaps and GoogleEarth are employed to present the incoming spatial data layers and outgoing results via the Internet.

The paper describes the software components and geo-spatial data sources, providing researchers new to this topic a comprehensive overview of the software available.

The complete analysis discussed in this paper is available (along with the most recent version of this paper) online:

http://www.foxgrovesolutions.com/jsmPaper