Using Remote Access to Teach GIS Virtually in Enterprise Network

Vince DiNoto – co-PIvince.dinoto@kctcs.edu

Phil Davis – PI pdavis@delmar.edu

Funded by National Science Foundation DUE 0801893

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National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence

Empowering colleges to expand the geospatial workforce.

Vince DiNoto – co-PIvince.dinoto@kctcs.edu

Phil Davis – PI pdavis@delmar.edu

Funded by National Science Foundation DUE 0801893

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Spatial Thinking vs. Jobs

•What are the educational requirements?

•Where are the jobs?

•What are the tasks?

•What is spatial literacy?

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What is the GeoTech Center

•An NSF funded ATE National Center of Excellence

•Single point of contact for two year colleges

•A Geospatial curriculum repository

•A data warehouse (data, static maps, dynamic maps)

•A best practice in Geospatial

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GeoTech Center Players

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GIS Institutions

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Problem 1

•How do you teach GIS which requires specialized software?

▫On campus

▫Hybrid

▫Virtually

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Reason an Issue

•Requires a Community College student be on Campus for assignments

•Reduces content which can be covered in a class to give time for laboratory experience

•Software (with expirations) installation problems took more time explaining to students how to install, instead of teaching content

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Attempts at Solutions

•Using ArcIMS and web application on IMS Server▫Limited GIS, for the higher end required the

installing of a plug-in that was not easy to do, difficult to set-up IMS box

•Google Earth▫Limited GIS and data must be KML format

•ArcGIS Explorer▫Still limits GIS, but can add layer files

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Solution 1

•Develop a web based terminal server at a low cost▫JCTC Professional IT staff▫No software to install▫Full functional version of ArcGIS 9.3.1▫Patch single copy as updates needed▫Other software the students might need to

complete the course▫Useful for all students not just virtual learners▫Meets license requirements (still uses license

server)

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Solution – on a virtual server

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Requires a secure AD login

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Multiple software applications on the same machine

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Clipboard available as are local drives

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Second level of security

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Complete version of ArcMap (ArcInfo)

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Problem 2

•Student spend a large amount of time finding base map information and files▫Providing Base maps for student application

via the web Eliminate many geo-projection issues

▫Provide a student repository for zipped files

▫Provide a shapefile library using geography, seen as a drive letter by students

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Solution 2

•Develop Web base maps using an ArcGIS Server – geo image file

•Develop a SAN mass storage device accessible within the college network, Terminal server is within the network even though the student accesses it outside of the network

•Develop a website to download content that is simple to navigate

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Solution 2

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Connecting to ArcGIS Server

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Web Base Map

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Shapefile Storage

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Storage Server Base Map

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Zipped Files

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Contacting Us

•Vince DiNoto•vince.dinoto@kctcs.edu •502-213-7280

•Phil Davis•pdavis@delmar.edu •361-698-1476

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Resources•GeoTech Centerhttp://geotechcenter.org

•Geospatial Information @ Jeffersonhttp://tinyurl.com/jctcgis

•State Data @ Jeffersonhttp://tinyurl.com/gis-state-data

•Basemaps for use in ArcMap – must attach to the ArcGIS server 216.69.2.35/arcgis/server

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