Geometry and Geocaching Using GIS & GPS
An official geocache label that people affix to the hidden container to provide cache contact information.Copyright 2012 Lee Cannon, Flickr CC BY-SA 2
https://www.flickr.com/photos/leecannon/6924688841
Students take on the role of geographers and civil engineers and use a device enabled with the global positioning system (GPS) to locate geocache locations via a number of waypoints. Teams save their data points, upload them to geographic information systems (GIS) software, such as Google Earth, and create scale drawings of their explorations while solving problems of area, perimeter and rates. The activity is unique in its integration of technology for solving mathematical problems and asks students to relate GPS and GIS to engineering.
Students act as civil engineers, modeling a public works project. By working with GPS technology, students learn how engineers can mark locations with data and map that information using GIS software. Engineers use satellite imaging and GIS principals, and the activity demonstrates the broader use of these tools in engineering applications. Students also make connections to specific elements of mathematics that engineers may use, such as applying unit rates to determine how much material engineers need to complete a project.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Use GPS technology to locate points given a latitude and longitude to determine locations on Earth and store those points digitally by transferring latitude and longitude data from a GPS to GIS (Google Earth).
- Solve problems involving scale drawings of geometric figures, including computing actual lengths and areas from a scale drawing and using appropriate tools such as a protractor.
- Explain how GPS and GIS relate to engineering.
- Solve problems related to angle measurements and angle relationships, such as complementary, supplementary and triangle and quadrilateral angle relations.