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LessonGrades 6 - 8

GIS, Mathematics and Engineering Integration

A graphic in map form shows the amount of energy the U.S. receives from the sun on average. Higher amounts of energy are displayed in red and generally include the south and west while lower energy areas are displayed in yellows and greens and tend to be in the north and east. The image was formed using GIS technology.A map created with GIS technology shows the amount of energy that different parts on the U.S. receive from the sun. Engineers create and use maps like this to identify the best locations to place solar cell arrays for electricity generation.

The concept of geocaching is introduced as a way for students to explore using a global positioning system (GPS) device and basic geographic information (GIS) skills. Students familiarize themselves with GPS, GIS, and geocaching as well as the concepts of latitude and longitude. They develop the skills and concepts needed to complete the associated activity while considering how these technologies relate to engineering. Students discuss images associated with GPS, watch a video on how GPS is used, and review a slide show of GIS basics. They estimate their location using latitude and longitude on a world map and watch a video that introduces the geocaching phenomenon. Finally, students practice using a GPS device to gain an understanding of the technology and how location and direction features work while sending and receiving data to a GIS such as Google Earth.

Civil, petroleum and environmental engineers, and many others, use GPS and GIS to analyze data and make informed decisions. Some civil engineers use GPS and GIS in large-scale urban planning projects. Some petroleum engineers map the extent of rock outcroppings known to contain oil or gas deposits by using GPS devices to map the outcropping surface and using GIS to integrate other data into the map. Environmental engineers may use these tools to map water resources and study climate change. This lesson demonstrates another important connection between engineering and math—problem solving—as students break up larger composite shapes into smaller shapes in order to simplify their calculations.

After this lesson, and its associated activity, students should be able to:

  • Determine a latitude and longitude from a map.
  • Operate a GPS device.
  • Identify location by its latitude and longitude.
  • Create a waypoint.
  • Use compass and distance features.

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