Google Earth and sustainable development education: examples from human and physical geography

Figures & data

Figure 1: Screen shot taken from Google Earth of eastern margins of Nouakchott, illustrating sustainable planting regimes, with inset diagram of dune processes. Source Google Earth (2010) and Haslett (2008).

Table 1: Results of the student survey following the exercise.

NUMBER SURVEYED: 33	YES	NO
Have you ever used Google Earth before?	73%	27%
If yes, have you ever used Google Earth in academic study before?	29%	71%
Do you find the basic functions of Google Earth easy to use?	97%	3%
Have you enjoyed using Google Earth in academic study?	97%	3%
Has it improved or increased your awareness of general geographical skills?	94%	6%
Do you find it easier to visualise/interpret landscapes than using maps?	91%	9%
Do you feel Google Earth has enhanced your understanding of the topic studied in this session/exercise?	91%	9%
Do you think it will be useful in your own private academic study in the future?	82%	18%
Do you think Google Earth could be useful in academic research?	79%	21%
Do you feel Google Earth could support fieldwork?	94%	6%
Do you think Google Earth could replace fieldwork?	0%	100%
Do you think Google Earth could be used in virtual fieldwork for students with mobility disabilities?	76%	24%

Table 2: Responses to The Sands of Time resource from MA ESDGC students.

QUESTION	RESPONSES
1.	What did you like about the online resource?	The visual element — the ability/facility to examine the landscape in some detail to illustrate the lecture and the key points. I can see myself using this kind of resource in my own teaching and learning environment. It was very interesting to hear about the sands and what’s been undertaken to help combat the spread of sand. Interesting to see how we can utilise Google Earth to study such areas. Interesting, nice to see the visual evidence to back up his [the presenter’s] words. It was easy to relate to with a good selection of examples, spoken and visual.
2.	What do you think could be changed or added to make the resource better?	Maybe links to further study online on the same or similar topic(s)? Sometimes editing [of the resource] a little ‘snappy’. As with documentaries, would be good to break it up with out-of-studio shoots, walking up busy street talking about issues of ‘busy living’. Speaking to others if possible. A comparison to what it looked like 20 years ago. Handouts of the information to download/print off.
3.	Did you learn anything new about climate change and/or sustainable development from the resource, or did it make you think differently?	Great for developing new case studies or introducing concepts, particularly sustainable development. Yes, did not give much thought to spreading deserts — which is obviously an important factor. Not really thought about movements of sands before — interesting. And the stabilising methods. It was interesting to see an environmental management sustem (i.e. the strategic planting on sand dunes) being implemented/taking shape.

Figure 2: Collapsed structures, Port Au Prince. Image source Google Earth, 2010, data source: GEO-CAN Network 2010.

Figure 3: Number of collapsed structures per 0.5km × 0.5km tile. Source: ImageCat 2010.

HaslettS. K. 2008 Coastal Systems, Routledge, London

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