2009 wellar geoskills lecture dr. barry wellar professor emeritus, university of ottawa president,...

2009 Wellar GeoSkills Lecture

Dr. Barry Wellar Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa

President, Wellar Consulting Inc.Distinguished Research Fellow,

Transport 2000 [email protected]

http://wellarconsulting.com/

PowerPoint slides for 2009 Wellar GeoSkills Lecture

Laboratory for Applied Geomatics and Geographic Information System Science

University of Ottawa

January 27, 2009


Context Slide 1

Geography Awareness Week 2008:GeoSkills Showcase

www.cag-acg.ca/files/pdf/GAW/GeoSkills_Final.pdf


Geography Awareness Week 2008:Applied Geography Showcase

www.cag-acg.ca/files/pdf/GAW/Applied_Final.pdf

Context Slide 2


Table 1: A Selection of Terms and Concepts that Underlie GeoSkills as the Focus of a New Approach in Applied Geography Education and Training

Accessible(ity)Adjacent(cy)Agglomerate(ion)Aggregate(ion)Amalgamate(ion)Area(polygon)AssociationsBorderBoundaryBufferCenterCentralityCircleClose(ness)ClumpClusterCoastalCompact(ness)Concentrate(ion)ConcentricCongestionConnectionsContiguousContinent(al)

ConurbationCoordinates CoreCountrysideDensityDiffusion DimensionDisperse(ion)DistanceDistributionEdgeElevationEncroach(ment)EnvironmentFieldFlow(s)FormFringeFunctionGeocodeGeodeticGeofactorGeographicGeometric

GeopoliticalGeoreferenceGeospatialGlobal(ization)GridGridlockHabitatHinterlandInteractionIntersectionIslandIsolate (ion)LandLatitudeLineLinkLocalityLocationLongitudeMapMargin(al)MeridianMethodsMigration

MorphologyMovementNear(ness)NeighbourNetworkNodeObjectOrientationOriginOverlayParcelPartitionPathPatternPerimeterPeripheryPlacePlanePointPolygon(area)ProximityQuadrantRegionRelationships

Right-of-wayRouteScaleScapeSegregate(ion)ShapeShedSiteSituationSlopeSpaceSpatialSphereSprawlSpreadStripStructureSurfaceSystemTechniquesTopography(ic)Topology(ic)WardZone

Source: After Wellar, (2005): ccge.org/ccge/english/geoLiteracy/docs/symposium_june2005_media_wellar.pdf


Figure 1: Geography, GeoSkills, and the Driving Forces Behind Data, Information and Knowledge Activities


The skills involved in geographic teaching, research, and

applications are numerous, diverse, and rapidly changing as

universities, colleges, schools, governments, businesses, and

other organizations introduce new and different methods,

techniques, technologies, and practices to support and promote

thinking about and doing geography.

Message from the 2007 and 2008 Websites,

Geography Awareness Week


Examination of GAW 2007 and 2008 websites reveals that

becoming informed about the education, training, and work

experiences associated with geographic skills is a daunting

task. As demonstrated by the GAW 2007 and 2008 websites,

these skills are not “under one roof”. Rather, they are

developed, taught, and used in Canada’s universities, colleges,

and schools, by governments at all levels, by businesses in all

parts of the country, as well as by advocacy groups, the media,

and other organizations.

One-Stop Googling for GeoSkills? I Don’t Think So!!


• • • Cartographic• Geographic field methods• Geographic research methods• Geographic research techniques• Geomatics• Geoprocessing• Geostatistics• •

Types of GeoSkills?Perhaps There Are More than You Might Think

• • • Geotexting• GIS applications• GIS science• GIS technology• Remote sensing• Spatial analysis• Visualization• •


• Cartographic & Geographic field methods & Geographic research methods & Geographic research techniques & Geostatistics & GIS science & Remote sensing & Spatial analysis & Visualization

Types of GeoSkills?Perhaps There Are Way More than You Might Think

(What about the combinations?)

• •


• Cartographic & Geographic field methods & GIS technology & Remote sensing & Spatial analysis

Etc.Etc.Etc.

Types of GeoSkills?Perhaps There Are Way, Way More than You Might Think

(What about the other combinations?)

• •


Sources of GeoSkills

Given that there are a number of types of

GeoSkills, it follows that there are a

number of ways of acquiring GeoSkills,

which is demonstrated by this indicative list

of sources. It is important that GeoSkills

programs in applied geography education

and training are organized around a

framework which takes these sources into

account in curriculum design.

• Conferences• Courses• Demonstrations• Labs• Lectures• Lesson plans• Practical experience • Projects• Publications• Seminars• Training sessions• Videos• Workshops


Recognizing GeoSkills in Applied Geography Education and Training Programs

The ways of acquiring GeoSkills are created by

professors, technologists, technicians,

engineers, scientists, researchers, etc., many of

whom have achieved the accreditation of GISP

(Geographic Information System Professional).

Within the university environment, it appears fair

to suggest that more thought needs to be given

to properly recognizing and rewarding the

teaching, research, and service performance of

faculty members who contribute their GeoSkills

expertise to applied geography education and

training programs through the following ways:

• Conferences• Courses• Demonstrations• Labs• Lectures• Lesson plans• Client-driven, practical experience• Projects• Publications• Seminars• Training sessions• Videos• Workshops


GeoSkills Showcase SamplerGeography Awareness Week 2008

The GeoSkills Showcase is an ideal venue for organizations to demonstrate how they combine geographic text, numerics, and graphics in their processes or products. And, it is an ideal venue for providing a range of materials that are informative and instructive to beginners and newcomers to the field, as well as to people with advanced training and experience as designers, instructors, and users of these skills.

A selection of title pages from publications, as well as from presentations at conferences, workshops, public meetings and other venues has been assembled for the GeoSkills Showcase Sampler, Geography Awareness Week 2008. The complete presentations can be viewed by accessing the website URL that is included with each title page.

www.cag-acg.ca/files/pdf/GAW/GeoSkills_Final.pdf


From NASA Satellite Images (1966) toGoogle Earth (2008): Geography, Geomatics

and GIS Have Come a Long Way

Dr. Barry WellarProfessor EmeritusUniversity of [email protected]

PowerPoint Slides for an Invited Lecture

Sigma Xi,The Scientific Research Society

Ottawa Chapter

Thursday, April 24, 2008 National Research Council,

Ottawa, Ontario

Source URL:www.geomatics.uottawa.ca/WellarPresentstheTriple.htm


Sustainable Transport Best Practices and Geography: Making Connections

Dr. Barry WellarProfessor Emeritus,University of Ottawa

Distinguished Research FellowTransport 2000 Canada

[email protected]://wellarconsulting.com/

Text of theFleming Lecture

Organized by the University of Washington2007 Annual Meeting

Association of American GeographersSan Francisco, CA, April 17-21

Source URL:

http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/tgsg/events/AAG%202007%20Fleming%20Lecture%20Final.pdf

2009 wellar geoskills lecture dr. barry wellar professor emeritus, university of ottawa president,...

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