National Park Concepts (Geography 493) investigates the history of the national park ideal, the evolution of the National Park Service, and the geography of the national park system. Contemporary national park policy and management case studies will be discussed in detail, including the “wicked” (intractable) controversies resulting from competing visions, such as conservation vs. preservation, ecosystem management vs. recreation access, and backcountry (wilderness) vs. frontcountry (roads, hotels, campgrounds).
Course goals are to:
- Discover the history and evolution of the national park ideal in the United States.
- Investigate the creation of the first national park, Yellowstone.
- Place the legislation that created the National Park Service in context with the conservation and preservation movements.
- Place the national parks within the land use continuum and recreation spectrum.
- Discover the geography and extent of the current National Park System, and consider the addition of new parks over time (especially in Alaska).
- Survey important early National Park Service leaders (Mather, Albright) and infrastructure development programs (Civilian Conservation Corps, Mission 66).
- Consider the impact of park related legislation, including the Organic Act (1916), the Antiquities Act (1906), the Wilderness Act (1964), Alaska National Interest and Lands Conservation Act (1980), the California Desert Protection Act (1994), and others.
- Consider the spectrum of values attached to national parks (cultural, spiritual, economic, recreational).
- Consider park visitor demographics and identify underrepresented groups.
- Discuss classic case studies of competing values and meanings attached to the national parks, including issues like public access and transportation, park appropriate recreation, species reintroduction, and wildlife impacts.
The class is offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. Interested students should use course reference number 38240.
Neogeography Using Google Earth (Geography 493) will be an exploration of the world using Google Earth, Keyhole Markup Language (KML), and SketchUp. Students will learn how to view and create dynamic visualizations using geospatial datasets describing natural hazards and environmental issues.
The course is designed to introduce students to concepts, methods, and tools utilized in the field of neogeography. The primary goal is to encourage students to use Google Earth in order to visualize and better understand the real world. Another goal is to introduce students to natural and social global issues that are best highlighted through the use of virtual globes.
To achieve the course goals, lessons will cover topics within three primary areas of interest:
- Google Earth - Mapping the Real World: The possibilities and limitations of virtual globes will be demonstrated by exploring all the options and functions that exist in Google Earth. In order to understand how virtual globes evolved, the history of visual geography will be explored through the history of cartography, fundamentals of remote sensing, and the evolution of web-mapping.
- KML - Creating Content for a Virtual Earth: In order to learn how to create content for Google Earth, students will be taught Keyhole Markup Language. As an Open Geospatial Consortium international standard, Keyhole Markup Language (KML) has become the standard content language for Virtual Globes. Examples of KML's use within the scientific community will be explored with a special focus on datasets of particular relevance in Alaska.
- SketchUp - Building in 3D: Instruction will be given in the use of Google SketchUp, a popular and intuitive tool used to create 3D objects in Virtual Worlds. The COLLADA format used by SketchUp is supported by KML, allowing seamless integration into Google Earth.
The class is offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Students should use course reference number 37843.
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