Helena, I will try out the barebones dataset. And try to prepare some data sets I can add.
maning On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 11:48 AM, Helena Mitasova <hmit...@unity.ncsu.edu> wrote: > Maning, > > I very much agree with what you have to say, especially about > introducing students to CLI. I teach a semester long course > on geospatial modeling and analysis with assignments in GRASS > and ArcGIS and eventually the students find out that they can run > the assignments and project in minutes from a text file - that is a big win > especially for the project when I ask them to recompute everything > because of some small mistake at the beginning. > > Regarding the need for running the tutorials and courses with local data > I tried to start some initiative for building standardized data sets > for different locations that can be used with the same tutorial by preparing > a data set with generic names of map layers and a simple getting started > tutorial - > see my post to OSGeo Edu below. Some people responded, but we don't > have any additional data sets yet. Maybe you can add few additional > layers to your data set, give them the same names as in the data set below > and try it out with the simple tutorial (I can add the imagery if needed) > and provide some feedback whether this would be feasible. > If the concept works, we can put the data sets on the osgeo web site (they > are small) > and it would make preparation of tutorials and courses > for different locations worldwide much more efficient, > > thanks a for sharing your experiences, > > Helena > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Following some discussions with Venka and the suggestion on Wiki > about a need for local data sets for tutorials I have created the following > as a basis for an experiment: > > 1. scaled down, basics-only version of the NC data set with generic names > of map layers > 2. getting started bare bone CLI GRASS minitutorial for this data set. > > It is here > http://grass.osgeo.org/sampledata/north_carolina/nc_basic_spm.tar.gz > or here > http://skagit.meas.ncsu.edu/~helena/grasswork/gisdemo_international.tarz > > Now the experiment : > The objective is > - provide data sets for different regions with the same map layer names > so that the same tutorials can be run with data in Japan, Trento > or other location in US > > I see the main trouble with the attribute names - but those can be changed > if there aren't too many, otherwise it may be worth to try the concept. > > I will be happy to modify the data set and of course the tutorial(s) can be > much nicer - GRASS wxpython GUI-based tutorial would be a nice test case > if we could provide it with data sets from all over the world. > > So if you think it is worth it, please create small data sets for other > locations > with the same names of map layers > that would run with the minitutorial to test the idea. I can then further > modify > the data set to fit with the other ones so that we can create a working > standard > that can be easily expanded to many areas in the world, > > Helena > > > > > On Feb 27, 2009, at 10:16 PM, maning sambale wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> I just want to share my experience teaching grass and qgis using the >> osgeo FOSS4G 2008 livedvd. >> >> I was invited by a non-profit organization to provide an overview of >> using FOSS Geo tools. The organization provides mapping services to >> Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines through collaborative efforts >> like participatory mapping, resource mapping for asserting IP rights >> to resources and ancestral domain. The participants are in-house >> geo-analysts coming from Indigenous Communities as well (note that the >> participants, have no formal GIS "schooling" and has no experience >> using FOSS Geo thus far). >> >> I provided several exercise using QGIS and GRASS (no offense to udig >> and gvsig, I don't use them hence, I can't teach them). I didn't used >> the GRASS sample dataset, because I want local sample data for my >> exercise. My datasets are just a landsat image and a dem. The >> exercises are as follows: >> >> Part 1 Open GRASS and QGIS - load vector and raster layers, saving >> project files >> Part 2 Editing GRASS vectors and rasters (v.digit, r.contour, >> r.shaded.relief) >> Part 3 Remote sensing based-classification (v.to.rast, i.group, >> i.gensigset, i.samp, r.reclass, r.report) >> Part 4 Map layout and visualization (QGIS map composer, NVIZ) >> >> >> The initial plan was to do everything GUI, but I had to move to grass >> terminal when we did the image classification because QGIS doesn't >> have the i.smap in the grass toolbox plugin. Anyway, this provided me >> the opportunity to show the advantages of using the CLI. At the end >> of the session, I showed them that by understanding CLI commands of >> grass, you can actually paste every command to a text file, run a bash >> script, implement all the exercise including map layout we did for 3 >> hours, in just several seconds! The reaction was: "Hey, I can do more >> work with GRASS while drinking my beer!" >> >> Reminds me of xkcd: http://xkcd.com/303/ ;-) >> >> The overall experience was good and I believe I was able to >> demonstrate FOSS Geo's power over the $25,000 esri stack they >> currently have (the DVDs I bought and distributed was just a little >> over $1!). >> >> Some thoughts (and requests) on improving my subsequent FOSS Geo demos: >> 1. I can't get the live-dvd running laptop to display to the LCD >> projector. I had to use another windows laptop for the presentation >> and GRASS/QGIS demo. Is there way to fix that in the live-dvd? Or is >> it the projector? >> 2. If the live-dvd running laptop works on the lcd projector, I can't >> show my presentation slides because it has no openoffice impress >> (which is correct to strip down the size). Is it possible for future >> release of the live-dvd to at least add a pdf reader? This way I can >> convert my presentation slides to a pdf document and I won't be >> needing another machine for my slide presentation. >> 3. It is best to use local datasets, participants can "relate" to >> the data better. Although my sample data are just a landsat image and >> a dem, I was able to demonstrate how to produce several map layers >> with GRASS and QGIS (landcover, hillshading, contours, etc). >> 4. Never underestimate the power of showing newbies the CLI. I >> usually hide the CLI when introducing FOSS Geo to noobs for fear that >> they might be overwhelmed with the cryptic commands with no menus and >> icons to click-on. >> >> If others have some experience and tips in teaching FOSS Geo, please >> share them here. >> >> -- >> cheers, >> maning >> ------------------------------------------------------ >> "Freedom is still the most radical idea of all" -N.Branden >> wiki: http://esambale.wikispaces.com/ >> blog: http://epsg4253.wordpress.com/ >> ------------------------------------------------------ >> _______________________________________________ >> Discuss mailing list >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > -- cheers, maning ------------------------------------------------------ "Freedom is still the most radical idea of all" -N.Branden wiki: http://esambale.wikispaces.com/ blog: http://epsg4253.wordpress.com/ ------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss