Brendan A Harmon

This paper presents novel and effective methods for teaching about topography–or shape of terrain–and assessing 3-dimensional spatial learning using tangibles. We used Tangible Landscape–a tangible interface for geospatial modeling–to teach multiple hands-on tangible lessons on the concepts of grading (i.e., earthwork), geomorphology, and hydrology. We examined students' ratings of the system's usability and user experience and tested students' acquisition and transfer of knowledge. Our results suggest the physicality of the objects enabled the participants to effectively interact with the system and each other, positively impacting ratings of usability and task-specific knowledge building. These findings can potentially advance the design and implementation of tangible teaching methods for the topics of geography, design, architecture , and engineering.

We present Tangible Landscape – a technology for rapidly and intuitively designing landscapes informed by geospatial modeling, analysis, and simulation. Tangible Landscape is a tangible interface powered by a geographic information system that gives 3D spatial data an interactive, physical form so that users can naturally sense and shape it. It couples a physical and a digital model of a landscape through a real-time cycle of physical manipulation, 3D scanning, spatial computation, and projected feedback. Natural 3D sketching and real-time analytical feedback should aid landscape architects in the design of high performance landscapes that account for physical and ecological processes. We conducted a series of studies to assess the effectiveness of tangible modeling for landscape architects. Landscape architecture students, academics, and professionals were given a series of fundamental landscape design tasks – topographic modeling, cut-and-fill analysis, and water flow modeling. Their performance was assessed using qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, raster statistics, morphometric analyses, and geospatial simulation. With tangible modeling participants built more accurate models that better represented morphological features than they did with either digital or analog modeling. When tangibly modeling they worked in a rapid, iterative process informed by real-time geospatial analytics and simulations. With the aid of real-time simulations they were able to quickly understand and then manipulate how complex topography controls the flow of water.

Tropical small mountainous rivers (SMRs) are increasingly recognized for their role in the global export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the oceans. Here we utilize the Isthmus of Panama as an ideal place to provide first-order estimates of DOC yields across a wide assemblage of bedrock lithologies and land
cover practices. Samples for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analysis were collected across Panama along
an EeW transect from the central Panama area to the Costa Rican border for 24 mainstem rivers, 3 large
tributary rivers, and one headwater stream. Sampling occurred during both the wet and the dry seasons.
DOC concentrations during the wet season are higher than during the dry season in all but three of the rivers. Concentrations vary greatly from river to river and from season to season, with values as low as 0.64 mg l
1 to greater than >25 mg l
1 with the highest concentrations observed for the rivers draining Tertiary marine sedimentary rocks in the Burica and Azuero peninsulas. DOC yields from Panamanian rivers (2.29e7.97 tons/km2/y) are similar to or slightly lower than those determined for other tropical SMR systems. Areas underlain by Tertiary aged sediments exhibited significantly higher mean DOC yields compared to their igneous counterparts, despite maintaining substantially lower aboveground carbon densities, suggesting the important influence of lithology. Finally, regression analyses between DOC yields and select watershed parameters revealed a negative and statistically significant relationship with maximum and mean gradient suggesting lower soil retention times may be linked to lower DOC yields.

While free and open source software becomes increasingly important in geospatial research and industry, open science perspectives are generally less reflected in universities' educational programs. We present an example of how free and open source software can be incorporated into geospatial education to promote open and reproducible science. Since 2008 graduate students at North Carolina State University have the opportunity to take a course on geospatial modeling and analysis that is taught with both proprietary and free and open source software. In this course students perform geospatial tasks simultaneously in the proprietary package ArcGIS and the free and open source package GRASS GIS. By ensuring that students learn to distinguish between geospatial concepts and software specifics, students become more flexible and stronger spatial thinkers when choosing solutions for their independent work in the future. We also discuss ways to continually update and improve our publicly available teaching materials for reuse by teachers, self-learners and other members of GIS community. Only when free and open source software is fully integrated into geospatial education we will be able to encourage a culture of openness, and thus enable greater reproducibility in research and development applications.

We present a new, affordable version of TanGeoMS, a tangible geospatial modeling and visualization system designed for collaboratively exploring how terrain change impacts landscape processes. It couples a physical, three-dimensional model of
a landscape with geospatial modeling and analysis through a cycle of scanning and projection. Multiple users can modify the physical model by hand while it is being scanned; by
sculpting the model they generate input for modeling of geophysical processes. The modeling results are then visualized by projecting images or animations back on the physical
model. This feedback loop is an intuitive way to evaluate the impacts of different scenarios including anthropogenic and natural landscape change. Integration with GRASS GIS, a free and open source geographic information system, provides TanGeoMS with a variety of easily accessible geospatial analysis and modeling tools. To demonstrate the environmental modeling applications of TanGeoMS, we will demonstrate how development can be planned based on feedback from landscape processes such as hydrologic simulation and wildfire modeling with variable fuel distribution.

This study uses Danxiashan, a world heritage site in Guangdong province, China, as a case study for planning a hypothetical geotourism network of heritage sites. This landscape has a multiplicity of values—its geoheritage cannot be separated from its ecological or cultural heritage. When designing a network of heritage sites for such a diversely valued landscape trade-offs must be made between differing and potentially conflicting objectives such as geotourism and geoconservation. To solve this multi-criteria decision problem, sites with potential value for people were designated as heritage sites, adapting the concept of  geomorphosites — i.e., geomorphological heritage sites—to represent the intersection of anthropic values. In a GIS-based spatial decision support system heritage values for each site were weighted and ranked using the analytic hierarchy process and scenarios for alternative trail systems, and networks of tourism sites were generated by multi-criteria map overlay analysis and networking algorithms. The scenarios generated show how trade-offs can be made between oft-conflicting tourism and conservation objectives, how the design of parks can be optimized for multiple objectives, and how alternative design strategies can be explored. Such an approach could be used in scenario planning workshops to engage stakeholders in participatory design and consensus based decision-making driven by geospatial science.

We present TanGeoMS, a tangible geospatial modeling visualization system that couples a laser scanner, projector, and
a flexible physical three-dimensional model with a standard geospatial information system (GIS) to create a tangible user interface for terrain data. TanGeoMS projects an image of real-world data onto a physical terrain model. Users can alter the topography of the model by modifying the clay surface or placing additional objects on the surface. The modified model is captured by an overhead laser scanner then imported into a GIS for analysis and simulation of real-world processes. The results are projected back onto the surface of the model providing feedback on the impact of the modifications on terrain parameters and simulated processes. Interaction with a physical model is highly intuitive, allowing users to base initial design decisions on geospatial data, test the impact of these decisions in GIS simulations, and use the feedback to improve their design. We demonstrate the system on three applications: investigating runoff management within a watershed, assessing the impact of storm surge on barrier islands, and exploring landscape rehabilitation in military training areas.

This book presents a new type of modeling environment where users interact with geospatial simulations using 3D physical models of studied landscapes. Multiple users can alter the physical model by hand during scanning, thereby providing input for simulation of geophysical processes in this setting.
The authors have developed innovative techniques and software that couple this hardware with open source GRASS GIS, making the system instantly applicable to a wide range of modeling and design problems. Since no other literature on this topic is available, this Book fills a gap for this new technology that continues to grow.
Tangible Modeling with Open Source GIS will appeal to advanced-level students studying geospatial science, computer science and earth science such as  landscape architecture and natural resources. It will also benefit researchers and professionals  working in geospatial modeling applications, computer graphics, hazard risk management, hydrology, solar energy, coastal and fluvial flooding, fire spread, landscape, park design and computer games.

Brendan Harmon, North Carolina State University, presents the fascinating research that he, and co-authors, Helena Mitasova and Anna Petrasova, are conducting using "tangible GIS," a process that seamlessly links the digital processes of GIS, geographic simulations, and CAD-CAM with the more intuitive processes of analog design in a generative cycle. Topics include Kinect 3D scanning, 3D printing, CNC routing, human computer interaction, tangible user interfaces, spatio-temporal modeling, & open source GIS.