Experience and prospects of mobile GIS use for practical training of geography students

Abstract

Problem statement. In recent decades, approaches to conducting field research have been significantly modernized. The use of smartphones, tablets and other portable devices with mobile GIS for field data collection has increased significantly. The rapid change in geospatial research technologies makes it necessary to introduce them into the educational process, in particular, in practical training of geography students.

Research methodology. Paper forms of field data collection, materials and reports from practical trainings of the previous years, stored at the Department of Physical Geography and Cartography of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, served us as the source materials for the research. To implement the practical part of the research, ESRI software products such as Collector for ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Desktop were used.

The purpose of the research is to substantiate the content and to create electronic forms of field data collection with mobile GIS for the physiographic part of the educational natural science training of first-year students of specialty 106 Geography of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.

Results. The use of mobile GIS for practical training of future geographers is widespread in Ukrainian and foreign universities. In particular, in recent years, teachers of the Department of Physical Geography and Cartography have been introducing mobile GIS into field data collection. We have developed 4 electronic forms of field data collection for the physiographic part of the educational natural science training of first-year students. They are soil profile description, forest phytocenosis description, geological and geomorphological observations, and hydrological station. Due to the wide functionality of Collector for ArcGIS, in particular, the ability to work offline, this mobile application and ArcGIS Online were used to develop forms. To optimize the work with individual text fields in electronic forms, we created domain values that allow students to select a certain option from the drop-down list.

Practical significance and research perspectives. The implementation of mobile GIS into practical training of future geographers contributes to the formation of cartographic and geoinformation competencies and helps students master modern approaches to the organization of various types of field studies. Testing developed electronic forms during summer practical training of students or through independent research in the study area remains a relevant task. In the future, it is advisable to create electronic forms for all sections of the physiographic part of the first-year students' practical training and to adapt data collection forms for independent use.