Determining Flood Risk in Iowa

This exercise, from the Integrated Geospatial Education and Technology Training Project (iGETT), uses annual flood risk in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as an example to help students understand how Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing can be used to analyze flood situations. Using this exercise, students will compare flooded areas identified in Landsat Imagery with those identified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in SPOT imagery, with the difference underscoring how resolution affects perception. Topics covered in the exercise include flood analysis, disaster management, and wetlands study.

Included within the exercise is a student handout, which contains the detailed exercise, broken down into seven parts. The entire unit takes two weeks to complete, with all parts occurring within the classroom. Required software for completion of the exercise includes access to a computer, and ArcGIS 10 with Spatial Analyst Extension and Service Pack 2. The exercise can be adapted to Open Source.

Upon completion of the exercise, students should be able to develop remote sensing concept awareness; develop critical thinking skills by determining, accessing, and downloading required data and other background information; demonstrate skills in manipulating GIS software; demonstrate skills in manipulating spatial data; demonstrate skills in remote sensing interpretation image analysis; and demonstrate skills in integrating data from different sources.