College of Science & Engineering Technology - Open & Free Materials: Geography

Since GIS and related geospatial and navigation technology change so rapidly, a flexible and dynamic text is necessary in order to stay current and relevant. Though essential concepts in GIS tend to remain constant, the situations, applications, and examples of GIS are fluid and dynamic. Though this book is intended for use in introductory GIS courses, Essentials of Geographic Information Systems will also appeal to the large number of certificate, professional, extension, and online programs in GIS that are available today. In addition to providing readers with the tools necessary to carry out spatial analyses, Essentials of Geographic Information Systems outlines valuable cartographic guidelines for maximizing the visual impact of your maps. The book also describes effective GIS project management solutions that commonly arise in the modern workplace.

• Open License: CC BY-NC-SA
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World Regional Geography: People, Places and Globalization is designed for students to experience and study as much of the world as possible within a limited amount of time. It gives students the fundamental concepts and the latest data regarding world places in a concise, easy-to-read format.

• Open License: CC-BY-NC-SA
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World Regional Geography by Finlayson provides a concise and accessible introduction to the major concepts in Geography through an exploration of the world's regions. This innovative textbook, which has been downloaded over 15,000 times in more than 30 countries, approaches geography as experts understand the discipline, focusing on connections between places and an in-depth understanding of core themes. This thematic approach provides students with an introduction to thinking geographically and an in-depth understanding of the geography of our world. Table of Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Europe 3. Russia 4. North America 5. Middle and South America 6. Sub-Saharan Africa 7. North Africa and Southwest Asia 8. South Asia 9. East and Southeast Asia 10. Oceania.

• Open License: CC-BY-NC-SA
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This college-level open textbook covers the most salient environmental issues from a biological perspective.

• Open License: CC-BY

"Focuses on the most relevant environmental science issues and addresses ways to incorporate sustainable practices. The text is designed for an introductory-level college science course. Topics include the fundamentals of ecology, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, food production, human population growth, and incorporating sustainable approaches in our communities, economies, and environments. This resource is targeted at environmental science students."

• Open License: CC-BY

Covers foundational cartographic principles that are needed to make effective maps. lt explores such concepts as data, lettering, along with multivariate and uncertainty visualization. Reader will be able to: (1) Describe how cartographic concepts such as generalization, scale, and projection will affect mapping products; (2) Identify the medium, purpose, and spatial data requirements to create a map for a specific audience; (3) Evaluate maps produced by peers and various organizations; and (4) Construct maps that effectively use color, font, and other design elements using ArcGIS Pro.

• Open License: CC-BY-NC-SA
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