Groundwater for Many People: The spatial science of a shared resource

Introduction

The fragile balance between groundwater supply and demand is being tested. Increasing rates of urbanization and irrigation place demands on water need, while the natural aridity of some environments does little to mitigate supply. In this lab, you will explore the spatial characteristics of this problem.

Location

The High Plains Aquifer that extends across Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nebraska, Texas, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Time to complete this lab

The duration of the lab is one and a half hours to two hours.

Prerequisites

Students should have knowledge of basic computer processing. Necessary skills include opening files, saving files, word processing, and following software program instructions.

Data used in this lab

URL for open source data access: http://www.nationalatlas.gov/

Projection information: North America Datum 1983; geographic coordinate units are decimal degrees; ellipsoid model GRS1980

About this Lab

Title: Groundwater for Many People: The spatial science of a shared resource

Author: Julienne Gard

Level: 1, engagement

Requirements: ArcGIS 9.3, 10.0 or 10.1

Keywords: aquifer; water table; porosity; infiltration; recharge; overdraft; compaction; subsidence; carrying capacity; groundwater; groundwater management; social planning; policy planning; query; classify; overlay; clip; buffer; vector data

File: GroundwaterForManyPeople.doc (ArcGIS 9.3/10), GroundwaterForManyPeople_2013.doc (ArcGIS 10.1)

Downloads

  • View full description (PDF)
  • Download this lab (170 MB)
    ArcGIS 9.3/10.0 version
    ArcGIS 10.1 version

    • Download contains student instructions in customizable Microsoft Word format, exercise data, and instructor notes.

    On a PC, you will find the downloaded EXE file in My Documents\Downloads

    Double-click the downloaded file and run the installer.