January Expedition
Vocabulary Words

DEP

Department of Environmental Protection
More information: State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection

GIS

Geographic Information System. GIS is an integrated system of computer hardware, software, and trained personnel linking topographic, demographic, utility, facility, image and other resource data that is geographically referenced. Simplistically put the system is based on premises that "pictures are worth thousands of words" and most data can be related to a map or other easily understood graphic. Source: GIS FAQ

GPS

Global Positioning System. A satellite-based navigation system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS is used to determine your position on the earth by using special satellites. While orbiting the earth the satellites continuously send radio signals with exact position and time information. By calculating the time differences between the transmitted signals, a GPS receiver can determine its present position anywhere on the earth.
More information: A Practical Guide to GPS

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Gene Carl Feldman (gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov) (301) 286-9428
Todd Carlo Viola, JASON Foundation for Education (todd@jason.org)
Revised: 19 Jan 1996