Work in progress — Development and integration of an online soil mapping Web application

Mapping technologies are abundant on the Web as well as through boxed software; however, the ability to overlay ones own maps onto the surface in order to provide enriched detail is not found in most typical software. “Integrating Spatial Educational Experiences (Isee) into Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Curricula” is a USDA-funded project focused on making soil data in the form of maps more accessible and easy-to-use for undergraduate students. The current solution integrates the Google Earth API, GeoWebCache, PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript in the form of a website. Although the differences in GIS software usability are generally unknown, the Isee prototype may serve as a viable model of an approach applicable at other universities. The purpose of the research is to collect quantitative data to determine if differences in software with various interfaces influence a student´s satisfaction and performance. The “Isee” website will be among the compared software, in which students will attempt to answer questions based on the information they can find with the software. The researcher will record performance data quantitatively throughout the session. Afterwards, students will report preferences and perceptions in a survey.