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Abstract Topographic maps, aerial and satellite imagery, relief maps, and stereoscopic anaglyphs have all been used to aid the understanding of the earth surface and geomorphic processes. Opportunities for incorporating new digital terrain data and virtual globes are reviewed and presented in a case study advanced university geomorphology course. The course uses physiographic divisions and provinces for the organization and intensive analysis of regional topography, landforms, and geographic variation of processes. Virtual globes' applications in lectures, student activities, and visual analysis are examined. Online tools for accessing terrain data and analyzing topographic profiles and imagery are also demonstrated. Virtual globes and online digital terrain databases are rapidly maturing technologies that are immediately accessible and provide a range of instructional technology uses. Examples and feedback from initial course delivery identified logistical constraints and future opportunities for these geospatial tools in geography education. Key Words: digital terrain modelingvirtual globesgeomorphologyvisualization Acknowledgement The author is grateful to Heather Sheffield of the ECU Department of Geography for data acquisition assistance. EarthSim provided a complimentary license for their virtual globe software for evaluation purposes. Dr. Thomas R. Allen is associate professor and codirector of the Center for GIScience in the Department of Geography at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, USA. His teaching and research interests are in environmental applications of GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis, particularly digital image processing, terrain modeling, and visualizing environmental change. Notes 1. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Archive, U. S. Geological Survey ⟨srtm. usgs. gov⟩. 2. U. S. Geological Survey, Seamless Data Distribution ⟨http: //seamless. usgs. gov/⟩. 3. Google Earth, registered trademark of Google. com (http: //earth. google. com). 4. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), World Wind 1. 3 (http: //worldwind. arc. nasa. gov/). 5. ArcGlobe, ArcExplorer, registered trademarks of Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ⟨ http: //www. esri. com/⟩. 6. EarthSLOT, Earth Science, Logistics, and Outreach Terrainbases ⟨ www. earthslot. org/earthslot₃Dengi nes. php⟩. 7. NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration), National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), ⟨http: //nsidc. org/⟩. 8. 3DEM, Richard Horne, Visualization Software L. L. C. ⟨http: //www. visualizationsoftware. com/3dem. html⟩.
Thomas R. Allen (Wed,) studied this question.