On the role of GIS technology in Geospatial Education (QGIS vs ARGIS)

In the teaching of modeling concepts and spatial analysis, a major role play technologies and software. Anyhow main aim at the education is the teaching of concept independently on what kind of technologies and software will be used. The latter might be grouped in two categories: the commercial software and Open Source software. In this article emphasises the role of GIS technologies at the process of teaching and it is fulfilled an analysis advantages adn disadvantages between both software: commercial software ArcGis, and so called “Open Source” QuantumGis. Taking in to consideration the financial possibility of the educational institutions and also the complexity of its functionalities, it suggests that Qgis might be an acceptable alternative at the process of teaching and the practice at GIS lab

Using Excel and VBA for Excel to Learn Numerical Methods

Spreadsheets, by virtue of being distributed with office suites, are availablein most computers, and can be used efficiently in the solution of numericalmethods. In this paper we present calculations for numerical methods,specifically, solution to equations, using one of the most popular spreadsheetsoftware currently available, namely, Microsoft Office's EXCEL. Spreadsheet calculations can be performed by simply using formulas in the spreadsheetcells, or by creating programs (subroutine programs, or SUBs, and FUNCTION programs) using a programming language accessible through the spreadsheet interface. EXCEL uses exclusively a language called Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).Microsoft Excel is a excellent tool for students to learn numerical methods.It makes easy to construct illustrative examples, to experiment with them,and to plot results in graphical forms. The paper outlines the reasons forchoosing Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for Excel. Certain topics ofinterest with regard to VBA for Excel are explored, and sample programs are included Some illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the use of Goal Seek and Solver features as a powerful tool for solving of some problems inhydro engineering