• Our team participated in the school mapping project, where students were challenged to map our school using GPS units and georeferenced images of our school. Students where instructed to map out school features, such as buildings, fields, and parking lots. To others outside the class the band of 5 students walking around with a javelin appearing device was bizarre, but soon, students found out our goal.

• As an additional project to the school mapping project, the team worked on a geocaching exercise. Students were given points of secret caches and were told to find them using GPS units. Once the cache was found, the team had to stash away their own cache and record the coordinates for the next team to discover. Prizes ranged from a $5 gift certificate to a local fast food chain, bouncy balls, chocolate, and more. This was the basic introduction to GPS for most of the team.

• The team conducted research in the Los Angeles Harbor to determine whether there are dangerous levels of CAM-17 metals in sediments in the area. These metals are dangerous for marine life and divers in the area. Harbor patrol divers are constantly inspecting incoming ships for any hazards that might endanger the port. We are currently working on preliminary analysis, and more detailed information using spacial analysis will be posted later.