The Ability of Sixth Grade Children to Use Radarsat Satellite Images

Abstract

This study examined the ability of 27 sixth grade children in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to interpret selected features of a Radarsat satellite image. The children used an image of their neighborhood; an image of the central part of Edmonton; an image of St. Albert, a small city northwest of Edmonton; and a road map of the locations. The children were tested with a Radarsat image of a neighborhood similar to theirs in the city of Calgary 294 km south of Edmonton. All images were made the same day The results showed that the children were able to interpret features such as roads, houses, cars, bridges, vegetation, and rivers. However, some children had difficulty finding a location on the Radarsat image noted on the road map.