“Green Technology” and GPS Certification

With help from the EJLB Foundation.

“Green technology” has been loosely defined as “any technology that has environmental benefits.”  To properly assess the benefits we would have to examine the environmental, economic and social costs of utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

The Canadian Ecology Centre has applied its Green Check logo to GPS certification.  Why? We could talk about how GPS technology can reduce the “ecological footprint” on the landscape.  But for the person who has completed a certified GPS course we believe the real value of GPS technology is the promotion of “being outside with nature.”  One benefit of understanding and applying the technology is that it promotes safe and efficient navigation and this includes the wise of use of land and water trails.  Trails provide social, heritage, economic, health and environmental benefits.  Understanding where you are also allows the user to understand where you shouldn’t go.