Aquatic Ecosystem Mapping Projects: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Teaching GIS, GPS, and Hydroacoustics in Undergraduate Field Courses in Geography and Aquatic Biology

一个服务于地理学和水生生物学本科生的跨学科项目主要关注空间数据的量化。最近的技术进步已经改变了空间数据获取和分析过程。特别是，将地理信息系统（GIS）、全球定位系统（GPS）和水声技术结合起来的方法正迅速成为地理和湖沼学研究的标准方法。正在购买必要的设备，以发展一个综合系统，进行场地分析和从水生环境中获取空间数据。该项目旨在帮助本科生为资源管理职业、实地研究或研究生院做好准备。该项目还提高了学生对科学过程的理解，特别是那些选修这些课程的学生。此外，与当地保留地的高中生物教师合作的示范项目有助于鼓励美国土著学生对科学产生更大的兴趣。该项目的重点是一个创新的计划，由地理学野外方法课程的两到三名学生和水生生物学课程核心湖沼学课程的两到三名学生组成的团队组成。每个小组的成员相互作用，生成详细的水生环境数字地图。该项目允许来自两个学科的学生作为互补的“内容专家”进行互动，将新技术应用于现实世界的问题。新的地理信息系统/全球定位系统/水声系统也被用于几个本科地理和水生生物学课程的实地教学。设备也可供学生使用的定向研究项目，这两个专业都需要。＊

An interdisciplinary project serving undergraduates in geography and aquatic biology is focusing heavily on the quantification of spatial data. Recent technological advances have transformed spatial data acquisition and analysis processes. In particular, approaches integrating geographical information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and hydroacoustic technologies are rapidly becoming standard methods in geographical and limnological research. The equipment necessary to develop an integrated system for site analysis and acquisition of spatial data from aquatic environments is being purchased. The project is preparing undergraduates for resource management careers, field research, or graduate school. The project is also enhancing student understanding of scientific processes, especially among those students who enroll in the courses as electives. In addition, demonstration projects with high school biology teachers on local reservations is serving to encourage a greater interest in science among Native American students. The main point of the project is an innovative plan combining teams of two or three students from the Geography's Field Methods course with two or three students from the Aquatic Biology program's core Limnology course. Members of each of these teams interact to produce detailed digital maps of aquatic environments. This project allows students from the two disciplines to interact as complementary "content experts" in applying new technologies to real-world problems. The new GIS/GPS/hydroacoustics system is also being used for field instruction in several undergraduate geography and aquatic biology courses. Equipment is also available for student use in directed research projects, which are required in both majors. *