Integrating Spatial Information Technologies into the Environmental Studies Curriculum

跨学科(99)该项目正在通过引入空间分析实验室和相关课程来加强葛底斯堡学院的环境研究计划，以提供对环境分析和问题解决至关重要的空间信息技术方面的严格教育和实践培训。复杂的环境问题通常存在于地理环境中。这些问题可以通过使用地理信息系统(GIS)、全球定位系统(GPS)和遥感(RS)来分析空间参考数据来解决。该项目的目标是让本科生在这些技术的基本概念、方法和环境应用方面有一个坚实的基础，以便他们准备好在私营和公共部门以及研究生研究背景下担任环境研究和政策分析的领导角色。该项目正在调整三个成功的项目，以满足本科生环境研究学生的需求：米德尔伯里学院和曼荷莲学院的项目，以及国家地理信息与分析中心(NCGIA)开发的地理信息系统核心课程。NCGIA的课程正在修改和扩展，增加了关于全球定位系统和遥感的内容。正在实施三门新课程：(1)地理信息系统概论，(2)空间信息技术的环境应用，(3)环境遥感。课程的实验室部分通过个人和小组项目促进积极和协作的学习。学生通过练习学生开发和维护(在教师监督下)周围地区的环境数据库来检查环境问题-这是实验室组成部分的一个创新功能。该项目还将空间信息技术融入本科生毕业论文研究。正在使用ArcInfo、ArcView和IDRISI地理信息系统和图像处理软件进行跨学科教学和研究。

Interdisciplinary (99)This project is enhancing the Environmental Studies Program at Gettysburg College by introducing a Spatial Analysis Laboratory and associated curriculum to provide rigorous education and hands-on training in spatial information technologies that are critical to environmental analysis and problem solving. Complex environmental problems are commonly situated in geographic contexts. These problems can be addressed by analyzing spatially referenced data through the use of geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and remote sensing (RS). The project goal is giving undergraduate students a strong foundation in the fundamental concepts, methods, and environmental applications of these technologies so that they will be prepared to assume leading roles in environmental research and policy analysis in the private and public sectors and graduate research contexts. The project is adapting three successful programs to fit the needs of undergraduate environmental studies students: programs at Middlebury College and Mount Holyoke College as well as the core curriculum in GIS developed by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA). The NCGIA curriculum is being modified and extended by including content on GPS and RS. Three new courses are being implemented: (1) Introduction to Geographical Information Systems, (2) Environmental Applications of Spatial Information Technologies, and (3) Remote Sensing of the Environment. Laboratory components of the courses are promoting active and collaborative learning through individual and group projects. Students are examining environmental issues by exercising a student-developed and maintained (with faculty supervision) environmental database for the surrounding region-an innovative feature of the laboratory components. The project also integrates spatial information technologies into undergraduate thesis research. Interdisciplinary instruction and research is being conducted using ArcInfo, ArcView, and Idrisi GIS and image processing software.