Preparing Skilled Technicians in Geographical Information Systems for Agricultural and Land Management Fields

地理信息系统（GIS）的技术创新和进步使土地资源的管理更加有效。例如，基于地理信息系统的农业做法通过提供监测土壤特性和作物健康的工具，使农民能够提高产量并降低成本。地理信息系统技术也被公共土地管理者用来追踪入侵物种和计划维护活动，如控制燃烧。地理信息系统技术在农业工业和土地管理中的新兴应用导致对具有各种地理信息系统技能的技术人员的需求，如ArcGIS、远程数据收集和空间数据表示。阿肯色大学科萨托社区学院的这个项目旨在解决阿肯色西南部对地理信息系统训练有素的技术人员的需求。该地区以农田为主，散布着地方、州和联邦的公共土地。对区域雇主进行的基线调查表明，他们的雇员需要接受地理信息系统技能培训，并在日常工作中使用这些技能。雇主还表示，他们将优先雇用受过地理信息系统培训的个人。为了满足这一劳动力需求，项目团队和教师将与行业顾问委员会合作，开发一门新的GIS技术导论实验课程。该委员会还将帮助设计地理信息系统的体验学习机会，包括在当地行业实习。该项目将提供专业发展，帮助教师将GIS活动纳入他们的教学，包括新手、高级和专家GIS技能应用。该项目还将开设两门地理信息系统新课程，并设立新的地理信息系统技术熟练证书。UA Cossatot是一家西班牙裔服务机构。因此，该项目计划通过支持双语职业教练和教师在支持不同学生的策略方面的专业发展，增加西班牙裔学生在地理信息系统项目中的参与度。该项目将建立一个网站，重点介绍需要地理信息系统培训的学生实习、工作见习和就业机会。预计这一模式可以被其他有类似劳动力需求地区的社区学院采用和调整。评估和评价将为教育、农业和公众的利益相关者提供信息。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Technological innovations and advancements in geographic information systems (GIS) enable better management of land resources. For example, GIS-based agricultural practices enable farmers to increase production and reduce costs by providing tools for monitoring soil properties and crop health. GIS technologies are also used by public land managers to track invasive species and to plan maintenance activities such as controlled burns. The emerging applications of GIS technologies in agroindustry and land management has resulted in the need for technicians with a variety of GIS skills such as ArcGIS, remote data collection, and spatial data presentation. This project at the Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas intends to address the need for GIS-trained technicians in southwest Arkansas. This area is dominated by farmland, interspersed with local, state, and federal public lands. Baseline surveys of regional employers indicated that their employees require training in GIS skills, which they use daily on the job. The employers also indicated that they would give hiring priority to individuals with GIS training. To meet this workforce need, the project team and faculty will work with an industry advisory board to develop a new Introduction to GIS Technology lab course. This board will also help to design experiential learning opportunities in GIS, including internships with local industry. The project will provide professional development to help faculty incorporate GIS activities into their teaching, including novice, advanced, and expert GIS skill applications. The project will also create two new courses in GIS and establish a new Certificate of Proficiency in GIS Technology. UA Cossatot is a Hispanic Service Institution. Consequently, the project plans to increase participation of Hispanic students in GIS programs by supporting bilingual career coaches and faculty professional development regarding strategies to support diverse students. The project will develop a website to highlight student internships, job shadowing, and career opportunities that require GIS training. It is expected that this model can be adopted and adapted by other community colleges in areas with similar workforce needs. The assessment and evaluation will inform stakeholders in education, agriculture, and the public. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.