February 4, 2002

NDSU/NASA Extension Geospatial Education Program

The first phase of a North Dakota State University Extension Geospatial Education Program will begin this month, according to John Nowatzki, program coordinator and a NDSU extension specialist. He has scheduled seven initial workshops across North Dakota between February 4 and 25.

The workshops are part of a three-year grant the Agricultural and Biosytems Engineering Department at NDSU received from NASA to train NDSU extension agents, researchers and others to incorporate remote sensing technology, along with other geo-spatial technology such as geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) into management schemes.

Sixty-three NDSU extension personnel and six others from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the North Dakota Forest Service have registered for the three-year program, representing 41 of the 53 North Dakota counties.

Ultimately, the project’s goal is to help NDSU extension agents become familiar with NASA products and geospatial technologies and to incorporate this technology into the activities of North Dakotans.

The one-day workshops are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in these locations:

• Feb. 5, Fargo, NDSU Memorial Union, University Chambers
• Feb. 6, Carrington, NDSU Research/Extension Center
• Feb.7, Bismarck, Burleigh County Extension Office
• Feb. 12, Bowbells, Burke County Courthouse Meeting Room
• Feb. 13, Dickinson, Stark/Billings Extension Office Meeting Room
• Feb. 19, Lisbon, Ransom County Courthouse Meeting Room
• Feb. 25, Langdon, Cavalier County Courthouse Meeting Room

These workshops have two primary objectives: capabilities and uses of the handheld computer and GPS unit, and basic and intermediate GIS skills. Participants will complete practical exercises using the handheld computers and GPS units to mark locations and field boundaries.

"The handheld computer allows users to instantly determine area and acres of a field and later transfer the information to desktop computers," Nowatzki says. "The workshop participants continue the exercise using laptop computers to overlay the collected GPS points and field boundary data on satellite imagery and other background maps."

The next series of workshops will focus on GPS and its various potential applications. The workshops will include agricultural applications such as variable rate application, light bar navigation, yield monitoring technologies, and applications for communities, economic development and youth. Training will include the technology principles and use, and its associated GIS applications.

The third workshop series will provide training in types and uses of various remote-sensing technologies including satellite imagery and aerial photography. The series of workshops will all be conducted this year. Additional geospatial application information will be made available to participants by special voluntary online and in-person seminars throughout the project period.

The next phase of the NDSU Extension Geospatial Education Program will involve end-user projects that incorporate geospatial products and practices. Participating NDSU extension personnel will cooperate with individuals and groups to incorporate geospatial technologies, including remote-sensing products such as satellite imagery and aerial photography and GIS and GPS, into agricultural, natural resource, youth and community projects. These end-user projects may involve commercial businesses, farming and ranching activities, government functions, educational efforts, demonstration projects or others. This phase of the program will be conducted throughout the three-year program.

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Source: John Nowatzki, (701) 231-8213, jnowatzk@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231- 6136, Richard.Mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu