Abstract
Application of Geospatial Technology in an Emergency Management Academic Program
Track: Teaching with GIS in Higher Education
Author(s): Ed Leachman
Arkansas Tech University offers a B.S. degree in Emergency Management and an M.S. degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. A focus of both degree programs is student exposure to best practice processes and technology in real-life situations. This paper presents the Arkansas Tech strategy to accomplish this, which is centered on a state-of-the-art on-campus Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that features a comprehensive GIS-based modeling and simulation capability. The EOC software suite for modeling and simulation includes the ArcGIS product set, the Comprehensive Assessment Toolset (CATS) and HAZUS-MH MR1. The presentation covers how the EOC and these modeling and simulation capabilities are integrated into both the B.S. and M.S. curricula and into student research projects. In addition, the presentation describes how students, from a service learning perspective, are involved in supporting local, regional, and state organizations and the University using the modeling and simulation capabilities of the EOC.
Ed Leachman
Arkansas Tech University
Emergency Administration and Management
105 West O Street
Bryan 223
Russellville, AR 72801
US
Phone: 479-964-0536
Fax: 479-356-2091
E-mail: ed.leachman@atu.edu