Abstract
Using GIS to Prepare Study Abroad Students for New Environments
Track: Teaching with GIS Across the Curriculum
Authors: Eric Anderson
In the context of most international study programs, students are expected to learn very quickly about their new surroundings and at the same time master the use of analysis tools in order to develop meaningful studies. This presentation discusses how strategic GIS and remote sensing training can familiarize students with the foreign geographies and environments they come to study, at the same time equipping them with a powerful toolkit to conduct high quality research. Also included in this talk are GIS project ideas for climate impact studies, natural hazards and disasters, habitat suitability modeling, land use, hydrology and erosion, particularly through the Regional Visualization and Monitoring System (SERVIR) in Central America. Lastly, lessons learned from the field and perspectives from both students and mentors with regard to designing and supervising GIS projects are presented.