Abstract

Educational and Research Activities on Mapping of Ecosystems in Virginia
Track: User Presentations - Teaching
Authors: Shobha Sriharan, Laren Robinson

This presentation focuses on the training of undergraduate students in mapping of important trees, soil compositions and weeds, which are important for restoration by the state and federal agencies. By using geospatial technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS) and ArcGIS, the locations of selected forest trees and invasive weeds were mapped in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the Experimental Plots of the Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill) at Virginia State University located at Randolph Farm (Petersburg) and Emporia. By collecting waypoints at the Natural Area (Great Dismal Swamp) and Experimental Plots (Petersburg and Emporia) planted with of Shortleaf pine from three states (Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri), The students were engaged in collecting way photographs of the locations of the wide range of trees and weeds (Dismal Swamp) and Shortleaf pine (Experimental Plots), and hyperlinking the data for mapping the features in the study site.