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ESRI DONATES SOFTWARE
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), a Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) software and data company based in Redlands, Calif., has donated
approximately $61,000 worth of software to Prescott College.
The new software will be used to outfit the College's GIS lab. GIS is a
computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying
data related to positions on the Earth's surface. The technology can be used
for resource management, development planning and other scientific investigations.
Some examples include planning routes for emergency vehicles in the event
of a natural disaster or developing floodplain maps.
Locally, Prescott College students use GIS on a variety of projects. Several
students are working to develop local interest in and protection of Prescott's
creek, said David Hanna, professor of environmental studies and GIS course
instructor.
"The students are using GIS to develop maps of Prescott's creek system
and merging that with maps of land ownership and vegetation so people can
see where the water goes and how they fit into the system," said Hanna.
Students are also using GIS to help build a database of archeological sites
in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, he said.
The College received 16 licenses each of two types of software, classroom
workbooks and access to ESRI's Virtual Campus, an online learning center
for students, faculty and professionals that provides online tutorials, data,
chat rooms and technical support tutoring.
Craig Martinsen, special projects coordinator for the Prescott College/NASA
Sustainability and Global Change Program, said the new software is the "newest,
fastest and best technology out there."
"The new software will allow our students to interface with more people
in the area, including the city, county, Forest Service, and NASA program,
who use the same system. Students will produce more accurate research projects
and produce high quality maps more easily. Since this software is predominantly
used in the GIS world, our students will be more prepared to enter the job
market," he said.
Over the next few years, Hanna hopes to see the College's GIS program grow.
"I hope we are able to develop more local programs and projects and
collaborate with the city, county and other local non-profit institutions.
We'd also like to integrate GIS into the College's Kino Bay Center to benefit
the international research community. The new and old software packages will
work well together, helping us teach more advanced coursework and round out
our students' understanding of the GIS field and process," he said.
Michael Phoenix, manager of ESRI's University Programs said education is
very important to the company. "We believe that GIS software can be
used as a tool for better decision making. Environmental, social, and economic
problems exist within a spatial context and the tools of spatial analysis
(GIS) are necessary in order to make well-informed decisions. For ESRI making
the tools is not enough, we must help people know how to use the tools."
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