Geography awarded grant for new geospatial program; goal is familiarizing the public with this science

Recent studies indicate the three largest areas of job opportunities in the United States are in the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology and geospatial technology. Although these sciences impact our lives on a daily basis, most people know very little about them, especially geospatial technology. However, the University of Missouri-Columbia recently received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund a new geospatial program and hire a specialist who will work to familiarize the general public about the importance of this unique science.

"Most local, state and federal agencies collect geospatial information and use it in making decisions,” said Gail Ludwig, professor and chair of MU’s Geography department. “In today’s digital society, for example, all highways, watersheds, city boundaries and utility lines consist of digital coordinates. When someone calls 911, a digital coordinate is passed on to the safety office, which then automatically plots this coordinate on a map and quickly and easily routes police, ambulances and other help to the caller."

Geospatial data, information that identifies the geographic location and the natural or constructed features and boundaries on earth, can be derived from remote sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and other new technologies. MU's new program, The Missouri Geospatial Extension Specialist Program, is designed to improve and extend decision support tools for water management, agricultural efficiency and ecological forecasting in cooperation with a variety of state partners.

The new program, housed in MU's Department of Geography, will help improve the creation and flow of up-to-date geospatial information and data to users in the state of Missouri, including access to GPS, digital imagery and other data input to use at the local government level throughout the state.

“The recent change in mapping is causing a major technology crisis, especially at the local government level,” Ludwig said. “Agencies do not have people skilled in the use of these new technologies. They have little experience in remote sensing, digital imagery and GPS, which are all geospatial technologies.”

The $280,301 grant, supported by a USDA/NASA agreement encouraging the application of NASA's advanced information systems to agricultural production and resource management, is one of six awarded to universities throughout the country.

USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worked together to develop these unique projects, manage the application and selection process, and provide funding for the grants.