This project is establishing a Geographic Information System (GIS) teaching facility that permits students to learn fundamental principles of computerized cartography and spatial data analysis. GIS products including specialized maps and overlays are being used in a variety of classes and teaching situations, both as examples of computer applications and as specific aids in courses in biogeography and applied ecology. The proposal includes funding for both software and hardware needed in creating and maintaining a geographic database for Mt. Desert Island and its immediate surroundings. Students select specific regions of the island and by digitizing a series of maps containing data ranging from hydrology to current land-use patterns, create a comprehensive picture of the island's biogeography. As the project develops, increasing areas will be covered and the resulting digital model will be available to both the academic and general community as an aid in planning, resource use, and development. The project provides students a unique opportunity to interact with and to learn to apply state-of- the-art cartographic techniques. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.
