Students in the fields of environmental planning and resource management are increasingly faced with the need to become familiar with techniques of image processing and geographic information systems. It is important to strengthen and expand undergraduate coursework in these areas by improving student training in remote sensing, geographic information systems and environmental planning. An integrated computer-based hardware and software system (ERDAS) is used to meet these needs, through expanding the content of three upper level courses, offering broader opportunities for independent student research and supplementing the content of two other upper level courses and a large enrollment lower level course. Students in Remote Sensing courses are learning a range of digital image processing techniques through the development of test area classifications. In two related courses, Analytic Methods and Environmental Planning, students develop and manipulate digital data bases using geographic information system capabilities and evaluate the cartographic and statistical output. The ERDAS system requested also allows students to understand the links between the two technologies and expand their abilities to respond to problems in the professional environment. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.
