9422411 Croteau This award will provide a research fellowship for Keith Croteau to spend a year at the International Center for Antarctic Information and Research (ICAIR) located in Christchurch, New Zealand. While at ICAIR, Mr. Croteau will be working under Dr. Steven M. Smith, the Director of the Center, which is primarily concerned with assembling, processing and supplying research and general information relating to Antarctica and its environs. During the past few decades, the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica has witnessed increased utilization by both the scientific and non-scientific communities. In order to minimize negative impacts to the region, ICAIR is developing a management plan for Ross Island. Integral to the design of this plan is the use of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies. Specific objectives to be addressed by Croteau are to identify and evaluate available data for the Ross Sea region, to develop a GIS database for this area, and to conduct preliminary GIS analyses relevant to the development of a management plan for Ross Island. The benefits of this project extend beyond the cooperating countries of New Zealand and the U.S. An effective management plan will assist in coordinating the activities of all nations utilizing the Ross Island region. A well designed digital database will help facilitate the exchange of information concerning the Ross Sea region and perhaps may also set a precedent for the entire Antarctic region. The travel is supported under the U.S.-New Zealand Junior Investigator Research Fellowship activity.
