BSEN 5220 - Geospatial Technologies in Biosystems

Geospatial technologies including GPS, GIS, and remote sensing systems applied to biosystems. Collecting, managing, and analyzing spatial data for agricultural and forest systems.

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The beginning of the class we focused on GPS, how to use a GPS receiver, how the receiver works, and starting to plot points in ArcGIS. We continuously built skills over time, to then use them all in the final project. After mastering the basics of ArcGIS, we started working more in depth with GIS tools like data dictionaries, spatial analysis tools, feature tools, and also symbology.

The final project was very hands off, and the group got to choose our project/application. My group chose to focus on mapping flood mitigation techniques that were used by Auburn University. We utilized the data dictionary tool to fully map out most of the point, line, and area features around campus to have a full map of areas on campus that had applications like storm drains and retention ponds. The group thought that this would be useful for campus planners if they want to reduce flooding on campus, and then they knew existing areas on campus that had flood mitigation measures, and plan out what areas were lacking.

I enjoyed this class, it was more lab focused than what I'm used to, but I enjoyed being able to apply what I learned in class to the ArcGIS software. I am hoping that having some knowledge of ArcGIS software will give me an edge when applying for jobs, because I really enjoyed it and could see myself working with this software as a career path.