Sections

GPS Research in Natural Resources

Room 4-516, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, UGA

Date: 09/09/2011 from 09:30 am to 02:30 pm

Satellite-based navigational systems, such as the U.S. NAVSTAR GPS program, assist natural resource managers with mapping and navigational processes. Foresters frequently use GPS equipment to delineate treatment areas and to develop standard geographic information system (GIS) databases for roads and other management-related activities.

Brochure

Full Brochure/Mail-in Registration Form

Course Overview

While GPS may be prevalent in our daily activities, the accuracy of this technology should also be considered. This short, four-hour course will:

Briefly introduce the basic features of satellite-based navigation systems of the U.S. and other countries

Discuss the sources of error and the common methods used in assessing data quality in forested conditions

Review GPS accuracy study results from recent case studies situated in the southern and western U.S.

Discuss pertinent research results from other areas of the world.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

Understand the basic components of GPS

Think critically about GPS error sources and data quality

Understand the current state of knowledge regarding the accuracy of GPS technology in forested conditions.

Who Should Attend?
Natural resource management professionals and realtors who have little or no background with GPS, yet have interest in learning about the basics of GPS and the accuracy of the technology when used in forested conditions. Upper-level managers who need to communicate GPS-related requests with field personnel may find the course useful as well. Realtors who are involved in the valuation of rural land and timber should also attend.

Format
The course involves lecture presentations that provide an overview of satellite-based navigational systems and GPS accuracy assessment studies conducted mainly in the southern and western United States. The material will be presented in a logical manner, from a description of satellite-based navigational systems, to the equipment involved in research studies, to the analysis of the accuracy of technology in forest conditions. These all occur within a four-hour period of time on the day of the course. Handouts will be provided to summarize the material presented.

Instructor
Dr. Pete Bettinger is a professor in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. He has more than 25 years of operating, teaching, and research experience in forestry and natural resources, including roles with the U.S. Forest Service, several forest products companies, and Oregon State University. Dr. Bettinger has taught courses on forest measurements, forest planning, and harvest scheduling, as well as GIS applications in natural resource management. In 2009, Academic Press published his book Forest Management and Planning, and in 2008 Oxford University Press published his book Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Natural Resource Management. Dr. Bettinger earned BS and MS degrees from Virginia Tech; and a PhD from Oregon State University.

Parking and Directions
A visitor parking deck is located just north of the Georgia Center. Parking is $10.00 per day. For a map and directions go to:
http://www.warnell.uga.edu/h/aboutWSFR/directions/index_html