Tuesday, August 18. 2009

Education Tidbits

University of Illinois computer science Professor John Hart got a visit from a former student, Matei Stroila who now works for NAVTEQ. Stroila is involved in research and emerging technologies with Navteq and decided to delivered the vehicle to support Hart's research in 2D and 3D mapping, something NAVTEQ is also exploring.

In the vehicle he brought is camera equipment that takes "a sphere of pictures" and a laser scanner that makes precise measurements of how far away objects are as it passes by them.

The scanner shines a laser beam off a tree on Green Street, for instance, and the time that it takes to bounce back, combined with GPS in the vehicle, tells precisely how far away the tree is.

The vehicle was gathering one point for every 2 centimeters – less than an inch – Hart said.

- News-Gazette

Indiana State University geography students and Kennesaw State University students in north central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in a field course.

"Students surveyed and collected data regarding physical and human landscapes. They used soil and water test kits, global positioning systems as well as took walking tours of Appalachian communities and coal camps to learn about cultural landscapes and settlement patterns. ISU and KSU students formed groups to research projects ranging from "Geology of West Virginia," "Red Maple Regeneration and Oak Decline" and "Hydrology of a Reach Along Decker's Creek" to "Demographics, Politics and Bumper Stickers," "Neighborhood Architecture of Morgantown, W.Va." and "Coal Camps and the Human Landscape.""

I for one had no geography field experience as an undergrad (it was a small department) but got some from a geosci course and and a non-credit summer geology field course (2 undergrads, 15 grads - learned more about life that geology, but that was fine!).

- Indiana State University

San Diego State University Department of Geography professor Douglas Stow, an expert in remote-sensing analysis of terrestrial environments, is a recipient of The President’s Leadership Fund Awards for Faculty and Staff Excellence. He receives $5,000 to invested in his work which includes studying satellite imagery for changes in arctic habitats and the use of UAVs.

- San Diego State University

Western Michigan University is proud that one its graduates is heading to work on the next versions of Google's Internet mapping and architectural modeling software. Jonathan Rumohr of Ishpeming, Mich., an April graduate in mechanical engineering, received an all-expense paid trip to Google's Colorado complex earlier this month to work with the team on the next version of Google Earth and Sketchup.

- Western Michigan University