GIS Applications for Environmental Professionals
This course is sold out. If you wish to be placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations, please send an Email to Seth Molofsky.
NOTE: The CT State Board of Examiners of Environmental Professionals has approved this course for 8.0 hours of continuing education credits (CTLEP-293). The MA LSP Board has approved this course for 8.0 Technical credits (LSP Course #1409). This course has also been approved for 8 PDH(s) for NY State PE requirements (PS003743).
Time and Location: This seminar will be held on March 16, 2011 and runs from 8 AM - 5 PM at Rensselaer at Hartford, Hartford, CT (Seminar Hall). Please arrive by 7:30 AM for registration. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served. For directions to Rensselaer, see: http://www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartford/index.html
Fee: EPOC Members: $300, Non-Members: $350, Gov't Employees/Student (Members): $150
PRESENTERS
- Matthew Mayo, President, Spatial Data Management Corporation, Newton, MA
- Marie Evans Esten, President, Loon Environmental LLC, Riverside, RI
COURSE ABSTRACT
Understanding spatial and temporal relationships is essential to evaluating the behavior of contaminants in the environment, particularly at complex sites where multiple sensitive receptors exist. Environmental professionals (EPs) are required to delineate the horizontal and vertical extent of contamination, typically identifying the location of a contaminated groundwater plume and its behavior over time. EPs collect a variety of samples from environmental media, and the locations of these sample data relative to current or historic features, human and environmental receptors and environmental media such as aquifers, streams or other surface water bodies, etc., are critical.
Geographic Information Systems and their underlying databases incorporate location information along with other data to allow EPs to conceptualize the position of data points at their sites along with the hydrogeologic and hydrochemical signatures associated with these points. GIS databases can help to minimize inaccuracies and errors in the position of this data with respect to the site and make it easier for the EP to visualize site conditions and behavior over time. The use of appropriate GIS and database development techniques can be particularly helpful when contaminated sites lie close to boundaries or sensitive receptors, and the status or data trend of the sample locations needs to be known.
Students attending this course will obtain a basic and introductory understanding of GIS and the underlying data format, site characterization tools available in GIS, availability of public GIS compatible data, and methods for linking field collected data with GIS. This course is developed as lecture style with descriptions and presentations of concepts and case studies, students are not required to bring their own computers.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course is formatted to provide students with a baseline understanding of GIS database development and capabilities. GIS will be put in context with existing data packages more commonly used to facilitate students understanding of GIS's capabilities. The course will provide students with an understanding of:
- What a GIS is, what the limitations are and uses of GIS.
- What existing database and mapping platforms are compatible with GIS software.
- How to locate GIS resources to assist in procuring site data (mostly free to the public) to assimilate with an EPs specific site.
- How to develop a properly formatted database in order to make data more GIS compatible or to work with a GIS professional more effectively.
- What data presentation techniques are available including options for hosting data on-line (kml) and interfacing site data such as images and laboratory information with GIS.
