The Value of Open GIS in Higher Education

Open source software has become increasingly popular in geospatial research and industry. Despite this trend, higher education has less readily adopted open source in GIS curriculum which has been dominated by proprietary systems for decades. This presentation will discuss the value of bringing open source into GIS curriculum. The discussion will focus on several aspects including GIS curricular standards and competencies, employer demand, generational interest (millennials), pedagogical benefits, and general societal benefits. Strategies for encouraging the adoption of open source in GIS curriculum will be identified

UAS

This roundtable focuses on UAS as a geospatial data collection tool. Researchers with extensive background in GIS and remote sensing software, or interest in incorporating their UAS data more into GIS discuss about possible research opportunities and collaboration as well as how to incorporate UAS and GIS into curriculum

Editorial

Editorial for JATE 11.2

Unmanned Aerial Systems Modeling in a Geographic Information System

The abilities of UAS to gather high-resolution imagery over a given area on a frequent basis are now well-known to those in the construction and excavation industries. Less well known, however, are the ways that UAS data can be used in value-added data analysis. Using real-world examples, this talk explores how UAS data can be used for modeling and monitoring in a geo-graphic information system (GIS)

Editorial

Editorial for JATE 12.1

Developing a Competency Learning Model for Students of Unmanned Aerial Systems

Over the past decade, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), along with commercial UAS pilots, have become an established and increasingly regulated industry. Unfortunately, in the U.S. the number of near misses and incidents involving unsafe UAS operations is increasing dramatically. Additionally, industries looking to adopt UAS technologies not only require trained professionals to ensure safe and legal operations but may look for competencies that go well beyond the minimum regulatory requirements. To date, research regarding the higher order learning outcomes and competencies that are expected of UAS university graduates is lacking. Therefore, this research attempts to provide perspective of the core competencies that industry organizations may desire in a UAS graduate and, by extension, in a UAS professional. This paper describes the methods used to identify core UAS competencies, and presents a UAS Competency Learning Model that may help educators better prepare graduates for successful industry careers. Researchers utilized a multi-phase process over an 18-month period using both quantitative and qualitative methods, which included literature reviews, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and attendance at UAS industry events. Ultimately, from this research emerged the following six UAS competencies: Leadership, Technical Excellence, Safety and Ethics, Analytical Thinking, Teamwork, and Entrepreneurship