M E S M

MESM Track

Remote Sensing and

Spatial Analysis (RSSA)

Dr. Y.Q. Wang (Track Chair)

http://nrs.uri.edu/people/faculty/wang.html

M E S M Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis

• Remote sensing, GIS, GPS and their applications are among central components of geographic information science and technology, or geotechnology.

• The U.S. Department of Labor identified geotechnology as one of the three most important emerging and evolving fields, along with nanotechnology and biotechnology.

• Geotechnology is transforming disciplines in environmental science and management. Graduates in environmental sciences and management note that knowledge and skills in GIS and remote-sensing are becoming essential and as important as fieldwork.

M E S M Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis

• Environmental Data Center

To support the use of contemporary tools of spatial data processing and electronic dissemination in the analysis and distribution of environmental data.

• Laboratory for Terrestrial Remote Sensing

Application of remote sensing science and technologies in ecosystem monitoring, natural resources analysis and mapping.

M E S M

1974 Aerial 2003 Quick Bird

An example of salt marsh monitoring, mapping and change analysis

M E S M QuickBird-2 September 28, 2003 Band 3,2,1 in RGB)

M E S M World View II September 19, 2013 Band 4,3,2 in RGB)

M E S M QuickBird-2 September 28, 2003 Band 4,3,2 in RGB)

M E S M World View II September 19, 2013 Band 6,3,2 in RGB)

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QuickBird-2 September 28, 2003 Band 4,3,2 in RGB)

M E S M

World View II September 19, 2013 Band 6,3,2 in RGB)

M E S M

World View-II September 15, 2012 Band 6,3,2 in RGB)

M E S M

Ground Checking Locations

M E S M

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M E S M

A.T. is a cross-section MEGA-

Transect of the eastern U.S.

Forests and alpine areas, and

offers a setting for collecting

data on the health of eco-

systems for early detection

of undesirable changes in

the natural resources.

Appalachian Trail:

2,175 miles (3,500 km)

long and crosses 14

states in the Eastern U.S.

Intersecting 8 National

Forests; 6 units of the

National Park System,

More than 70 State Park,

Forest, and Game

Management units, and

287 local jurisdictions

The protected lands

harbor rare, threatened,

endangered species

M E S M

M E S M Program Overview

• This specialization provides students with technical skills required to use state-of-the-art mapping technologies, such as geographic information systems (GIS), and cutting-edge data systems, such as those provided by satellite and aerial remote sensing and global positioning systems (GPS), for the analysis and presentation of environmental data.

• Students take a core of basic and advanced courses in remote sensing and GIS, where they learn to use modern mapping technologies.

• Additional coursework provides them with practical instruction in how GIS and remote sensing are applied in environmental analysis and basic research.

• Students master a large and diverse suite of technical tools in geospatial data analysis. These can be used to solve practical problems, such as in watershed modeling, ecosystem science, wildlife ecology, water resource management, landscape ecology, conservation biology, and land-use and land-cover change (LULCC)…

M E S M Track Requirements

Core courses (21-25 credits), including:

Natural Sciences (12-16 credits) - Remote Sensing & Spatial Analysis (at least 9 credits) - Earth & Ecosystem Science (0-7 credits)

Social Sciences (6 credits)

Quantitative Methods (3 credits)

Elective courses (6-10 credits)

Independent study (Major Paper) (3 credits: EVS 598)

Graduate seminar (2 credits)

M E S M Sample Classes

Natural Science Core Courses

NRS 415 Remote Sensing of the Environment 3 cr.

NRS 509 Concepts in GIS & Remote Sensing 4 cr.

NRS 410 Fundamentals of GIS 3 cr.

NRS 516 Remote Sensing in Natural Resources Mapping 3 cr.

NRS 522 Advanced GIS Analysis of Environmental Data 3 cr.

NRS 524 Application of Advanced Spatial Analysis 1 cr.

NRS 533 Landscape Pattern and Change 3 cr.

Quantitative Methods Courses NRS 520 Quantitative Techniques in Natural Resources Research

3 cr.

STA 411 Biostatistics 3 cr.

STA 550 Ecological Statistics 3 cr.

STA 515 Spatial Data Analysis 3 cr.

Social Sciences Courses

NRS 555 Applied Coastal Ecology 2 cr.

MAF 484 Environmental Analysis & Policy in Coastal Management

3 cr.

MAF 527 Marine Protected Areas 3 cr.

M E S M Internship Opportunities

• RI Department of Environmental Management

• RI Natural History Survey

• Environmental Protection Agency

• National Park Service

• US Fish & Wildlife Service

• The Nature Conservancy

M E S M Recent Major Paper Topics

Name Topic Audience

Ann Borowik Landscape Tools for Conservationists: A Custom ESRI ArcToolbox for the Stewardship of Conservation Lands in Rhode Island

User groups of conservation and planning

Michele Georgiani Mapping Inundation From Storm Surge: Modeling the Effects of Hurricane Hazards in Yarmouth, MA

Environmental management and disaster control

Eric Akins EO-1 Advanced Land Imager Data in Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Mapping

Scientific research and coastal management communities

Mark Christiano A Protocol of Using High Spatial Resolution Satellite Imagery to Map Salt Marshes

NPS, scientific research and coastal management communities

M E S M Recent Major Paper Topics

Name Topic Audience

Marisa Thompson Modeling Sea Level Rise Impacts in South Kingstown

User groups of conservation and planning

Tiffany-Lane Davis Terrain Modeling the Cape Cod National Seashore

NPS, Environmental management and disaster control, scientific research

Thomas Mayo Effects of Human Disturbance on Bird Use of a Coastal Barrier Beach: Napatree Point, Rhode Island

Environmental management and scientific research

Shelby Southworth

Rhode Island's Natural Heritage: Locational Discretion in an Age of Spatial Data

Land managers, general public

M E S M Careers

• Graduates are prepared for careers in federal, state, or municipal government, nonprofit organizations, and private consulting firms requiring professionals who can bring science to bear on policy and management solutions that succeed in a modern political and economic setting.

M E S M Student Stories • Thomas Mayo, Working as GIS Manager, Portsmouth RI, Dept of Public works. • Andrew Neill, Research Associate II working as GIS tech for URI

EDC on NPS project • Shelby Southworth, Working as GIS Analyst at EPA Narragansett

Lab. • Ann Borowik, GIS Analyst, Town of Wellesly, MA • Marisa Thompson, Head of GIS Team, MetLife Insurance • Michele Georgiani, Project Manager, Applied Geographics, Inc, • Laura Spark, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), Newport • Eric Akins, US Navy • Mark Christiano, GIS Specialist, NPS - Gateway National

Recreation Area • Christine Slinko, GIS Specialist, private firm • Kendall Gadomski, Ph.D. student, international • Emily Hale, GIS professional, US Navy

M E S M Student Stories