Course Description

Students will apply GIS, GPS, and remote sensing principles in agricultural applications; emphasizing hands-on experience working with producers, vendors, and researchers collecting data, developing spatial databases, analyzing data, and communicating findings. Students will explore agriculture as a landscape complex and evaluate regulatory requirements, conservation opportunities, applied technologies, and market factors.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduates will be required to do a research paper that will at a minimum include: calculation and identification of erosion rates with RUSLE and nitrogen mineralization using MINMOD for an area of interest with consideration of the different soils and management within the area of interest. This will require identifying maps and layers needed, soil sampling and analysis, identification of contributing areas, creation of vulnerability and nitrogen requirement maps.

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Athena Title

Nutri and Ener Efficien GIS

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Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite

APTC(CRSS) 3030-3030L

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Semester Course Offered

Offered fall

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student Learning Outcomes

• Students should be familiar with terminology, standards, and map components associated with geographic information systems.
• Students will become familiar with basic tools within ArcGIS Pro Desktop for spatial and demographic analysis utilizing a workbook and laboratory assignments.
• The student will analyze and create maps to answer a question that will either improve nutrient and energy efficiency, identify or solve a soil or water conservation issue, a management decision, develop a farm management plan, or the best place for a grass waterway or wildlife corridor, or develop management zones. The question is developed by the student with guidance.
• With guidance, the student will explore the problem and determine the spatial and demographic components necessary to answer the question. This includes finding the data at the appropriate resolution.
• Working with geospatial and digital data students will understand the importance of metadata, collection and use of GPS data, integration of USDA-NRCS Web Soil Survey and site-specific collection of data from across the web, and downloading and assessing the quality of data from the internet into ArcGIS Pro.
• Students will develop a statement of the problem or need; the aims of their project; determine the data needed for their individual project; gather the data; develop a management plan; within ESRI GIS analyze the data, create maps; and present the results and conclusions of their question in a presentation and in a final report.
• Graduate students are expected to answer more complex questions and have a greater understanding of the applications with Arc GIS Pro tools.

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Topical Outline

• 1. Agriculture as a landscape complex 2. Agricultural practices related to regulation, conservation, and economic factors 3. Overview of GIS, GPS, and RM technologies in agricultural applications 4. Basics of GIS and database development 5. Introduction and use of remotely sensed data 6. Basics of GPS and data acquisition 7. Functions of GPS and incorporating GPS data into GIS projects 8. Introduction to spatial analysis 9. Problem definition and data analysis functions 10. Using spatial models for decision making 11. Communicating findings: generating maps, images, reports, and presentations 12. GIS project development and management: lessons learned 13. Overview of other technologies used in precision agriculture

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Institutional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.

Critical Thinking

The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.

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Syllabus

Select Faculty / Instructor to download syllabus:   Franklin, Dorcas

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