Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 03:16:36 -0000 From: Peter LeimgruberSubject: GIS & Remote Sensing for Wildlife Managers The Smithsonian Institution's Conservation & Research Center is hosting an Introduction to the use of Geographic Information Systems & Remote Sensing in Conservation and Wildlife Management training course. This is a one-week course and is offered twice during the summer, June 18-22 and June 25-29. Increasingly, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing have become important tools for decision making and the applied management of natural resources. Many federal agencies and NGO's rely on GIS and satellite data for their work and are starting to produce their own spatial databases. However, there are few training opportunities for wildlife managers to learn the application of GIS in everyday management situations. Our course will provide hands-on experience for the collection of data, GIS analysis of the data, and map making. This short course will provide wildlife managers with a working knowledge about the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing to the monitoring and management of wildlife and forest vegetation. Exercises in establishing locations with a Global Positioning System (GPS), data input into a GIS, and spatial analysis techniques for GIS will provide hands-on and real world experience during the course. Based on examples about habitat selection in songbirds and white-tailed deer, course participants will learn how to: -Collect GIS data in the field using survey techniques and GPS -Differentially correct GPS data -Input GPS data into GIS -Input field data into GIS -Use GIS for management of large data sets from multiple sources -Design and perform analysis using GIS data and spatial analysis techniques. -Integrate data with ancillary data, such as satellite imagery, aerial photography, and State Agency databases. Please see our web page for more information: http://www.si.edu/crc/tp/tp_gis/tp_gis.htm