The Laboratory for
Remote Sensing and Environmental Analysis began as a collaboration
of the College of Arts & Letters and the College of Sciences
at Old Dominion University supported by NASA. The
laboratory links social and earth sciences with state-of-the-art
tools in remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and
spatial analysis technology. The lab has expanded its focus
to include geospatial technologies including remote sensing, GIS,
GPS, and spatial analysis. The laboratory offers a Certificate in Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments
(SpACE) that builds upon a foundation of interdisciplinary
coursework in remote sensing, GIS, and coastal landscape ecology.
MISSION:
The mission of LaRSEA
is to foster remote sensing societal benefits from geospatial
technologies through education and applied research. It provides
a formal educational curriculum linking geography and oceanography
for students in the field of spatial analysis, remote sensing,
and GIS for coastal systems for students and professionals.
Getting the "Birds-Eye View" of the
Environment and Society
NASA funded
the Laboratory for Remote Sensing and Environmental Analysis
for instruction and research utilizing the information-gathering
resources of satellites and aerial remote sensing technology.
This high-technology area remains one of the fastest growing segments
of computer-applications industry. Funding for the lab includes support
from NASA, Old Dominion University, and collaborating institutions.
The geographic
perspective on environmental, social, and economic problems will
soon be available to Old Dominion students through "Eyes in
the sky" and high-tech mapping and analysis technology. Students
will learn state-of-the-art technology in satellite imagery
and its interpretation for solving environmental problems such
as pollution prevention, environmentally-friendly development,
sustainable agriculture, prevention and response to natural
disasters, deforestation, and sea level rise.
The lab contains
several computers and state-of-the-art software for image analysis
and mapping using geographic information systems (GIS.) Selected
input and output devices include a global positioning system
(GPS) receivers, digitizer, large-format color plotter, and
high-end color printers.
The need for graduates
educated in geography and social sciences, planning, environmental
problems, and modern geographic tools continues to grow rapidly.
Students wishing to emphasize this area of study can pursue
a GIS-intensive track in the geography major, a geography minor
with GIS coursework, or a Certificate in Spatial Analysis of
Coastal Environments offered jointly with the Department of Ocean,
Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences. The laboratory is also
engaged in research and instruction Geographic Information Science
(GISci) applications in environmental health, land use/land cover
change, and sea level rise.
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