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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Tucson, Arizona » SWRC » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104629
Title: TEACHING SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR HYDROLOGY AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT 1250

Author
item MILLER, S. - UNIV. OF ARIZ.
item GUERTIN, D. - UNIV. OF ARIZ.
item Goodrich, David - Dave

Submitted to: Environmental Systems Research Institute Users Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Investigations into Earth resources, including the fields of hydrology and watershed management, require detailed information regarding the area that is being studied. Until recently, this information was hard to store and use in scientific research. New computer techniques, called geographic information systems, are now used to store detailed information in computer rfiles. GIS software is complicated to use, and linking it with research requires a high degree of skill. This paper discusses a class that has been developed at The University of Arizona to teach graduate students how to use GIS for research. The class is co-taught by a professor at the University and a scientist at the USDA - ARS SWRC. This partnership between the agency and University has helped create a unique class for future scientists interested in using GIS for research.

Technical Abstract: The need for GIS courses that include advanced GIS concepts as well as address the special requirements of a discipline is rapidly growing. The goal of this paper is to describe a course developed at the University of Arizona for hydrologists and other earth scientists. A series of assignments has been developed on important topics such as interpolation of fenvironmental data, creation and use of DEMs, linkage of GIS to hydrologic and erosion models, watershed assessment, and effects of database resolution. The paper reviews course content, philosophy, and direction. Examples of assignments using ARC/INFO are provided.