by Irina Kopteva, PPCC faculty and project principal investigator, and Donna Arkowski, chair of the PPCC Geography Department

The PPCC Geography Department has received a grant from the National Science Foundation for a pilot project to implement a Tiered Internship Model for Students in Geospatial Technology (TIMSGeoTech). The project has received funding of $149,542 for work beginning summer of this year through summer 2011. The TIMSGeoTech program will advance knowledge and understanding in many fields involving geospatial technology and science, aligning graduates and their skills with industry needs through tiered internship experiences. TIMSGeoTech is bringing together a diverse group of industry stakeholders that will create opportunities for partnerships and networking for students, educators, and professionals.

Geospatial Technology is also called Geographic Information Systems or GIS. Jobs in the field can be quite different, place to place, depending on a company’s specialty, or if the job is in a governmental agency. GIS technicians or specialists learn cartographic principles of scale, map projections, symbology, map layout and design. GIS fundamentals include spatial data development, storage, analysis, and display. Students learn extensively about Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) and how GPS works, and also study remote sensing methods and gain an understanding of image processing, including aerial and satellite photography. The technology can be used for many purposes, including detecting changes to the earth’s surface, vegetation mapping, crop or forest wellness, impermeable surface mapping, and much more.

Then there is the whole world of programming for the geospatial industry. There are many key jobs for those who can write code using VB, Java, Python, html, xml, ESRI’s map objects, and other programs that would allow them to enter the world of web-map development, spatial data management, application development, data migration, and more. GIS is a diverse and growing field with lots of potential. Both the GIS certificate and AAS degree program at PPCC include VB programming courses, along with a full retinue of GIS coursework.

The PPCC GIS program has already built an excellent reputation in the community, and PPCC interns are sought after. The internship program is a crucial factor in the program’s success – putting students into ‘real world’ jobs where they learn excellent skills. TIMSGeoTech students will have the opportunity to discover what it takes to be successful in today’s geospatial workforce through hands-on learning, training and mentoring. Moreover, the grant funding created an opportunity for a scholarship for students to participate in the GIS in the Rockies conference in Loveland September 16-18.

Summer semester GIS students did a project for the City of Colorado Springs, mapping data points and features for the Academy Boulevard bus line, and also mapped the Shamrock Ranch in Black Forest for fire mitigation/protection purposes. The College is working toward an agreement with the City for ongoing internships and the hope of future job placements. The program has also had numerous requests from other businesses, government agencies, cities, and counties for interns, and the team is actively pursuing internships with geospatial companies all across the Front Range.

Already, graduates of the program are doing interesting things. Jobs held by graduates include working on an archeology project for the US Forest Service collecting data points and mapping features in a Native American settlement area; working for the Fountain Sanitation District updating and revising maps, collecting data and upgrading agency files; working for a government contractor on projects specific to military operations; working for a computer company collecting and performing quality control on data for their data tables; working for the Teller County GIS Dept; working on orthophoto production for NCDC Imaging Co.; and working for Sanborn Mapping on a LiDAR project that includes field work (aerial photo collection and ground truthing with GPS units).

TIMSGeoTech will enhance the involvement of under-represented groups through outreach to workforce development offices, by providing links to unemployed and underemployed individuals. The PPCC GIS Advisory Board, made up of local industry professionals, will participate in career oriented activities of the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, the PPCC Economic and Workforce Development division, the PPCC Women’s Re-Entry program, and during career fairs for military spouses. The results of TIMSGeoTech will be far-reaching to enhance scientific and technological understanding. Many other opportunities for students will follow the project development.

An outstanding team will make this project a success. Donna Arkowski, Geography Department chair, and Dr. Irina Kopteva, principal investigator for the project and adjunct Geography and GIS instructor, are the primary contacts for the project. The work is supported by Mary-Ann Wermers, dean of Health, Environmental, Natural & Physical Sciences; Jennifer Jirous, Colorado Community College System; Jason San Souci, executive vice president and chief operating officer of NCDC Imaging & Mapping; Richard Serby, president and owner of GEO Search, Inc.; Jay Tilley, senior vice president and general manager of Sanborn, Inc.; Cynthia Pesek, director for Career and Technical Education at Academy School District 20; Patressa Gardner, South Carolina Advanced Technological Education (SC ATE) Center; and Dr. Phillip Davis, National Geospatial Technology (GeoTech) Center.

Geospatial Technology is a rapidly growing field with great promise. A website of interest is www.gisalley.com, that focuses on the GIS industry around Ft. Collins/Denver/Boulder. Colorado Springs will catch up with this growth, especially because of the military and homeland security sites here.