ASSOCIATED COLLEGES OF THE SOUTH

TECHNOLOGY FELLOWS PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM

Please return a hard copy version of this completed form—signed by your Chief Academic Officer— along with a hard copy of your attached proposal, to:

Technology Fellows Program

Associated Colleges of the South Technology Center

Southwestern University Box 7385

Georgetown, TX 78626

Applicant Name: Dr. Michael Harrison

Project Title: Developing a Comprehensive, Low-Cost, Transportable Remote Sensing Curriculum

Project proposed for (select one): Spring, 2002_____ Summer 2002 XXX

Project type:

XX Project to be completed at Home Campus (stipend only)

_____Residency at ACS Technology Center at Southwestern University

(stipend plus housing and limited meal plan)

Proposed length of residency (and desired dates, if known)

ACS Institution: University of Richmond

Department: Environmental Studies Program

Mailing Address: 226 Jepson Hall, University of Richmond, VA 23173

E-Mail: mharriso@richmond.edu

Approval of Chief Academic Officer:

Printed Name of Chief Academic Officer: Dr. June R. Aprille, Provost

Please remember to attach the 2-3 page proposal detailing your project and submit this proposal in electronic format for distribution to the selection committee. You may email the electronic version to bonefas@colleges.org, or send it along with your application on floppy disk. The format of the electronic version should be either plain text (ASCII) or html formatted text. No Word or Word Perfect documents, please!

Background

The University of Richmond has recently instituted a comprehensive Environmental Studies program, which will include as part of the core curriculum many facets of the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. It is recognized that a critical part of the program’s success is imparting upon students the importance of understanding the effective use of emerging technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) applications, and remote sensing. UR has approved a new course aimed at natural science and Environmental Studies students, covering the basic applications of GIS and GPS, utilizing software procured under an institutional site license. However, the costs associated with acquiring a remote sensing software package suitable for use by a wide variety of students has prevented the implementation of a course that would provide students with adequate preparation for integrating the techniques into their research programs.

A recently developed software package, called MultiSpec (developed by the Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing (LARS) at Purdue University) allows teachers and researchers the ability to develop high quality, distributable courseware for the teaching of remote sensing principles and applications. MultiSpec is distributed free-of-charge to academic institutions, and performs most of the same functions found in high-end remote sensing/image processing software packages. In combination with recent drops in the prices of high quality computer equipment, MultiSpec provides smaller educational institutions with the opportunity to develop effective remote sensing curricula without sacrificing valuable institutional economic resources.

The purpose of this proposal is to develop a comprehensive, high quality remote sensing curriculum that can be used by a variety of programs and schools with minimal expense, using a series of pre-packaged lessons and publicly available data sets to be developed under this proposal. The resulting courseware could be easily modified by instructors with advanced training, or could be used on an “as is” basis by teachings with little formal training in remote sensing techniques.

Project and Curriculum Description

The remote sensing course will be developed along these lines:

1. Software Acquisition. The MultiSpec software suite, as a prepackaged system, requires very little, if any, modification to fit the requirements of this course. The software has already been designed to work on any Microsoft Windows-based Pentium-class computer, as well as the Apple Macintosh systems. Thus, it is a very flexible system, allowing for a high degree of standardization across campuses. In addition, the LARS group allows the free and open distribution of the software and documentation.

2. Data Acquisition and Preparation. The data to be used for this course will be acquired from the United States Geological Survey Landsat 7 program, along with other publicly available remote sensing data. Landsat 7 satellite data represent very high quality images, with a spatial resolution of 30 meters in the multispectral mode. It is typical of the kinds of data that many environmental scientists currently utilize, and once acquired, can be distributed without charge to third parties. An assortment of previously acquired images will be used for this project, thus minimizing the overall cost of developing the course. Additional data will be made available through a course web site.

3. Courseware Development. The bulk of the effort in creating this course will be aimed at developing a series of self-contained course modules, illustrating in a sequential manner the theory and application of remote sensing and image processing techniques. Each course module will have four components. First, a printable PDF file will be developed for each section, allowing students and instructors to print a course text on demand. Second, each section will have an instructor’s supplement, also in PDF form, giving the teacher additional resources and tips for effectively communicating the concepts being presented. Third, a series of Microsoft Powerpoint presentations will be developed, giving the instructor the ability to create lecture materials tailored to his or her class. Fourth, a series of exercises, utilizing the data included with the course materials, will

give the students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained through the lectures.

4. Ancillary Documentation. In addition to the materials included with the course package, a web site will be developed which will contain updates and auxiliary data sets. This web site will be updated on a regular basis, and will be freely accessible by both students and faculty.

5. Course Packaging and Delivery. This course package will be assembled onto a single CD-ROM, which can be sent to interested parties. All schools within the ACS will receive copies of the course materials on CD-ROM, or will be able to download copies from the course web site.

Timeline

The initial steps to create a remote sensing course have already begun as part of an expansion of the Environmental Studies curriculum at the University of Richmond. However, specific, directed work towards developing the course described herein will follow this basic timeline:

•May 15, 2002: Consolidation of data sets to be used in course

•June 1, 2002: Begin production of course lessons and manuals in PDF format

•June 30, 2002: Release of first lessons and manuals to selected reviewers

•July 15, 2002: Completion of draft instructor’s manual and exercises

•August 1, 2002: Incorporation of reviewers’ comments into manuals completed

•August 15, 2002: First release of completed course package to ACS members;

completion of web site

Technology Requirements

No special technology requirements are envisioned for the development of this course packaged. In addition, the utilization of the course in a classroom environment will not require any special or advanced technology beyond that which is generally available on ACS campuses already.

Other Support

At this time, no other technology or institutional resources should be needed to

successfully complete the creation of this course. An open solicitation to member ACS schools will be made to find reviewers for the courseware.

Learning Outcomes

This course will help students gain insight into the use of remote sensing techniques in a

variety of disciplines. Using the course materials, students will learn:

• the practical benefits and limitations of remotely sensed imagery, from both a

technological and economic viewpoint

• what sorts of problems lend themselves to remote sensing techniques

• the types of remotely sensed imagery that are available, and how best to use these data in a series practical problem-oriented exercises

• how to import, process and export imagery

• the basics of digital image processing

• how to integrate the results of image processing into other decision-support systems

Dr. Michael Harrison

Environmental Studies Program

University of Richmond

October 10, 2001

Dear Mike,

I have read your ACS Technology Proposal entitled “Developing a Comprehensive, Low-Cost, Transportable Remote Sensing Curriculum” and look forward to working with you on this course. The personnel and resources of the Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology will be available to assist you with many aspects of course development and delivery.

We will ensure that this new software, MultiSpec, becomes a component of the university standard software load, we will assist your students in using image processing software, we are available to assist you with website development and we will be happy to create the CDs for distribution throughout ACS. As the course develops, I am sure many other avenues for partnership will also develop.

Best of luck in the grant process.

Patricia A. Schoknecht, Ph.D.

Director