WKU News & Events

June 20, 2002

Special Issue Of Cave Journal Spotlights Geographic
Information Systems Research By WKU Students,
Alumni

Bowling Green, Ky. - A special issue of the "Journal of Cave and Karst Studies" may help put Western Kentucky University's new Geographic Information Systems program on the map.

"One of the great technological advances over the last 10 years has been Geographic Information Systems, a spatial platform for mapping data, manipulating data and using a variety of techniques to understand the world around us," said Dr. David Keeling, head of WKU's Department of Geography and Geology.

GIS describes computer software systems used to store, analyze and visualize maps and other spatial datasets.

The April 2002 issue of the "Journal of Cave and Karst Studies" features papers that focus on the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to problems of karst evolution, resource management and other aspects of cave studies.

But the application of GIS technology extends to education, business, industry, government, environmental issues, community planning, real estate and emergency services, Dr. Keeling said.

Three departments -- Geography and Geology, Agriculture and Architectural and Manufacturing Sciences - have worked together to establish a state-of-the-art GIS laboratory in the Industrial Education Building.

A 12-hour GIS Certificate Program has been designed to provide students with practical career skills. The program began in the spring 2002 semester, and more than 100 students have enrolled in GIS courses for the fall 2002 semester.

Students who complete the program will have a solid foundation that spans the collection, management, analysis, interpretation and display of data using geographic information systems.

Dr. Keeling said the GIS program introduces students to new technologies that will prepare them for exciting careers, but "the more important thing for us is educating students to make intelligent development decisions in communities."

Dr. Stuart Foster, state climatologist and associate professor of geography, agreed. "We have the ability to capture and manage geographical and spatial data," he said. "We have the ability to display that data. But we must be able to analyze that data."

At the Kentucky Climate Center, Dr. Foster and students use GIS technology in their climate-related research activities.

"Part of the philosophy in our department is to go beyond the traditional classroom approach," Dr. Foster said. "What we're trying to do is engage our students in applied research activities."

Dr. Keeling expects interest in the program to grow as other disciplines become familiar with "the tremendously broad applications" of GIS. For example, history teachers could use the technology for Civil War battles and develop maps showing the military, geographic and economic implications, he said.

While other institutions offer GIS programs, Western is in a unique position because the region includes a major a cave and karst system, a world famous national park, has an interstate transportation system and faces tourism and economic development issues, Dr. Keeling said.

"We feel like we have a lot to offer students," he said.

The articles in the "Journal of Cave and Karst Studies" are an example of the opportunities available for WKU students and demonstrate the potential of research using GIS, Dr. Foster said.

Articles by current students include the following:

* "An examination of perennial stream drainage patterns within the Mammoth Cave watershed, Kentucky" by Alan Glennon of Park City and Chris Groves, director of WKU's Hoffman Environmental Research Institute.

* "Hurricane Crawl Cave: A GIS-based cave management plan analysis and review" by Joel Despain of Three Rivers, Calif., and Shane Fryer of Louisville.

Graduate and undergraduate student alumni from WKU's karst program published or co-authored the following:

* "Revising the karst map of the United States" by George Veni of San Antonio, Texas.

* "Karst GIS advances in Kentucky" by Lee Florea of Somerset and Randy Paylor of Lexington.

* "The application of GIS in support of land acquisition for the protection of sensitive groundwater recharge properties in the Edwards Aquifer of south-central Texas" by Geary Schindel of Wheaton, Md.

* "Implementation and application of GIS at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah" by Jon Jasper of Cincinnati.

For more information, contact the Department of Geography and Geology, (270) 745-4555. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.