In order to bridge the gap between professional "real-world" experience and educational training, the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources has incorporated its USFWS project work into the educational curriculum.

"GIS for Problem Solving in Environmental Science and Management" Course

Students enrolled in NRES 4295 "GIS for Problem Solving in Environmental Science and Management" completed course projects examining land use planning and analysis questions related to USFWS National Wildlife Refuges in Minnesota.   GIS technology was utilized to organize, manipulate and present the project-related geospatial data.   Rather than learning GIS techniques through classroom repetition, class projects involved an end-to-end, professional-level GIS experience.   The course professor acted as "lead consultant" to the students, establishing guidelines, answering questions, and steering the students when needed.   However, students were expected to take thorough measures to resolve problems and determine procedures themselves.   Report summaries may be downloaded for the following projects:

• 1998 Land Acquisition Recommendations for the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
• 1999 Minnesota Valley NWR Land Suitability Analysis

Graduate Degree Final Projects

Ms. Sonja Hansen completed her University of Minnesota Master of Geographic Information Science (MGIS) degree.   For her final project, she used GIS techniques to examine land use planning and analysis issues at the USFWS Fergus Falls Wetland Management District.   The report summary in PDF format may be downloaded as follows:

• Spatial Analysis of Waterfowl Production Areas in the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District

Ms. Jennifer Sieracki is completing her Master of Science in Forestry degree at the University of Minnesota Forest Resources Department.   As part of her thesis work, she created high-resolution land cover spatial databases for Muscatatuck and Patoka River national wildlife refuges.   The databases provide baseline information that will aid the USFWS in developing Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) reports for each refuge.   Report summaries in PDF format may be downloaded as follows:

• Muscatatuk NWR Vegetation Cover Spatial Database
• Patoka River NWR Vegetation Cover Spatial Database.

Recommended: Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 (or higher) for viewing the PDF files.   Download a free copy HERE: