Spring Break
CMU program helps map bird flu
By: Brian McLean
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Lifeline
- Page 1 of 1
Imagine a bird's-eye view of bird flu with comprehensive maps showing where and the severity the with which disease is spreading.
These maps are consolidated into one sleek, interactive program for the federal government.
This is one use for Geographic Information Science (GISci), a field combining classic cartography techniques with computer software and technology.
CMU is one of two universities in Michigan offering master's programs specifically tailored to GISci, said Dave Patton, associate geography professor and graduate coordinator for the program.
"The placement of our graduates right now is close to 100 percent," he said.
Michigan State University is the other school with a focused master's program. CMU also offers an undergraduate degree in geography with a concentration in GISci.
"What we're able to do is let the government make a faster, more accurate description," said John Nelson, a 2004 CMU alumnus and user interface lead for IDV Solutions, the company behind the bird flu tracking system the federal government implemented earlier this year.
Nelson joined IDV Solutions not long after he graduated from CMU's program.
People can submit suspected cases of bird flu, which are then reviewed by analysts and placed on a map, Nelson said.
He said the map is capable of identifying trends and predicting where the disease will spread - an effective, up-to-date picture.
Midland graduate assistant Jay Anderson is in his second year of CMU's graduate program.
The potential for effective mapping is one of GISci's biggest draws, he said.
"I think it provides a lot of information," Anderson said. "If (users) like to look at things visually or see patterns, they can do that."
After gathering satellite data and imagery, GISci places the information where the data can be retrieved and analyzed, Patton said.
"(For) anything that has a spatial component, a (Geographic Information System) could help you understand that information," he said.
The systems aren't limited to topographical data, however. Patton said many systems overlay several maps, containing anything from physical to social or economic data.
As a result, he said, the U.S. government is not the only organization using GISci. Many private companies, such as restaurants, use it for market analysis, he said.
Patton said companies could view land quality and ownership to provide the best possible cost estimate for a project.
Anderson said he hopes to find work within government once he graduates.
Nelson, whose work at IDV Solutions has him consulting with army engineers and corporate types alike, said his CMU education was outstanding.
"The (GISci) department at CMU is as good as any in the country as far as I'm concerned," he said.
news@cm-life.com
These maps are consolidated into one sleek, interactive program for the federal government.
This is one use for Geographic Information Science (GISci), a field combining classic cartography techniques with computer software and technology.
CMU is one of two universities in Michigan offering master's programs specifically tailored to GISci, said Dave Patton, associate geography professor and graduate coordinator for the program.
"The placement of our graduates right now is close to 100 percent," he said.
Michigan State University is the other school with a focused master's program. CMU also offers an undergraduate degree in geography with a concentration in GISci.
"What we're able to do is let the government make a faster, more accurate description," said John Nelson, a 2004 CMU alumnus and user interface lead for IDV Solutions, the company behind the bird flu tracking system the federal government implemented earlier this year.
Nelson joined IDV Solutions not long after he graduated from CMU's program.
People can submit suspected cases of bird flu, which are then reviewed by analysts and placed on a map, Nelson said.
He said the map is capable of identifying trends and predicting where the disease will spread - an effective, up-to-date picture.
Midland graduate assistant Jay Anderson is in his second year of CMU's graduate program.
The potential for effective mapping is one of GISci's biggest draws, he said.
"I think it provides a lot of information," Anderson said. "If (users) like to look at things visually or see patterns, they can do that."
After gathering satellite data and imagery, GISci places the information where the data can be retrieved and analyzed, Patton said.
"(For) anything that has a spatial component, a (Geographic Information System) could help you understand that information," he said.
The systems aren't limited to topographical data, however. Patton said many systems overlay several maps, containing anything from physical to social or economic data.
As a result, he said, the U.S. government is not the only organization using GISci. Many private companies, such as restaurants, use it for market analysis, he said.
Patton said companies could view land quality and ownership to provide the best possible cost estimate for a project.
Anderson said he hopes to find work within government once he graduates.
Nelson, whose work at IDV Solutions has him consulting with army engineers and corporate types alike, said his CMU education was outstanding.
"The (GISci) department at CMU is as good as any in the country as far as I'm concerned," he said.
news@cm-life.com
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