[UW-GIS-L] [Csde_all] CSDE Seminar tomorrow! CSDE's new GIS Specialist Matt Dunbar (fwd)

[A. Zald]

FYI.

Anne Zald

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:27:11 -0700
From: Wolfram Latsch <latsch at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Csde_all] CSDE Seminar tomorrow! CSDE's new GIS Specialist Matt Dunbar

UW Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology presents

Matt Dunbar
CSDE Statistics Core

Friday, October 24th, 2008
12.30 pm to 2 pm
Parrington Hall, Forum Room

Evaluating the Use of Handheld GIS in Humanitarian Demining


Matt Dunbar joined CSDE in June 2008 as a GIS Specialist. He provides 
training and support in research projects involving spatial information. 
Matt has an M.A. in Geography and is completing his PhD in Geography from 
the University of Kansas.

ABSTRACT

Late in 2003, a research team at the University of Kansas (KU) was 
contracted by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining 
(GICHD) to evaluate a newly developed handheld computer system for 
conducting demining-related field surveys. The system's three main 
components, a Pocket PC, GPS, and Laser Rangefinders, can be used to 
complete data entry forms (report date, name of reporter, environmental 
conditions, type of ordnance, etc.) and collect related geographic 
information (reference point / landmark, benchmark, hazard perimeter, 
etc.) describing mined areas. After developing a testing routine, this 
system was evaluated by the KU team locally and on foreign field 
deployments (Chile, Albania, Ecuador and Lebanon) from 2004-2007. This 
unique project has permitted involvement at both the operations and 
research level, giving access to observe and take part in the complete 
cycle of development, deployment, testing and redesign of the handheld 
GIS. This research will provide a significant contribution to those 
working specifically with the GICHD handheld system, and, more broadly, to 
others working with handheld GIS and geographic field data collection.

Please join us for a no-host lunch with Matt at 11.30 am at the UW Club 
(formerly the Faculty Club)

CSDE Seminar Coordinator: Wolfram Latsch, latsch at u.washington.edu