• South Panola High School worked with Northwest Mississippi Community College and NVision Solutions, Inc., to use GIS technology to track school buses in order to determine more efficient routing. The students, all members of the Technology Student Association (TSA), aimed to map all 67 bus routes for the South Panola School District motivated by the high cost of diesel fuel and the problem of air pollution. The tracking devices they used were developed by EIGS member company, NVision Solutions, and provided 5-minute updates over the Internet to identify the shortest and most efficient routes in order to eliminate redundancy in routes. Using ArcView, the students mapped out the routes and created layers of different routes to determine the shortest way to the end point and also uncover any overlapping routes.
  
  Several routes were mapped to determine the raw data points which were reported from the prototype tracking device. The students converted those raw data points to a map using ArcView and determined if the tracking device needed to be adjusted to record data. It was originally set for every five minutes, but the students determined that it needed to be adjusted to collect data every thirty seconds to more effectively address the project goals of eliminating redundancy in routing, reducing fuel costs, and cutting down on pollution. The students have earned national TSA honors for their work on this project.
 
• Water Valley High School
  partnered with The University of Mississippi to use GIS and GPS technology to map out all the fire hydrants in the City of Water Valley. Working with the Water Valley Water and Waste Department and the Mayor’s Office, the students reviewed outdated maps to find and plot every fire hydrant in the city to help better prepare Water Valley for an emergency. They also compiled statistics on every hydrant, such as manufacture date, company and part types.

Students created downloadable information for the city in case of fires, tornadoes, or other disasters. Students found areas in the city that were not covered by the federally-mandated 500-foot buffer zone so the city could install more hydrants to conform to safety codes. Additionally, students tracked the location of all fire hydrants that can affect insurance rates for the city and for residents.

The City of Water Valley is using the maps to find areas that were unprotected for fire purposes. Using this newly acquired information, the city plans to add more hydrants and order maintenance parts as needed. With the new, more accurate maps of the locations of all fire hydrants, the city has the information they need to reduce the cost of insurance for the city and for individual residents. The students have presented the results of their project to the local Rotary Club as well as the city’s Board of Aldermen to share how geospatial technology has benefited Water Valley’s community.

Results from the projects were presented on May 4, 2007, at the Mississippi ETV Auditorium in Jackson. Special presenters included representatives from ESRI, Desoto County GIS Department, and the MS Emergency Management Agency. A highlight of the event was the geocaching exercise in which the students used GPS devices to locate caches hidden outside. Veronica Schindler from ESRI’s Central South Regional Office helped select the winner of the poster display and project presentation. Water Valley was announced as the grand prize winner of the $2,300 GPS system based on the following criteria:

1. Graphic illustration of excellence in design of project;
2. Examples of teamwork within and outside school;
3. Verbal communication/illustration of ingenuity in overcoming problems encountered;
4. Evidence of participation in GIS software training;
5. Documentation of interaction with community partners;
6. Demonstrated use of internet, donated texts, and statewide resources;
7. Report of innovative marketing strategies.

Reflections on Success
When EIGS and the Geospatial Council started the process of establishing this program, we had no idea how great the results would be. We knew we had the resources and manpower to jumpstart activities at the secondary level, but it was really the response and enthusiasm we got from the participating high schools and communities that has made this endeavor such a success:

This was a wonderful project that gave my students exposure and the opportunity to think geo-spatially. My students received a chance to research concerns of their community which have in turn sparked an interest to continue research to empower and improve their environment.
- Krystyna Tate, Claiborne County Vocational and Technical Complex Facilitator

The GIS project has opened up a new area of opportunities for me. Not only has it introduced me to a growing technology, it will help me in my future.”
- Annah Bailey, South Panola High School student

This is not the end of the MARS Project for Water Valley. This is just the kick-start.  We hope to be involved with numerous city and county projects, possibly plotting water mains or manholes.
- Liz Reynolds, Water Valley High School teacher

The opportunities that this technology provides are truly amazing.  The students and teachers were impressed with the various organizations that utilize geospatial technology in providing statistical information and specific location and transportation options. During a post seminar discussion, students shared their opinions of this learning experience.  It was great to hear them say that they found the sessions “fun and exciting,” “interesting,” and “a new way to open doors of opportunity.” 
  - Kathy Dedwylder, Counselor, Enterprise High School

You can't put a price on their work. We didn't know how many hydrants we had or where they all were, so they GPS'd every one of them and got them on a map where we could locate them. We now have all the information about every hydrant such as manufacturer, date installed, part numbers, etc. We can order parts without even stepping out the door.

- Morris Surrette, Water Valley Water and Waster Water Superintendent

This has been a great program for getting GIS more integrated in secondary education. This has been such a good opportunity for all these high school students.

- Chad Garick, Forestry Department of Jones County Junior College

We plan to continue building on our GIS training by planning a project for fall that will extend the bus tracking to rural routes. We are also considering including the locations of rural fire departments.

- Donald Downs, TSA Sponsor, South Panola High School

“We are very excited about our Delta Tourism interactive website.  Although still in beta format, we see the opportunity and potential for using this site for visitors to locate businesses and points of interest.  We want to congratulate the students on this tremendous joint effort.  We look forward to the continued progress on this project.”
- Judson Thigpen III, Executive Director of Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce

The impact of the student GIS projects to the participating individuals and to their communities is like throwing a pebble into a lake…the effect just keeps moving out in every direction. Students improved their skills in teamwork, research, computer use, presenting project outcomes, problem solving, networking, and exploration of all kinds.
- Joyce Brasell, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Statewide Coordinator for MARS

Planting the Seed for the Continued Growth of the Industry
While the MARS pilot program was not a formal program instituted into the educational curriculum, it is apparent from the results that there are alternative ways to reach students and spread the use and enthusiasm for geospatial technology. These students are not just learning from a textbook, but they are out there doing. By providing direct, hands-on experience, the seed has clearly been planted with the MARS students; they have been bit by the GIS bug and will be the ones in the pipeline for geospatial-related college degree programs and as the future workforce for the geospatial industry.


About the Author
Lisa Stone is the Acting Director of the Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions and can be contacted via email at lstone@olemiss.edu.

The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions (EIGS) is the program that coordinates the activities of Mississippi’s geospatial technology cluster.  EIGS works with private companies as well as university research programs, state agencies, and other related organizations to support geospatial business development and research with the primary mission of growing the research-based, world-class geospatial technology industry in Mississippi.  For more information, visit www.eigs.olemiss.edu.

The Geospatial Council was established in 1999 by Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning to organize, coordinate, and promote educational activities in geospatial technologies in the state of Mississippi. The Council includes faculty and staff from all Mississippi’s public universities and community colleges as well as several state agencies. Additionally, the Council provides oversight and maintenance of the statewide geospatial software site license program. For more information, visit www.remotesensingms.org.