The document summarizes a project called "GPS 101: Technology for Better Land Management" that held workshops to educate landowners on GPS and GIS technologies and how they can assist in land management. The project consisted of eight introductory workshops held across various counties in Alabama. 142 people attended the workshops, most having no prior experience with geospatial technologies. Post-workshop evaluations found attendees' knowledge increased by an average of 23% and that many have since incorporated these technologies into their own land management practices. The project outcomes demonstrate that educational workshops are effective for promoting adoption of GPS and GIS tools.

1. GPS 101: Technology for Better Land Management
Chris Dillard; dillach@aces.edu; Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Beau Brodbeck; brodbam@aces.edu; Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Jack Rowe; wjr0001@aces.edu; Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Abstract Deficiency & Program Presentations
Expected Outputs Accomplished Outputs
Explanation Outcomes
The global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information systems 8 Workshops: 1 Per 8 workshops : Tuscaloosa, Programs in the northern See Chart
Region Sumter, Conecuh, Mobile, and southeast part of Below
(GIS) are important tools for owners in managing their land and forests. Autauga, Cullman, Dallas, and the state were limited
The goal of the project, “GPS 101: Technology for Better Land Clarke
Management”, was to educate participants on GPS and GIS and on how
Other workshops: Blount,
these technologies can assist in land management. The project promoted Henry, and Mobile
the use of geospatial tools and applications, and the integration of
geospatial concepts in land management. The project consisted of eight Support Manual Support manual developed Need to enhance manual NA
introductory-level workshops that were held in various Alabama counties Short, Tutorial Short, tutorial videos Continue to develop
NA
(Fig. 1 and 2). The target audience for the project was land owners who are Videos developed for Google Earth additional videos Figure 4
Figure 1 Figure 5
interested in incorporating geospatial technologies into their management
strategies. The project outcomes and impacts were measured using tests Hands-On GPS Training
and surveys to determine what participants learned and whether it
2011 Workshop Locations
changed their land management behaviors (Fig. 3).
The workshops included presentations (Fig. 4 and 5), GPS exercises and GIS
software training on laptop computers. GPS exercises consisted of hands-
on training on the use of GPS hardware and on typical data collection tasks,
including waypoint collection and area calculation (Fig. 6 and 7). GIS
software training consisted of GPS data import and analysis, map creation
and editing, and data creation and editing (Fig. 8 and 9). As a result of post-
workshop evaluations and collaborator discussions, a workshop manual has Figure 6
been developed. The manual includes workshop presentations, articles, Figure 7
tutorials, and a CD containing geospatial software and additional articles. Hands-On Computer Training
Pre and post-workshop tests showed an increase in attendee knowledge of
geospatial technologies. A survey showed that workshop attendees have
incorporated geospatial technologies into their land management practices.
Workshop evaluations indicate interest in further training.
Figure 2
Outcomes and Impacts
Overall First GPS Self-
Number of Pre/Post Test =
The eight workshops conducted during 2011 resulted in 142 people being Location Workshop Workshop for Learning
Attendees Knowledge Change
Quality Attendee Evaluation
educated on geospatial technologies. Of those, 128 had never attended a
Thomasville 25 94% 75% 74% to 92% = 18% NA
geospatial technologies workshop. Attendees scored the workshop at a
Selma 9 88% 33% 76% to 96% = 20% NA Figure 8
grade of 90%, based on post-workshop evaluations. Pre and post tests
Cullman 25 90% 65% 63% to 92% = 29% NA Figure 9
showed an average 23% increase in knowledge of geospatial technologies.
Autaugaville 16 90% 80% 76% to 92% = 16% NA
A survey conducted in early 2012 revealed that as a result of attending the
Mobile 17 93% NA 72% to 92% = 20% NA
workshop, 12.5% of respondents purchased a GPS unit and 6.3% purchased
Evergreen 17 93% 76% 63% to 97% = 34% NA
mapping software. Based on what they learned in the workshop, 68.8% of
Livingston 15 85% 100% NA 88%
respondents utilized geospatial technologies at home or in their work and
all of those respondents replied that the information learned in the Tuscaloosa 18 87% 68% NA 92%
workshop made the technology easier to adopt. TOTALs 142 90% 71% 23% 90%
Figure 3