Geographic Information Systems Lab

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become an integral component of sustainable natural resources management over the past two decades. A GIS provides the ability to manage and analyze very large and complex sets of spatial information and associated a-spatial attribute data. While these systems were once the domain of highly specialized technicians and backroom computer systems, their use has become a mainstream component of day-to-day operations in many different business and industrial settings.

A modern GIS is more than just computers and software, it is a complex system in which people play a significant role. Technicians and technologists must have the basic skills to collect and evaluate data, integrate it with existing information, conduct various types of analysis, and generate reports or maps that effectively present the information stored in the GIS.

The GIS Lab has 20 Compaq computer workstations with flat LCD screens. We also have a Compaq scanning station and the teachers Smart Symposium. The GIS lab currently runs ArcView 9.3 GIS software and PCI Geomatica remote sensing software. The program ArcPad is installed on each workstation and has   Trimble GeoXT’s & XM’s GPS  Garmin 76CSX units.

Resource Technology Lab

This lab has state of the art equipment designed to assist natural resource managers in their decision processes. Some of the highlights of the lab are two stereo viewing monitors, allowing 3D viewing from aerial imagery to collect information that includes height estimates. To support the 3D viewing and further GIS support, the CNRC also has fully licensed ArcGIS 9.0 and PCI Geomatica 9.1 software packages, both of which are industry standards for remote sensing and GIS data modelling.

Complementing the lab is an HP DesignJet 5500 Plotter, capable of printing photo quality maps, as well as a colour laser printer. The lab also supports two digital Large Scale Photography (LSP) cameras, capable of recording 16 megapixel images in stereo.

The lab is fully integrated into the college’s own network, but can serve as a stand-alone workstation for independent contractors and consultants.