GIS in Teaching and Learning in Soil Science

1. DEPARTMENT of SOIL SCIENCE GIS in Teaching and Learning in Soil Science Dr. Jeffrey G. White, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Soil Science-NCSU http://www.precisionag.ncsu.edu SSC-CS-BAE

2. Courses with GIS Instructional Components • SSC/BAE/CS 440 : GIS in Production Agriculture • David Crouse (& Jeff White, SSC), Randy Weisz & Ron Heiniger (Crop Science), Gary Roberson (BAE) • SGIS: precision agriculture GIS, incorporates ESRI's ArcObjects and ArcSDE technology • GIS as core technology for precision agriculture, site-specific management • SSC590M: Remote Sensing Applications in Soil Science and Agriculture • Jeff White (SSC) • ArcView Image Analysis Module • Illustrate basic principals and applications of remotely sensed image analysis

3. Courses Using GIS for Case Studies • SSC551: Soil Chemistry • Dean Hesterberg (w/ Rob Austin, Spatial Info. Research Lab.) • Group projects to develop in-situ chemical treatment for immobilizing soil contaminants at remediation sites • SSC342: Soil Fertility Lab • John Havlin, Eugene Kamprath, Nathan Nelson • “Balancing the P Budget of a North Carolina Swine Farm”

4. NCSU Geospatial and Precision Technologies Regional Education Initiative • GPTREI: David Crouse, PI; Jared Jenkins, Ext’n. Assoc. • Funded by USDA-IFAFS • Objectives: • Initiate new and expand existing extension programs to include geospatial and precision agriculture technologies • Enhance problem-solving skills in students and agricultural professionals • Enable learners worldwide to access GIS technology education through an open courseware Internet training program. • Info: http://www.precisionag.ncsu.edu/GPTREI/index.htm • “OpenAg” portal: http://gptrei.soil.ncsu.edu/

5. The “GIS Academy” • Series of extension short courses designed to meet needs of precision agriculture & GIS practitioners • Hands-on GIS activities in CALS GIS Education Lab.: • GIS 101: Introduction to GPS and GIS • GIS 111: Using GIS Resources on the Internet • GIS 121: Field Data Collection Using GPS • GIS 131: Remote Sensing in Soil Science and Crop Production • GIS 201: GIS for Managing Spatially Variable Soil Properties • GIS 301: Data Management for Site-Specific Agriculture

6. Soil Science: CALS GIS Education Lab • 20 Windows XP workstations for students • 1 Windows workstation & projector for instructor • ArcGIS, ArcView, and SGIS

7. GIS Lab: Current Data Holdings • Digital county soil maps for most of NC • Digital soil attribute data • National MUIR: Map Unit Interpretation Records • SSURGO: Soil Survey Geographic Database • Statewide summer and winter Landsat TM imagery • '93, '94, '95, Winter 2000 • Statewide SPOT panchromatic (10 m) imagery • Custom-developed, hydrologically enforced DEM maps • Statewide EPA Reach File 3 hydrography • Numerous derived data layers to characterize environmental risks of N, P, and pesticides

8. SSC-CALS Spatial Information Laboratory Data Distribution System • Internet-based GIS data distribution system • MOA with NCCGIA to serve their data • Provide relevant natural resources GIS data layers to NC Cooperative Extension Service personnel, CALS students, faculty. • Data layers queried by county: • 1m resolution black and white DOQQs • soil surveys • hydrography data • digital elevation data • primary streets and roads • http://www.spatiallab.ncsu.edu/sirl

9. Spatial Info. Research Lab Activities • Terrain Analysis at Multiple Scales • Effects on terrain attribute calculation and quantitative soil-landscape modeling. • NC Nutrient Management Database Project • Internet-based nutrient utilization reporting system • Provides assessment of animal waste nutrients and waste nutrient carrying capacities of NC counties • www.spatiallab.ncsu.edu/nutman • NC Soils Explorer • Geospatial & Precision Technologies Regional Education Initiative • Custom designed ArcIMS application for on-line soils exploration. >90 GB spatial data for all 100 counties • http://arcims.soil.ncsu.edu:8080/Website/CtyMaps/index.htm

10. Can now identify soil properties 1 meter color infrared with soils overtop

11. GIS in Graduate Learning & Research • Erosion prediction modeling (Amber Moore / McLaughlin) • Predicting P losses from agricultural soils (Nathan Nelson / Mikkelsen) • Optimizing N mgt. using remote sensing for corn (Ravi Sripada / Heiniger -White) and wheat (Dianne Farrer / Weisz) • Assessing effects on groundwater NO3 of site-specific vs. uniform N mgt. (Nan Hong / White) • Characterizing clayey aquitards for wetland restoration using ground-penetrating radar (Ryan Szuch / White - Vepraskas)

12. GIS in Graduate Learning & Research • Using fieldscale apparent soil electrical conductivity to characterize soil spatial variability for site-specific agriculture (JiSu Bang / White) • Using LIDAR DEMs to study relationships between terrain attributes and soil C sequestration (Eric Anderson / Thompson) • Watershed-scale terrain evolution modeling (Chris Thaxton [PY] / McLaughlin) • Evaluating relationships between crop yield, soil chemical properties, and soil map units (Mindy Lohman / Osmond & White) • Evaluating spatial variability of residual soil N for improved fertilizer management in corn (Jared Williams / Crozier)

13. Questions or Comments?