Geospatial Informatics News

Troy University’s Geo Day 2022 was a great success hosting almost 200 high school students and their sponsors from 21 different schools across the state to learn about geospatial careers. The Geospatial Informatics Department’s annual recruiting event was halted in 2021 due to the pandemic, but they came out strong in 2022 with efforts to introduce students to the Surveying and Geomatics Sciences Program, and the Geographic Information Sciences (GIS) major offered by Troy University. The students attended workshops on "Mapping Your Future", "Drone Mapping", "Modern Mapping", and "LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Mapping” presented by Troy faculty and staff and geospatial professionals including those from the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors (ASPLS).  

 Many of the students were interested in the use of drones which surveyors and GIS technicians use to collect geographic data.  The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) took a drone photo of the entire group who attended Geo Day 2022 and demonstrated their newest drone that takes off vertically and flips over to complete its mission.

Special thanks to our sponsor company Surveying and Mapping, LLC (SAM) who provided backpacks for the students as a memento of Geo Day 2022.

One of the high school teachers said, “I wish I were young again” so she could be involved in this exciting career field. "We were really impressed by the large turnout," said Geospatial Informatics Department Chair Dr. Xutong Niu. "These students now have the information and a "map" to get the training & education they need to enter the workforce with high paying and enjoyable careers."

Navigation Electronics Inc. (NEI) made a generous donation of state of the art survey equipment to the department in January 2020.  Read More Here.