The Wildlands Trust Stewardship Training Center is partnering with Essex County Greenbelt to host a series of 4 virtual workshops in the fall of 2024 for those interested in building their conservation GIS skills. This workshop series is intended for beginner to intermediate GIS users who are looking to enhance their skills. In each session, the instructors will cover key GIS concepts in a lecture format. Sessions will be 1.5 - 2 hours long, with a short break and possible breakout sessions. Each session, attendees will have homework that builds on the concepts taught in the workshops.
Basic GIS skills are required for this workshop, as well as an active ArcGIS license. The classes will be taught in ArcGIS Pro. This workshop series will be limited to 15 attendees. Click this link to apply. Registration will remain open until all 15 slots have been filled. Early application is encouraged.
Dates: Sessions will be virtual on Thursday mornings at 10am on October 10th, October 31st, November 21st, and December 12th.
Cost: $75 (We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Please reach out to Stewardship Programs Manager Zoë Smiarowski at zsmiarowski@wildlandstrust.org if you are interested in taking this course but are not able to cover the course fee. Scholarships may be available, as we believe the cost should not be prohibitive to anyone interested in attending.)
Workshops:
1. GIS Data & Cartography - 2 hours
Topics around best practices for data management will be covered, including file structure, naming conventions, and other key concepts to future proof your data. Foundation data sets including assessors parcels, wetlands, open space data and orthoimagery will be covered. Additionally, the instructors will cover techniques of effective cartography & design.
2. Georeferencing & Data Creation - 1.5 hours
In this class, attendees will learn how to digitize survey plans to create more accurate boundary data. The workshop will walk students through the process of georeferencing and data creation and will include a lab during class time.
3. Conservation & Climate Data Sources - 1.5 hours
In this workshop, the instructors will cover a range of key datasets for land protection and stewardship on subjects such as habitat, trails, climate resilience, drinking water protection, and agriculture. Topics such as the development and uses of the data will be covered.
4. Final Projects - 1.5 hours
In the final workshop, students will bring their revised maps and deliver a short presentation on their process, challenges, and lessons learned. The instructors will provide an overview of core concepts and final comments.
Meet your instructors:
Abby is the Director of Conservation Technology & Planning Division for Greenbelt. She manages all aspects of the geo-spatial program, which includes the GreenbeltGo trails app, interactive mapping, data analysis, database design and management, and kiosk and trail map design. In addition to her work at Greenbelt, Abby has served as an adjunct professor of GIS at Salem State University’s Geography and Sustainability Department. Abby has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Policy & Planning from Tufts University and a Bachelor's in Communications from Emerson College.
Becca is the GIS Specialist in the Conservation Technology & Planning Division at Greenbelt. She brings her geographic, analytical, and technical skills to support all of Greenbelt’s departments and core mission. She creates maps and web map applications, helps maintain and update Greenbelt’s database, and implements significant GIS analysis projects such as Greenbelt’s Land Conservation Prioritization. She is a Certified Remote Pilot under the FAA's Part 107 rules where she creates high resolution maps and collects imagery and footage of Greenbelt's properties. Becca has obtained a Master's Degree in Geo-Information Science and Bachelor's in Cartography from Salem State University.