Filling Skill Gaps through the Geo-Spatial Engineering and Technologies Program

East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park CA

Investigators

Abstract

Surveying, also called geomatics, has been traditionally defined as the science, art, and technology of determining the relative positions of points above, on, or beneath the Earth's surface. Recent technological advances in such areas as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have provided surveyors with new tools for doing this work. In addition, environmental measuring and monitoring is increasingly critical as the population grows, land values appreciate, natural resources decrease, and stresses degrade the quality of our land, water, and air. Surveying and mapping technicians, or geospatial engineering technicians, are a critical part of the geomatics workforce that will provide these critical measurements. This project focuses on developing robust career pathways and academic programs to educate land surveying and/or geospatial engineering technicians. This project will: 1) develop an academic transfer pathway program to provide a career and technical education (CTE) that enables secondary school and community college students to properly use advanced forms of field equipment and software for land surveying and/or geospatial engineering applications; and 2) assist land surveying and/or geospatial engineering technicians to successfully pass the State of California examinations. High school boot camps and a "land surveying-CAD bash" event at four primarily Hispanic secondary schools will recruit students into the program. In addition, a career opportunity internship pipeline will be formalized with the City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Engineering, Surveying Division's volunteer program. This career opportunity internship pipeline is expected to increase the numbers of female and Hispanic surveying and/or geospatial engineering technicians entering the work force. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.