GLENVILLE, W.Va. – Continuing in their tradition of helping students learn in a hands-on environment with the latest tools and technology, the Weyerhaeuser Company has again awarded Glenville State College’s Department of Land Resources an equipment grant.

The grant will be used to help purchase mobile geographic information system (GIS) technology to be used by students in forestry, land surveying, and natural resource management programs at GSC.

The equipment, drones and hand-held data collectors with GPS, will be used within the department to improve the hands-on learning experiences of students, enhance learning with internet-based mapping, and aid with the visualization of geospatial data through the application of mobile GIS technology.

Foresters, land surveyors and others in natural resource management occupations have historically used conventional mapping methods. With the advent and popularization of drones, they can now benefit from automated mapping, easier identification of boundaries, increased accuracy, and safer data collection.

“We are fortunate to receive this continued support from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund to enhance the field experiences of our students. With this new equipment we will be enhancing student knowledge in visualization and processing of geospatial data through the use of drone and GPS technology that allows teaching and learning to extend beyond the traditional classroom and field settings,” said Grant PI and Professor of Forestry Dr. Rico Gazal.

GSC has previously received several awards from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund for the purchase of other forestry tools.

Jimmy Jenkins and Clifton Moyers from the Weyerhaeuser mill in Heaters, West Virginia, who are both Glenville State graduates, visited campus to present the award to Gazal.

For more information about degree programs in GSC’s Department of Land Resources, call (304) 462-6370.