MMU School Crew Completes Mapping Project
In December the Mount Mansfield Union High School Crew completed a mapping project that was sponsored by the Department of Historic Preservation. This three week project introduced the interns to Geographic Position Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Â
The project was divided into three parts. The first, called “Search and Find,†helped the interns become familiar with GPS units. The interns were split up into pairs and used GPS units to plot points to objects in the woods. The pairs then exchanged units and had to read the points and follow the path to locate the hidden object. Â
The interns then moved on to learn how to make maps with the GIS program. The crew took points of barns seen in the Richmond area with the GPS units and plotted them using the GIS computer program to make a map. The crew made ten maps that show the progression of geography from national right down to the exact location of the West Monitor Barn in Richmond, Vermont.Â
To showcase their work the interns created a website as the final piece of the project. In total, the website includes all ten GIS maps that locate the barns in Richmond as well as different attributes of the region. The crew made a presentation of their work at the West Monitor Barn on Friday, December 21, 2007, to an audience of headquarters staff and project sponsors.
Members of this crew include Instructors Sarah Hays and Zac Gilhooley. Interns on the crew include Mike Bessette, Thomas Cude, Victoria McKinstry, Kailey George, Joey Goodroe, Gavin Holt, Travis Leppanen, Paschal Perrotte and Kristina Wright.   Â
Congratulations to all the interns of this crew for making the Honor Roll this quarter!  Â
Visit the website the crew created to see all of the details. If you are interested in the mapping project or in projects that involve the VYCC property contact Land Stewardship Specialist Bradley Materick at bmaterick@vycc.org or (802) 434 – 3969 ext. 149.