On April 13th four Penn State Wilkes-Barre surveying engineer students competed and placed third at the "National Surveying, Mapping and Geospatial Conference Collaboration: The Map of the Future."
Beginning in October of 2014 Penn State Wilkes-Barre surveying engineering students Chris Albee, Alex Wood, Tyler Shelly, and Aaron Severance performed two topographic surveys of the same 5 acre area. They then had to analyze the errors in these two datasets they collected and analyze a third dataset which was collected by another source. The project resulted in a 30 page written paper which was submitted to the judges in March.
Seven teams competed by presenting a 20 minute oral presentation and a 3' by 7' poster. The conference brought together associations, professional societies, companies and government agencies in the surveying, mapping and geospatial fields. It focused on bridging the gap between government agencies and the private sector, as well as different disciplines in the community, with special attention to how technological innovations further collaboration.
"Conference attendees were so impressed with our students work that a major industry magazine asked our students to write an article to be published in their next edition," explained Brian Naberezny, Instructor of Surveying Engineering. "Several attendees requested the students email them a copy of their poster so they can distribute it and/or hang it in their office." This is the second year Penn State Wilkes-Barre has competed in this competition and the first time placing.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre provides a world-renowned university in a smaller, more intimate setting. Dedicated staff and teachers have helped students of all ages since the campus' inception in 1916 and continue to provide excellent education and support. Penn State Wilkes-Barre boasts eight Bachelor's degrees and four Associate's degrees and the ability to start one of over 160 degrees at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and continue at another campus.
