Smith, Stephen D.
Senior Extension Associate
For the past 30 years I have been directly involved in resource inventory, land use mapping, land use planning, and technical education. The application of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and global positioning systems (GPS) technologies to cultural and environmental issues is my primary professional interest. The projects I have undertaken have ranged from the development of farm management systems to mapping the extent of an invasive plant species across a multi-county region. Recently, I completed a project involving the development of a habitat vulnerability assessment model using a Census-based residential growth allocation model. The results from this project have prompted me to pursue an advanced degree (PhD) in the Department of Natural Resources to further the development of the habitat vulnerability assessment model. As an Extension professional, the focus of my efforts in these applications is toward the dissemination of the knowledge and experiences acquired. Assisting local practitioners in the utilization of these technologies has been a daily process involving workshops and consultations. Recent efforts to increase the use of these technologies within the Cornell Cooperative Extension program have been very successful. For the next few years, IRIS, through a new geospatial literacy initiative, will provide GPS and GIS curriculum, support, and equipment to 4-H Summer Camp and after-school programs to educate and engage youth.
research
research and scholarship focus
Ongoing applied research efforts focus on the application of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and global positioning systems (GPS) technologies to cultural and environmental issues and provide a framework for the development of training material and professional linkages. The projects I have undertaken have ranged from the development of farm management systems to mapping the extent of an invasive plant species across a multi-county region, utilizing both aerial photographic interpretation and satellite image processing methodologies.
primary investigator of
research areas
- biodiversity | collaborative research area (CALS)
- city and regional planning | collaborative research area (CALS)
- conservation biology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- ecology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- environmental sciences | collaborative research area (CALS)
- forest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- hydrology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- information science | collaborative research area (CALS)
- landscape architecture | collaborative research area (CALS)
- landscape ecology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- land use | collaborative research area (CALS)
- natural resources | collaborative research area (CALS)
- resource policy and management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- risk analysis and assessment | collaborative research area (CALS)
- science education | collaborative research area (CALS)
- soil and crop science | collaborative research area (CALS)
- sustainable development | collaborative research area (CALS)
- teacher education | collaborative research area (CALS)
- water resource management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- watershed science | collaborative research area (CALS)
- wildlife management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- youth | collaborative research area (CALS)
submitted impact statement
- Geospatial literacy - improving access to and the understanding of geographic information systems, global position sytems, and spatial data. | 2007 Impact statement
- Improving access to and the understanding of geographic information systems and spatial data. | 2006 Impact statement
- Improving access to and the understanding of digital spatial data for the Hudson River Valley. | 2005 Impact statement
- Improving access to and the understanding of digital spatial data for the Hudson River Valley | 2004 Impact statement
affiliations
academic staff in
- Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS) | Cornell department
service
outreach focus
Extension activities involve education and assistance in the use and appropriate application of geospatial technologies such as remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and global positioning systems (GPS). Activities include hands-on consulting, managing applied research projects, small technical workshops, and informational presentations. Stakeholders include tribal groups, state agencies and programs, town and county staff, non-governmental organizations, 4-H youth and educators.
background
featured in
- 4-H group maps new ground, combining geospatial science with community service | Cornell Chronicle feature
publications
linked articles
Keywords: biodiversity assessment, bio-diversity impacts, digital mapping systems, geographic information systems, GIS, GIS/GPS, global positioning system, global positioning systems, GPS, land use/land cover mapping, land use / land cover mapping, land use change analysis, remote sensing, resource inventory