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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 1998)
NASA, L 'It By Josh Nichols Staff writer NASA is joining forces with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to pay for research directed at using satellite technologies to analyze land from high in the sky. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will work with UNL’s Center of Advanced Land Management Information Technologies stationed in Nebraska Hall. CALMIT is part of UNL’s Conservation and Survey Division, and the School of Natural Resource Sciences. The research will cost $860,000, of which NASA will pay $600,000. . A1 Peters, the university’s CALMIT research associate heading the project, said the satellite imaging technologies allow the center to ana lyze crop conditions at any given time. For example, researchers could find whether a field is experiencing a drought. Research also will focus on using computers to analyze geographic information and satellite-assisted methods for determining exact loca tion. In other words, any task that involves space or distance on land can be mapped with assistance from satel lites, Peters said. Maps made using these methods show the condition of the land and crops. “This is intended to lead to eco nomic development in this region through improved farming methods and techniques,” Peters said. J.S. Smoot, computer system ana lyst at NASA, said the Affiliated Research Center Program was devel oped to make the U.S. more techno logically competitive. There are about 10 other universities involved in the project. ARC is introducing these tech nologies to small companies through out the nation by bringing the research to the local universities, he said. “Companies can go to the univer sities to get research instead of having to go to NASA,” Smoot said. Peters said the price of these tech nologies for commercial use is drop ping rapidly. At one time many com panies in Nebraska were not able to develop them because of high costs. CALMIT is seeking corporations interested in being partners jn its development of these technologies, Peters said. CALMIT is focusing on private sectors interested in mapping and analysis of vegetation and other land cover, water quality and wetlands assessment and site-specific manage ment in farming and ranching, often called precision agriculture. Precision agriculture allows farm ers to find specific information about their fields and crops such as whether they are insect-infested or if they are experiencing a drought. To promote private sector interest, NASiA" flew over Lincoln and the University of Nebraska field laborato ry in Mead last month and measured the conditions of the land from the sky. NASA analyzed the land using poster-sized maps of each region, Peters said. CALMIT must provide monthly reports to NASA on the details and status of projects. It also must give an annual report including detailed accounts of each of the four complet ed projects, results, expenditures and metrics. Two months prior to the end of the contract year, CALMIT will supply an annual Option-Year Renewal Proposal if there are budget changes. Smoot said the program, which has been under way for about three months at UNL, is going well. 66 This is intended to lead to economic development in this region through improved farming methods and techniques ” Al Peters CALMIT research associate Capitol restoration to be captured on Web By Nicole Hall Staff writer When restoration begins on the Capitol within the next few weeks, i Lincoln residents won’t even have to leave theirchairs to see the progress - they can watch it unfold on the World Wide Web. Information Analytics has installed a Webcam at the top of its microwave tower to capture pictures of the restora tion. The Webcam, at 1440 M St., will take a picture of the Capitol every hour for the next three years. These pictures then will be put together to create a time-lapse video of the three-year I restoration project “We wanted to show apicture of the Capitol to the world,” said James Howell of the Navix Help Desk. Navix and its parent company, Aliant Communications, are helping to finance the project. In addition to the Capitol Webcam, three other Webcams have been placed throughout Lincoln. They show pic tures of downtown, 31st and O streets, and a different angle of the Capitol. “The O street Webcam is mostly to show the traffic on O and the weather, for people without windows in their ' office,” said Mark Dahmke, vice presi dent of Information Analytics. The Webcams can be viewed at http://www.starcitymall.comAvebcam/. — * ft?*10*1 0P*i0n8 to make student evaluations more effective. -ASUN Academic Commitee members are meeting wife colege departments and faculty members todscuB6mrisemestafeedbacktomr& Kara Stai^ier,commiteechEiwoman, said so far te meetings have been posive. ■ «1 i а. Muuress campus parang concerns. -The Emronmertal Issues S^iconrltee is acttessing parting issues on campus by actively promoting atemefivs forms of transportation, inducing wefldn& biting and pubic massfcansft. Mentors hope to •decrease the nunber of stogMcafant private vehicles used by students, taculy members aid staff. б. Continue efforts to unite Oty and East campuses. — Tony WNte, Environmental Issues &BoommMee chairman, said tie committee is promoting mass tans! sendees on StarTran bus No. 24 and night shuttle sen/ice between Cly and East campuses. Write said he warts more UNL students, fa&iy members and staffto use toe buses to ride betweencampuses. 7. Create a larger representation of students tfvough outreach initiatives. - Student senators are cortnang to visiwah student organizations monthly. Russel said toe meetings between ASUN members arto organizations hefcicommunicale student government aclM6e6, as wel as answer any questions or concerns toe student population may have. 8-Lobby tor student input and concern regardng the ASUN government pasty system. —The ASUN Electoral Commisiaun voted to accept Russel's proposed measure to keep a partis^ ~ govemmert system, tx< remove the isting of party names on the election babt The commission wi present toe new proposal, along with new election rites and procedures, today tor toe senate to vote 9. Work to promote alcohol awareness and education campus wide. —ASUN members are researching processes and methods on how to award toe Laura Cockson Memorial Scholarship. 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