Digitization of Hand-Drawn Rowan University/Edelman Fossil Park Map

Posted on by shanecanyonwalsh

In close coordination with Zachary Christman, Associate Professor and GIS Program Director in Rowan University’s Department of Geography, Planning and Sustainability, I am in the process of digitizing the Rowan University/Edelman Fossil Park’s Fossil Map (https://www.rowan.edu/fossils/).  The map is 1 square meter in size and contains roughly 1300 fossils.  I first photographed small sections of the original map using a digital camera and then geo-rectified the photographs into one high-resolution digital map in ArcGIS.  I then set about adding the approximate centroid location for each fossil.  The next steps will include adding information like the location and depth of the fossil in hopes of better understanding where to dig next to find more fossils of the same specimen.

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Published by shanecanyonwalsh

I grew up in a small town in Central Pennsylvania, raised on a healthy dose of old school hip hop, Kool Aid, punk rock, egg rolls, skateboarding and Star Wars. Later, I played in bands, started a record label, printed a fanzine, joined the U.S. Coast Guard, lived in nine states and somehow, along the way, learned how to drive a forklift. I earned a degree in photography from the Antonelli Institute, then spent the next decade as a lifestyle, fashion, wedding and portrait photographer, living both in New York City and Philadelphia. I then felt I needed a new challenge, one that combined with my photography background would effect change in this world. I decided to go back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in Geography with dual minors in Geographic Information Systems and Planning with a concentration in Geoscience. I am currently attending Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Related Courses: Cultural Geography Earth, People and the Environment Earth Sciences Laboratory Environmental Science and Technology Environmental Site Assessment Fundamentals of GIS Geoscience of Natural Disasters Geovisualization History and Methods of Modern Geography Introduction to Mapping and GIS Macroeconomics Remote Sensing / Air Photo Interpretation Spanish I My interests include geology, volcanology, remote sensing, disaster preparedness, photogrammetry, appropriate technologies, renewable energy, history and sustainable agriculture. I live in Wenonah, NJ, with my wife and our two wild boys.