Student GIS Club Maps Out New Nature Trail

The Dallas Morning News has a story today on the GIS Club at a suburban middle school:

The Geographic Information Systems Club and 4-H Science Club are working together to bring paved walkways and a nature observatory to a greenbelt area near the northwest corner of Frankford Road and Josey Lane in Carrollton.

The project took another step toward reality last week, as the five students who designed the trails -– Matt Zettler, Sara Pritsker, Jonathan Russell, Nathan Schiferl and Dorathy Scrudder -– and GIS club members used handheld global positioning receivers and software donated by ESRI to map the route.

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The GIS club's work on the trails began last year when city of Carrollton senior engineering tech Charles Neely showcased five projects that club members could use to hone their mapping skills. Students were immediately drawn to the greenbelt.

Mr. Neely, the group's community partner, said students worked for nine months, studying city-supplied data and mapping points that would make up the trail. The Carrollton City Council voted to adopt the students' design with minimal adjustments.

Complete story from the Dallas Morning News (Registration required).