USGS Astrogeology

NAU CS Additional Coursework Recommendation

Computer Scientists and IT Specialists at the USGS in Flagstaff and throughout the nation work in:

• Systems administration: from desktop support to enterprise-level systems design and policy making
• Software development: designing applications to do data analysis, image processing, cartographic display, and drive data collection instrumentation
• Web development: everything from basic web pages to designing enterprise-level web services

Most Computer Scientists and IT Specialists in the USGS work directly on scientific and mission support projects, designing software and hardware solutions for collecting, managing, processing, analyzing, visualizing, and disseminating scientific data and research results. A few examples of research and mission support include:

• Geology: geologic mapping, earthquake and volcanic hazards,
• Biology: animal population monitoring, locating pharmaceutically useful plants, developing recommendations for conservation and management of biological resources
• Water: stream flow and water quality monitoring, locating water resources
• Geography: mapping geology, topography, hydrology, and biology using GIS
• Climate and atmosphere: air quality monitoring and impact assessment
• Remote sensing: support and management of terrestrial satellite and remote sensing systems, analysis and processing of remotely sensed imagery
• Space mission support: landing site analysis, planetary mapping, image processing, geologic research and mapping, and space mission data dissemination

Recommended Coursework

Mathematics

Many of the Computer Scientists working at the USGS Flagstaff Science (particularly with the Astrogeology Research Program) have their bachelors or masters degrees in mathematics, often combined with a minor in computer science, and excel in their work because of their mathematics background. Students wishing to enter mission support and scientific research software development should augment the required math coursework. Alumni of mathematics report that in addition to calculus, linear algebra, and numerical analysis, their course work in operations research, applied mathematics, and statistics have assisted them in their work. Our specific recommendation for additional course work would be a minor in math, including Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, and Differential Equations.

Geography and Remote Sensing

Many Computer Scientists develop cartographic applications for mapping, merging multiple satellite images into a single mosaic, and so forth. A large part of what the USGS does is directly or indirectly related to mapping and remotely sensed images, and understanding mapping technologies, geographic coordinate systems, GIS, and remote sensing is incredibly useful to Computer Scientists, if not in the applications they develop, then in other aspects of their work for the USGS.

Geography: We recommend the following general geography classes: Map and Image Interpretation and Physical Geography.

Remote Sensing: For those interested in working with satellite, sonar, aerial, or planetary image data, we recommend Remote Sensing I, II, and III offered by the Geography department; and the Digital Signal Processing and Image Processing courses offered by the Electrical Engineering department.

GIS: Geographic Information Systems are becoming prevalent – cities managing infrastructure, cartographers mapping planetary geology, and on-board GPS systems all depend on GIS. We recommend at least a working knowledge of GIS, including the Geography department’s Intro to GIS and Applications in GIS. A deeper understanding of databases, particularly geospatial databases, is particularly useful to programmers developing systems for cartography, image processing of remotely sensed data, and other applications dealing with geospatial datasets.

Sciences

Strong natural sciences

• Physical and/or Planetary Geology – understanding the basic concepts and vocabulary is useful in working with geologists. Planetary Geology is useful specifically for those working with astrogeologists. Chemistry supplements mineralogy and rock composition. Hydrology is beneficial to those working with scientists in Water Resources.
• Environment Science – understanding of the environment and ecology are is generally useful in working with scientists in Biological Resources, Water Resources, and fields of research involving atmosphere, weather, human impacts, etc.
• Plant Taxonomy, Zoology – basic knowledge of plants and animals useful in working with scientists in Biological Resources
• Physics - particularly optics, for those working with satellite, sonar, aerial, and space mission imagery. Basic astronomy useful for those working with astrogeologists.