Page 11 - Feb2018BPSNews

Junior high GIS expert maps surtax projects
By Jennifer Wol nger, media and publica ons coordinator
Eighth-grade student and GIS expert Yuliang Huang is an integral part of Brevard Public Schools’ e ort to track and share informa on about the district’s sales surtax alloca on.
The Edgewood Jr./Sr. High student has been mee ng with David Lindemann,
manager of Facili es
Planning and
Intergovernmental Coordina on, about every month for more than a year to create a geographic informa on system (GIS) story map depic ng surtax projects. His work provides a transparent and intui ve way to track the progress of projects.
The partnership began
a er Lindemann
expressed interest in
working with students on
his department’s GIS projects, during a Brevard GIS Users Group mee ng. Assuming he would hear from college students, Lindemann was surprised when a group member recommended his son, Huang, who was in seventh grade at the me.
Lindemann said, “Working with mo vated students is a win-win situa on. Students o en have great computer skills and provide the enthusiasm to get new projects
o the ground. At the same me, the student is gaining valuable experience in the work environment dealing with real-life projects.”
Using ArcGIS online so ware, the story map depicts all BPS schools and sales surtax construc on projects that are taking place or are planned for the near future. The map includes photos and informa on about the scope
and status of the projects, which are managed by the BPS Planning and Project Management Department.
Huang was even recognized by the Independent Ci zens Oversight Commi ee (ICOC) recently. The commi ee oversees the implementa on of the sales surtax program
for Brevard County ci zens.
In a le er to Huang, ICOC Chairman Gary Shi rin, said, “We
have found this tool
to be most e ec ve in providing the public with informa on about the projects being done with their sales surtax money. It is gra fying to know our students are using their Brevard Public Schools educa on to bring new and exci ng ideas to frui on.”
Huang is working on some other facili es projects including an inventory of district portables and their loca ons in the county. He also created a map to iden fy which communi es have large popula ons of students receiving free and reduced lunch. In the future, Lindemann and Huang plan to create 3D renderings of BPS facili es to have a virtual inventory for internal use and e ciency.
“Yuliang has been great to work with and has really helped us implement some complex projects. He is very though ul and intelligent and he has a terri c understanding of the ArcGIS so ware,” said Lindemann.
The story map can be found here. The ArcGIS so ware
is available at no cost to teachers and students. Click here to access the so ware, and here to receive guidance from GeoMentors.
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