AMES, Iowa -- Registration for the fall 2008 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) geospatial technology short courses offered by Iowa State University Extension is currently under way.

The courses are designed for anyone who uses or has an interest in GIS computer software including community planners, designers, public officials and conservationists. Those new to GIS can enroll in Essentials of ArcGIS 9.x as a two-day course or an intensive one-day course. For those with more advanced skills, courses on Global Positioning Systems (GPS), census data, cartography, community development, economic development and the software package CommunityViz are offered.

The courses, which run from September through December, range in length from one to two days and are taught in the GIS Extension and Outreach laboratory, located in Room 526 of the College of Design building on the ISU campus. Advance registration is required and enrollments are limited to 12 participants per course.

Course instructors include Alan Jensen, ISU Extension geospatial technology specialist; Nora Ladjahasan, assistant scientist with the Institute for Design Research and Outreach; Neha Mehrotra, ISU lecturer of community and regional planning; and Christopher Seeger, ISU assistant professor of landscape architecture and ISU Extension landscape architect.

Course information and online registration are available on the ISU GIS Web site at www.extension.iastate.edu/gis/Training.

Course offerings include the following:

Sept. 11-12: Essentials of ArcGIS 9.2

Oct. 9: Essential One-Day Intensive ArcGIS 9.2

Oct. 10: Essential GPS -- An Introduction

Oct. 24: Beyond Essentials -- CommunityViz

Nov. 6–7: Essentials of ArcGIS