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REMOTE SENSING AND GIS EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN 
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 
Dr. John N. Hatzopoulos 
Professor of Remote Sensing and G.I.S., 
University of the Aegean, 
Department of Environmental Studies 
Mytilene, T.K. 81100 
GREECE ‘ 
ABSTRACT 
The experience on curriculum development in a new University and 
the implementation of nev? technologies in the area of remote sens 
ing and GIS is well presented. At the same time ways are provided 
to efficiently exploit the results of the technological revolution 
to serve the interests of education in such areas as remote sens 
ing and GIS. The implementation of a microcomputer laboratory, 
which is used by undergraduate students for developing their own 
programs on remote sensing algorithms has demonstrated both abil 
ity to understand complicated image processing theories and ability 
to implement those theories to obtain production level results. 
The same laboratory is used for developing programs on GIS appli 
cations such as relational data base development and digital map 
ping. Problems related to the social impact of new technologies 
within the academic community are also presented and analyzed. 
INTRODUCTION 
The department of Environmental studies in the University of the 
Aegean started for the first time at the undergraduate level in 
the academic year 1987-1988 while the graduate program had began 
one year earlier in 1986. At the present time there ere three 
major Sections within the department such as Ecosystem management. 
Environmental Engineering and Environmental Planing, there is also 
a fourth General Section which provides courses to support, the 
other three major sections. All these sections operate under a 
unique four year program of studies. There is a number of courses 
offered in each section covering related subject areas. Courses 
however, related to remote sensing and GIS are offered in the Gen 
eral Section. 
The lab equipment organization, as well as, the development of 
courses in remote sensing and GIS, in such a program of studies 
have certain objectives and limitations. The objectives are: 
(a) Laboratory support of a GIS system which will do the manage 
ment of cartographic and environmental information accessible to 
all interesting faculty and students through individual worksta 
tions. The lab will be used for research and instruction in both 
graduate and undergraduate level.