Give Geospatial and Forestry Students Industry-Standard Equipment

We've come so far today!  

If you help us reach our stretch goal of $30,000 this Tiger Giving Day, you will enable us to purchase six additional total stations. 

Update obsolete equipment for geospatial and forestry students with the purchase of four new total stations, the industry-standard technology for surveying. 

Each year, students in Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences take part in Summer practicum, an immersive experience that takes them out of the classroom and into the outdoors at the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center near Andalusia, Alabama. Forestry majors participate for eight weeks between their sophomore and junior years—living and working at the Dixon Center and taking courses that provide hands-on learning and field skills necessary for their chosen careers.

Understanding surveying is a foundational part of a Forestry student’s education. While participating in surveying courses during Summer practicum, students use theodolites—instruments that turn angles. Along with measuring distance with a metal tape, this allows students to determine the area within a traverse. 

Our theodolites are over 25 years old and are in an increasing state of disrepair. Often, the student will not realize the instrument is malfunctioning until well into the exercise, leading to inefficiencies, bad data and the diminishment of the student’s learning experience. Also, the use of the theodolite and tape requires a significant amount of time spent on clearing brush to attain accurate measurements.

Help us replace our outdated, unreliable and cumbersome theodolites and tapes with Total Stations. Total Stations are instruments used in modern surveying and operate with a combination of electronic distance measuring devices and software running through a laptop or electronic data collector.

Your gift will help the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences acquire this modern, industry-standard equipment for increased efficiency, accurate data collection and a state-of-the-art learning experience for our students. Thank you!