Alumna receives GIS award

Kooshoom Gutlea, a recent ACC GIS graduate, was presented yesterday with the Manitoba GIS Users Group (MGUG) 2014 Excellence in GIS Education Research Award. Gutlea was recognized for her capstone project titled Climate Impact on Jack Pine Budworm Population Outbreak in Sandilands Provincial Forest.

GIS professionals from across Manitoba completed a rigorous peer reviewed process for capstone and thesis projects from geomatics students from all six Manitoba post-secondary institutions. Gutlea was presented with her award in front of 400 GIS professionals at the annual MGUG conference held yesterday in Winnipeg.

Gutlea's capstone project demonstrates the use of GIS within a greater research project. She looked at 30 years of climate data and insect populations developing a process and model to predict defoliation based on temperature and precipitation.

Reviewers noted that her capstone had clearly defined objectives with a strong theoretical foundation, comprised largely of GIS and showcased GIS as a means of investigating the goals and objectives to derive a solution. Her project partner was the Forest Health and Renewal Branch of Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship.

Gutlea is presently employed as a GIS technician with the City of Brandon.

[L to R] Dr. David Walker, Chair MGUG Education; Ryan Vitt, RRC Student – Practical Implementation of GIS Award Winner; Kooshoom Gutlea, ACC alumna and Research in GIS award winner; Jeremy Sewell, Co-Chari MGUG Education.