Laramie Potts

Topics on Remote Sensing for geomatics and digital mobile mapping technology

1. Morphometrics: Develop multi-scale derivatives to analyze topography and to detect source boundaries in potential field data. 2. Space Weather: Study ionospheric total electron content (TEC) characteristics and time series variability of the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Apply spectral correlation theory to separate static and dynamic components in time series. Develop new GPS-based data inputs that support additional techniques to update the standard International Reference Ionosphere model. Another application of this research is focused on serving the local surveying and engineering communities by developing an ionosphere correction model for accurate positioning using single frequency GPS receivers. 3. Marine Geodesy: Study of coastal tide modeling and alternative non-invasive hydrographic surveying approaches in areas of sensitive aquatic vegetation and protected marine biological life. Methods of data validation using ground-based surveying methods. 4. Vocational Behavior: From the research I have done thus far, I have come to learn that the generalized trajectory of people’s vocational pursuits is extremely deranged and cluttered. These jumbled vocational trajectories are exaggerated for the individual career paths of our SET students and professional surveyors in the US. In general, surveyors stumble upon the profession through mere happenstance – for instance on-the-job training in civil engineering and computer mapping. Subsequently, their individual non-linear career trajectory is often associated with financial loss and delayed educational opportunities. My research on vocational behavior has given me tremendous insight on the many factors that constrain career choices of high school students and in particular their choice to enroll in surveying at NJIT. Insights gained are applied to my recruitment of high school students and recruitment related outreach activities at community colleges. 5. Student Learning: This area is completely new to me. I started to look into this area of research back in 2007 because I considered myself a novice instructor. My many years of scientific study did not prepare me for the role of educator. Now I engage in theoretical research in this area because I want students to enjoy, as much as I do my pet subjects of Surveying and Geodesy, while I am striving for excellence in teaching. Insights gained from these research efforts have resulted in my developing new pedagogical models for teaching and learning engineering technology courses. Furthermore, as a result of my research, I have implemented innovation in classroom teaching particularly in the area of “scaffolded” learning that prepare students for lifetime learning.