1. Academia Survey Results
Academia Members Surveyed: 859
Sample Size: 62 (7%)
11/18/2018

2. Category of Institution Represented in Sample
Research University (Carnegie Level I): 33
4-Year College/University:
Community College:
11/18/2018
Question A03

3. Position of Respondents
>70% at Faculty Level
11/18/2018
Question A01

4. Estimated Number of Students at Respondent’s Institutions25 22 20 15 14
Responses 12 11 10 5 2 1
<500
500-
2500-
10,000-
20,000-
>30,000
2500
10,000
20,000
30,000
Estimated Students
The average institution has about 17K students (> 75% of respondents estimated > 10K students)
11/18/2018
Question A04

5. Students Involved in RS/GIS Related Programs
Based on survey results, the average number of students involved in RS/GIS related programs at respondents’ universities/colleges is about 140
Therefore, students involved in RS/GIS related programs at these universities are slightly less than 1% of the student body population (17,000)
This small % of Student Population probably has a negative effect on funding/resource availability
11/18/2018
Question A05

6. Disciplinary Background20
Geography 12
Forestry 9
Other (Not Defined) 6
Civil Engineering
Discipline 4
Photogrammetry 4
Geology 4
Environmental Science 1
Physics 1
Computer Science 1
Agriculture 10 20 30
Number of Responses
Respondents weighted toward Geography and Forestry
11/18/2018
Question A02

7. Sample Characterization
Greater than 70% Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors located at fairly large institutions
All from 4-year colleges/universities; most from research universities (Carnegie Level I)
Weighted towards geography and forestry
11/18/2018

8. Estimate of Disciplinary Degrees Granted in RS/GIS Academic Programs 1995-2010
2500
Physics
Computer Science
2000
Geology
1500
Forestry
Disciplinary Degrees Granted
Photogrammetry
1000
0ther
Environmetal Sci.
500
Civil Engineering
Geography
1995
2000
2005
2010
All disciplines increase
Geography nearly doubles
Geography and Environmental Sciences account for greater than 50% of the degrees
Years
11/18/2018
Question A06 & A07

9. Certificates may be a growth industry for Academia
Estimate of Degrees and Certificates in RS/GIS Academic Programs
Certificates may be a growth industry for Academia
3000
2500
2000
PhD MS
100%
1500 BS
90%
80%
Certificates
1000
70%
60%
500
Disciplinary Degrees Granted
50%
40%
30%
20%
1995
2000
2005
2010
10% 0%
1995
2000
2005
2010
Years
11/18/2018
Question A06 & A07

10. U.S. vs. Foreign Remote Sensing Students 1995 - 2010
5000
Is U.S. remote sensing student population decreasing?
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
US Students
Non-US Students
2000
1500
1000
100%
500
90%
80%
70%
1995
2000
2005
2010
60%
50%
40%
30%
The percentage of Non US students is growing at an average rate of more than 20% per year.
20%
10% 0%
1995
2000
2005
2010
11/18/2018
Question A06 & A07

11. ? Estimate of RS/GIS Staff &Faculty Recruited: 1995 - 2010
Cyclical Recruiting Process
300
250 ?
200
118
126
Number of Employees
Staff
150
Faculty 74
100 55
118
118 50 78 85
1995
2000
2005
2010
Totals
Years
11/18/2018
Question A08& A09

12. Estimate of RS/GIS Specializations Hired in Academic Programs 1995-2010
250
Hiring is also cyclical ?
200
LIDAR
Hyperspectral
150
Radar
GPS
High Spatial Resolution
100
0ther
GIS 50
1995
2000
2005
2010
11/18/2018
Question A08& A09

13. Factors Affecting Institutions 2000-2004
Program funding and availability of graduate students are key issues
11/18/2018
Question A10

14. Student Span of Interest* in RS/GIS Sectors
* As perceived by faculty members
11/18/2018

15. Respondent-Perceived Changes in Demand for
Selected RS/GIS Areas
11/18/2018
Question A11

16. Government/Private Sector Actions to Advance Educational Programs*
11/18/2018
*Based on 62 respondents with a choice of up to 3 responses
Question: A13_01-03

17. Educational Community Actions to Advance Educational Programs*
11/18/2018
*Based on 62 respondents with a choice of up to 3 responses
Question: A 14_01-03

18. Conclusions
Preponderance of respondents anticipated increase in graduates, with largest increase in university-based certificate programs.
Estimate of about 1% of university students enrolled in RS/GIS programs.
Is this sufficient to meet future demand for graduates with proper levels of knowledge and capability??
Respondents indicate that demand for students educated and trained in RS/GIS applications, hyperspectral, spatial analysis and multi-sensor fusion will be high.
What are the abilities of universities, governments and the private sector to move programs toward these areas that are new, costly and have a greater degree of private sector involvement for equipment and data access than ever before.
11/18/2018

19. Conclusions Faculty indicate program growth, but are
Not optimistic about large increases in sustained hiring of RS/GIS faculty,
Indicate the governmental funding for instructional and research program and lab development is their major concern for the future,
Indicate that the supply and support of graduate students is second primary area of concern for the future.
Without allocation of resources to program development, sustained hiring of new faculty and the increased availability of graduate students, programs will not grow to meet anticipated demand.
11/18/2018