Images courtesy of Roane State Community College
Roane State Community College student Joe Pyle enjoys working with his hands.
As a student in the college’s geographic information systems, or GIS, program, his raw material of choice is data, and his craftsmanship has received statewide recognition.
Pyle’s map predicting cell phone coverage along the Cumberland Trail won in the Best Analysis category at the East Tennessee Geographic Information Council Forum. Pyle’s map depicts the Cumberland Trail from Frozen Head State Park to LaFollette. The map is overlaid with markers predicting cell phone signal strength at points along the trail.
“I have always been good at making things with my hands,” Pyle said. “GIS is like blacksmithing or woodworking, except that I use data as the raw material.”
Joe Pyle
Pyle became interested in GIS after meeting with Roane State program director Pat Wurth, who advised him that successful GIS professionals are computer-savvy and detail-oriented.
“That fit me to a T,” Pyle said.
Wurth said she is “very proud of Joe.”
“I’m excited Joe was recognized for his outstanding work, especially because he competed against professionals in the field,” Wurth said.
For more information about Roane State’s GIS program, contact Wurth at wurthpa@roanestate.edu, (865) 354-3000 ext. 2275 or visit roanestate.edu/GIS.
Roane State is a two-year college providing transfer programs, career-preparation programs, and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has campuses in Crossville, Harriman, Huntsville, Jamestown, Knoxville, LaFollette, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge, and Wartburg.
For more information, visit roanestate.edu or call 1-866-GO2-RSCC (1-866-462-7722).
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