WVU professor teaches students why location matters

Mike Strager, WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Davis-Michael Professor of Resource Economics , in the Environmental, Energy, and Land Management program works one-on-one with a student in a computer lab . (WVU Photo/Matt Sunday)

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In Mike Strager 's classroom at West Virginia University, maps aren't just for spatial reference - they're used to generate ideas.

He teaches students to read the world around them using tools like geographic information systems and spatial reasoning, turning real places into insight, and often encouraging them to "map around and find out."

The Davis-Michael Professor of Resource Economics in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources who is involved in the Environmental, Energy, and Land Management program, Strager stresses how locations and their attributes work together to guide the decisions that shape communities, resources and landscapes.

Mike Strager, Davis-Michael Professor of Resource Economics, WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (WVU Photo/Matt Sunday)

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Growing up in downtown Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River, Strager saw how pollution affected the river and the environment around it. As a child, his family - despite living on the riverbank - had to travel north to the Lake Erie area to enjoy water recreation like swimming, fishing and water skiing.

"I've always been very aware of my surroundings. Growing up, I spent a lot of time traveling with my family and noticed changing landscapes - both natural and built," Strager said. "I developed a strong interest in maps and visualization. Maps tell stories and provide unique insights. They show relationships, patterns and insights in a way that pictures alone can't."

These firsthand observations created a sense of spatial awareness in the landscape and the environment for Strager that continued into a professional setting and his current role.

S trager teaches courses that examine natural resources and the tradeoffs that occur with various types of development.

Aligning with his water interests, he introduces three-dimensional mapping to students for watershed delineation, tracking pollutant flow paths across the landscape and estimating stream flow and water quality.

Mapping this information, he said, helps to better analyze specific locations to direct land management and policy decisions.

In the WVU Environmental, Energy, and Land Management program, Strager teaches students why location matters - and how spatial reasoning supports smarter decisions for communities, resources and landscapes. (WVU Photo/Matt Sunday)

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And, it's a family focus. Jacquelyn Strager, Mike's wife, also teaches the same subject at the Davis College as a teaching assistant professor.

"Anything that is location-dependent - which this Environmental, Energy, and Land Management program is - requires careful analysis," Mike Strager said.

"Location is a major part of that analysis. The courses we teach help students understand interactions between development, natural resources and environmental impacts. Students learn how to evaluate what's being proposed, what's being permitted and how those projects affect surrounding areas. All of this becomes part of their professional toolbox when they graduate."

Strager said the biggest purpose for these tools is to remove or limit uncertainty.

"When businesses make large decisions to develop land - such as where to build a factory, place a wind or solar farm, drill for oil and gas - they need information about the location to minimize risk," he added. "Our work provides confidence in decision-making, especially when those decisions involve significant financial investment. We help make decisions more informed by addressing the spatial attributes."

Geographic a rtificial intelligence is also playing a large role by providing the capability to quickly and effectively take a high-resolution picture, often collected by drone technology, and classifying it into a useful map output showing unique features of interest for land managers.

Strager guides his students in conducting hands-on analysis that helps reduce uncertainty in land management and development planning. (WVU Photo/Matt Sunday)

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"Our students are learning to use GeoAI models and techniques similar to doing advanced surveying but without leaving the office," Strager said. "Students answer questions about probabilities, proximity, connectivity, visibility and optimization. Job titles include spatial analyst, data scientist or remote sensing specialist."

The Environmental, Energy, and Land Management program at WVU is one of only 10 programs in the United States accredited by the American Association of Professional Landmen .

Strager said he believes the program's graduates are more prepared for the workforce due to the versatility it provides, which includes a built-in business minor. He said this gives students the powerful advantage of combining tech nical skills with essential skills in management, finance, marketing and leadership.

"This program sits in a unique space. It's not all engineering, business or environmental science - it's a combination with an element of planning and analyzing locations," he said of his involvement. "It's ideal for students who want exposure to many fields rather than deep specialization in just one."

Find more information about the Environmental, Energy, and Land Management program.

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