Specialists in geospatial technology outreach from nine states gathered at the New England Center at UNH in Durham this week for a workgroup meeting of the eXtension Map@Syst Community of Practice.

The Map@Syst CoP was formed in late 2006 as a collaborative project of geospatial Extension specialists from around the country, which together comprises the National Geospatial Technology Extension Network. As an eXtension community, Map@Syst is responsible for covering the content area of geospatial technology, including the basic concepts, technology and applications of these tools.

The central focus of the meeting was additional content development and planning for future additions to the geospatial technology section of the eXtension site. In addition to completing current gaps in content, three future focus areas were determined based on the expertise of CoP members and the needs of our target audience:

• evaluation of free GIS software options
• use of geospatial technologies to link watersheds and water quality
• precision agriculture

The meeting at UNH successfully expanded the CoP to include a county geospatial Extension staff member and geospatial outreach experts from outside Cooperative Extension. The meeting also provided an invaluable opportunity of Map@Syst members to provide feedback on site design and functionality, as well as, develop a greater understanding of current and future directs of the initiative directly from eXtension staff.

Meeting participants included Greg Bonynge, Geospatial Extension Specialist, University of Rhode Island, John Borst, Outreach Coordinator, NY State Geographic Information Systems Clearninghouse, Shane Bradt, Geospatial Extension Specialist, University of New Hampshire, Neil Curri, Senior GIS Resource Educator, Cornell Extension in Dutchess County, Ashley Griffin, eXtension Content Design Leader, University of Kentucky, John McGee, Geospatial Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech, John Nowatzki, Geospatial Extension Specialist, North Dakota State University, Barron Orr, Geospatial Extension Specialist, University of Arizona, Leslie Pelch, Outreach Coordinator, Vermont Center for Geographic Information, Sandy Prisloe, Geospatial Extension Specialist, University of Connecticut, and Craig Wood, eXtension Associate Director, University of Kentucky.