Dustin Wittwer
Pacific Northwest Research Station
My favorite science experience is collecting and analyzing geographic data from the remote and wild locations of Alaska. I love testing and using new and innovative technology to collect geographic data. After collecting the spatial data, I feed it into Geographic Information Systems (GIS), like Google Earth, and then use the geographic data to solve scientific puzzles.
I used geographic data to help determine the causes of tree death in Alaska. I flew in small floatplanes and used mobile computer mapping systems and global navigation satellite systems to collect the data. We would be so remote at times that the airplane pilot would camp with us at the end of each day. The work, however, wasn’t always without risk. One time the airplane’s engine failed, and we had to land without power. Fortunately, the plane had floats, and we could glide to the water. I’ve also encountered bears, wolves, whales, caribou, moose, and musk ox while collecting data. I think seeing Alaskan wildlife is pretty cool!
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