Aggie Legacy Veterans Project
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Date
2021-08-31
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Abstract
Texas A&M University (TAMU-Aggies), a Senior Military College, was established in 1876 in College Station, Texas, and is ranked No. 3 in the “Top 10 Military Schools in America” (TAMU Today, 2012). The ~2,500 member Texas A&M Corps of Cadets continues to provide exemplary leaders for the public and private sectors. The Corps has a rich history of responding to the nation’s call for service and leadership. For example, in the fall of 1942, over 20,000 former cadets served in World War II, of which 14,123 were commissioned officers. Many fallen Aggies who served in WWII and other tours rest in the Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries. To honor those who serve our country, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets seek a partnership with the National Cemetery Administration (NCA).
Working under the research and leadership guidance of faculty in Geography, History, and Engineering and the Corps of Cadets Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership, cadets will assist in the development of a Veteran’s Legacy geographic information system (GIS) that digitally archives and shares veterans’ legacies for research, education, and historical narratives. The Veteran’s Legacy GIS will research: (i) an artificial intelligence Unmanned Aerial System mapping machine learning system to automatically create 3D objects of each headstone in a geodetic coordinate system; (ii) a “VA Legacy Citizen Scientist” Veterans Legacy Field Data Collection Web-Application Tool to collect and share headstone information tied to veteran’s history via augmented reality; (iii) instructional material in the form of a public Veterans Legacy GIS Micro-Certificate used to educate and test that citizen scientist achieve the skills to collect accurate data; and (iv) professional digital video. The video will include student’s research on mapping Houston VA Cemetery, student utilizing the field data collection app, their process to extend memorialization of Aggie Veterans enshrined at the Houston National Cemetery, a demonstration of the public accessing the VA Legacy information via augmented reality, and the development of the Veterans Legacy GIS Micro-Certificate.
An Advisory Board of internal and external experts across multiple disciplines will work
with the Veteran’s Legacy Research Team to ensure VA Legacy meets high standards. TAMU has partnered with Klein Independent School District, where the Houston National Cemetery is located, to support mapping research, test Veterans Legacy GIS Micro-Certificate modules, and help research the historical history of Aggie Veterans. TAMU cadets will engage in social science research resulting in social media, publications, and videography products for educational outreach. Through this sponsored research, cadets will enhance key marketable skills such as problem-solving, oral and written communication, teamwork collaboration, and professional work ethics. This project will prepare the cadets for a lifetime of success as they become our nation’s future leaders.
The Veteran’s Legacy Research Team will deliver several digital media products: (i) Scholarly publications on innovative methods to map and share Veteran biographies cartographically; (ii) Veterans Legacy GIS Micro-Certificate course curriculum in a Learning Management System for the public; (iii) the Veterans Legacy Field Data Collection Web-Application Tool; and (iv) professional videography formatted to meet NCA websites and social media platforms.
Description
A cartographic digital geospatial database will be developed that connects innovation in Veteran storytelling with the community via interactive websites and mobile application tools. The Veterans Legacy Research Team will engage with K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students through a variety of methodologies to: (i) research and build a scalable GIS that maps TAMU Veterans laid to rest in a VA National Cemetery; (ii) geographically connects TAMU Veteran’s information retrieved from the VA or from TAMU public records to the enshrined location; (iii) investigate web-mapping and augmented reality tools to visualize information remotely or onsite about the Veteran; and (iv) produce instructional modules for students and the public to learn about National Cemeteries through a geography lens and become a certified “Citizen Scientist” allowing them to become contributors to the Veteran Legacy GIS or other NCA suite of tools.
During this pilot study, Texas A&M cadets obtaining degrees in multiple disciplinary areas will identify the names of Texas A&M University Aggies veterans who are buried at the Houston National Cemetery and build extended memorial veteran biographies through the information that is publicly available. Digital media information celebrating the legacy of fallen Aggie soldiers will be created by Cadets and shared with the public demonstrating the veterans’ contributions to their communities and the nation. While the primary focus of research that cadets will perform will fall within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, these future military leaders will also receive significant value in outcomes resulting from studying the social implications of veteran contributions to the nation and gain leadership skills training. This is a “people project” that personalizes Veterans’ stories through the sharing of facts about their legacy. Veterans form a close relationship during their service to the country and then, upon returning home, continue to build strong relationships within their communities to provide a wide variety of high-value contributions as civilians. The Veteran’s Legacy GIS converges the lifetime contributions that our veterans provide our society during their time in the service and as civil servants, enabling the public to follow the lives of individual Veterans based on their resting place.
Keywords
US Department of Veteran Affairs, Corps of Cadets, Geographic Information System, National Cemetery Adminstration, History, Geography, GIS/CAD/BIM Fusion