Ram Alagan was Peace Corps Volunteer in Sri Lanka
Ram Alagan
912 Fortney Street Morgantown, WV 26505 (304) 291-6769
ralagan@geo.wvu.edu
http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~ralagan/welcome.htm
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EDUCATION
# 1999 – to date Ph.D. student in Geography
Special Interests: GIS, Environmental Impact Assessment, and GIS & Society.
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, Morgantown, West Virginia (GPA 3.9)
Advisor. Prof. Trevor M. Harris
* 1998 - M.Sc in Environmental Studies
OHIO UNIVERSITY, Athens, Ohio.
Future project: Application of GIS in drought pattern analysis in Ohio - 1983 to 1995. Funded by Ohio DNR
Special Interests: GIS and Environmental Modeling, and Environmental Impact Assessment.
* 1996- MA in Geography
OHIO UNIVERSITY, Athens, Ohio.
Special Interest GIS and Resource Management.
Thesis: "A Conservation Management Plan for Knuckles Forest and its Natural Resources - Sri Lanka"
* 1989 - B. A. in Environmental Geography, (Second Upper Class)
Thesis: Climate Influence and Population Migration in Fishing Industries in Sri Lanka. University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2000 Spring . Guest Lecture - Geo Politics, Space, and Conflict: Regional Geography. (Geog-2) Geography,
Department of Geology and Geography, WVU, West Virginia. Instructor. Mr. Hoch Rich.
1999 Fall Guest Lecture - Sri Lankan Geo-Politics, Political Geography, Department of Geology and
Geography, West Virginia. Instructor. Prof. Ken Martis
9/91todate Lecturer - Department of Geography. University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
9/92-3/94 Visiting Teaching Associate - Environmental Studies,
Central Province Open University - Sri Lanka
8/91 -2/93 Language Instructor - ISLE (USA) link program, in Sri Lanka
1/86 -2/91 Language Instructor - US PEACE CORPS, in Sri Lanka
PROJECTS EXPEREINCES
Summer 2000 Intern GIS Analyst – Digital Line Graphic (DLG) and Digital Raster Graphic (DRG) conversion project
of West Virginia State; at the State GIS Technical Canter. Software experience - Micro Station and ArcInfo.
08/98-to date Graduate Assistant – GIS Mapping and Environmental Impact Assessment of 765kV
Transmission Line - Wyoming Jackson Ferry- Cloverdale project, WV & VA. Funded
by American Electrical Power, Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University.
3/97 – 8/98 Graduate Assistant – GIS Mapping, The Institute for Local Govt. Administration and
Rural Development (ILGARD). Soil analysis of Perry County, Zoning of Shelby County,
and Flood Mapping project for Southeastern counties in Ohio.
3/93-7/94 Research Associate - Coastal land use study and coastal management (50% employment)
used Arc Info and Idrisi in land use mapping.
1/93-7/94 Soil Analyst – Global warming and hydrological modeling project, (25% employment)
Collaboration of Tsukuba University Japan – in Sri Lanka.
3/92 -1/94 Research Assistant - Knuckles Forest Land use Management, Sri Lanka (50% employment). Collaboration of International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN).
2/92 -7/94 Research Assistant - Landuse changes study in Sericulture Farm (50 % employment)
Collaboration with University of Mainz, Germany and GTZ (German Technical
Corporation in Sri Lanka) with Dr. Mohns and Dr. Sylvio, Project Leaders.
2/93 -5/94 Research Assistant - Soil formation study in Horton Plains, Sri Lanka (25 % employment). Collaboration of Tsukuba University, Japan
2/89 -10/90 .... Research Assistant - Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Sri Lanka. Water Supply
Board and the collaboration of Finland Development Agency (FINNIDA) (75 % employment)
PUBLICATIONS
Conferences and Presentations
* Ram Alagan, Sewelo Keleagetse, Jesse Rouse, Trevor Harris: Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, West Virginia 26506. Integrating GIS and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Spatial Decision-Making Presented at the AAG in New York City, 2000
* Ram Alagan: Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, West Virginia 26506. Regional Development and Struggle for Space. Panel Discussion: on Space, Place, & Conflict: Presented at the AAG in New York City, 2000. Key organizer: Jay D. Gatrell, Ph.D
* Seela. A. G. and Ram Alagan, Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, West Virginia 26506. A Struggle for Space: Political and Historical Perspective on Social Conflict in Sri Lanka. Presented at the MID STATES regional conference of AAG in Bloomsburg, PA, 2000
* Ram Alagan, 2000. GIS and Natural Resources: Exploring Social Struggles in the Knuckles Forest, Sri Lanka. Presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) in Pittsburgh. PA, 2000
* Ram Alagan. 1999. Traditional Land-use Practice and Tropical Deforestation: exploring GIS and Social Struggles Over Natural Forest in Sri Lanka. Presented at the East Lake Division of AAG, Loudonville, OH. 1999.
* Ram Alagan, 1999. Mountain Top Removal and Social Impact in West Virginia. Presented at the Graduate Seminar in Environmental Impact Assessment and GIS Application. Department of Geography, West Virginia University.
* Ram Alagan, 1999. Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment. Presented at the Graduate Seminar in Environmental Impact Assessment and GIS Application. Department of Geography, West Virginia University.
* Ram Alagan. 1998. Socio-Economic and Environmental Consequences of Human Impacts on the Knuckles Forest in Sri Lanka. Presented at the Regional Geography Graduates Conference – WVU.
* Ram Alagan. 1991. Sri Lanka Geography. Presented at the US Peace Corps in Kandy, Sri Lanka
* Ram Alagan. 1991. Knuckles Forest Conservation. Presented at the Catalyst Meeting. Kandy, Sri Lanka.
* Ram Alagan. 1991. The Knuckles Forest Conservation and Management. Presented at the 50th year celebration of Geography in Sri Lanka.
POSTER PRESENTATION
* Seela A. G. and Ram Alagan, Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, West Virginia 26506. "Development of Conflict and Conflict of Development: a geographical study in Sri Lanka. Presented at the AAG in New York City, 2000
* Sewelo Keleagetse, Ram Alagan, Jesse Rouse, and Trevor Harris. Fall 2000. Integrating GIS and Environmental Impact Assessment for Spatial Decision Making. Presented at the Horizon Workshop, West Virginia University, WV
* Ram Alagan. 2000. GIS and Natural Resources: Exploring Social Struggles in the Knuckles Forest, Sri Lanka. Presented at the Summer GIScience Conference: University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS), Portland OR.
* Ram Alagan. Fall 2000, GIS and Natural Resources: Exploring Social Struggle in the Knuckles Forest, Sri Lanka. Presented at the Horizon Workshop, West Virginia University, WV
ACADEMIC GRANTS, AWARDS, and SCHOLARSHIPS
02/2001 Ph.D. Student Travel Award, Association of American Geographers, Annual Conference,
New York City, New York.
6/2000 Ph.D Student Travel Grant, Summer GIScience Conference: University Consortium
for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS), Portland, Oregon
04/2000 Ph.D. Student Travel Award, Association of American Geographers,
Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
11/1999 Graduate Student Travel Award, Association of American Geographers,
East Lake Division, Loudonville, Ohio.
1999summer GIS Research Internship – 765kV Power line project, funded by American Electrical Power.
1998 to date Graduate Research Assistantship - Department of Geology and Geography, WVU.
08/1998
Graduate Assistantship - Institute for Local Government Administration and
Rural Development (ILGARD), Data/GIS Lab, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
1994 –1996 Fulbright Scholarshipin Environmental Geography, Ohio University. Ohio. - MA Program
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
12/1999 Guest Speaker - Cheat Elementary and Junior High School Morgantown, WV, Geography Week.
1997/1998 GIS Research Assistant - Institute for Local Government Administration and
Rural Development (ILGARD), Data/GIS Lab, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
1994-96 Computer Lab Assistant and Programmer - Alden Library, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
1991 Assistant Organizer - 50th year celebration of Geography n Sri Lanka.
Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
1999/2000 Coordinator, Graduate Student – GIS faculty selection committee –
Department of Geography, West Virginia University
1993 –1994 Secretary - Arts Alumni Association, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
1995 Student Facilitator - The Association of American Geographers, Charlotte, North Carolina.
1992-1994 Secretary, An NGO - Environmental conservation, education and awareness Sri Lanka.
1991– 1993 Soccer Coach - University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka.
1985 –1986 Vice President - Geographical Society- Department of Geography,
University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
* Association of American Geographers
* Arts Faculty, University of Peradeniya
COMPUTER EXPERIENCES
* Operating Systems: DOS; Windows 98, HTML, AML
SOFTWARE EXPERIENCES
GIS SOFTWARES
MICROSOFT SOFTWARES
OTHER SOFTWARES
ArcInfo 7-8 Word 2000 Graphic - Adobe Photoshop
Arc view WordPerfect 2000 Text Bridge
Imagine ERDAS Excel 2000 Corel Draw 2000
IDRISI Power Point 2000 3D Earth Vision
MapInfo Front Page 98 MrSid Comprise
Micro Station Explorer Web Base Development AutoCAD
Microsoft Access Database Microsoft Outlook
STATISTICAL APPLICATION
# Minitab 11 & Minitab 12, Data Desk, S-Plus for Arcview, JMP, Excel
GIS AND REMOTE SESNING TECHNICAL SKILLS
* Cartography, Spatial Analysis, 3D Analysis, ViewShed Analysis, Digitizing, Image interpretation
* Spatial data collection methods using GPS; (Trimble)
* Geo-referencing IRS and NAPP 765kV power line project
* Drum scan operation system - NAPP photographs and 24k quads –765kV power line project, and laminating machine operation
* Drum scan operation system for 24K DLG conversion project at West Virginia State GIS Technical Center
* Plotter operating system, American Electrical Power Company 765kV project Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University.
* Trimble and Ashtech 14GPS: used to produce a flood map, 3D model of Ohio University and the golf ground re-boundary map.
* 3D Earth Vision: used to identify Ohio state drought analysis - 1983 to 1995.
PC SKILLS
# Window PC and NT, IBM related peripherals, Apple computers, UNIX workstation
SPORTS QUALIFICATION
Fall -1999 Participated Inter Departmental softball baseball tournament, WVU
Fall - 1999 Participated Inter Departmental flag football tournament, WVU
Fall - 1999 Participated Inter Departmental soccer tournament, WVU
1992-994 Tournament Secretary - Kandy District Soccer League, Sri Lanka.
1992-1994 President – Green Park Sports Club (Soccer and Athletics), Kandy Sri Lanka.
1991-994 Soccer Coach - University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
1986-1987 The Guest All-Round Sportsman - University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. For Rugby, Soccer,
Hockey, and Truck and EXPERIENCES Field
1986–1989 Professional Hockey Tournament - Played for Kandy Hockey and Football Club – Sri Lanka
1986-1987 Captain - Soccer team, University of Peradeniya. Sri Lanka
1986-1987 Represented Sri Lanka National President XI Soccer Team
1980-1987 Played and involved in many clubs and professional soccer and cricket tournaments
cross the Country – Sri Lanka.
