AI, technology and community development

OSU Extension provides digital literacy and AI education to empower communities and help people use technology with confidence. Tied to Oregon State University’s vision for sustainable and useful AI for everyone, we research emerging technologies that support community development. This includes forestry, marine and agriculture communities where better data, technical guidance and smart tools can improve safety, support locally driven planning and lead to long-term success.

Latest news

Oregon State and HazAdapt expand emergency preparedness statewide

People engaged with trusted safety guidance across 31 hazards 624 times during the summer.

Chris Branam | Oct 2, 2025 | News story

OSU helps develop high-tech solutions for Pacific Northwest fruit orchards

Innovative research into robotics and AI offers practical, scalable solutions that can ensure the long-term sustainability of Oregon’s specialty crop industry.

Ashley Thompson | Jun 2025 | Impact story

Oregon Broadband Equity Coalition marks a year of closing the digital divide

The coalition’s work addresses the urgent need for increased broadband connectivity, particularly in Oregon’s rural areas.

Chris Branam | May 22, 2025 | News story

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Land surveying and mapping: An introduction for woodland owners

Surveys and maps help land managers understand property resources and make management decisions. Learn about the various types of maps used in woodland management and the technology used to collect and analyze geographic data. Advances in digital mapping technology have increased the types of available map data and the way users interact with maps.

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Credit: Miguel Acuña (Cropped from original)

Emerging technologies

Season 3, Episode 2 | Sensor Snapshot from Satellites to Drones

How close are we to having practical solutions for growers to use sensors in their vineyards? Listen in to find out!

Patricia A. Skinkis | Mar 2025 | Podcast episode Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones): How they operate and their potential for improving your forest and rangeland management

Innovations in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have made them useful for surveying properties. This publication will familiarize potential users with the types of UAVs and sensors, share some ideas for application, ...

Mark Ducey, Michael Palace, Franklin Sullivan, Ethan Belair, Joel Hartter, Paul T. Oester | Feb 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Virtual Fencing

Researchers at Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center have been studying virtual fencing and have a collection of videos that are helpful to those wanting to learn more about this topic.

Jul 2024 | Online resource

Oregon growers: This might be the droid you are looking for

Meet FarmDroid, an innovative solar-powered Danish agricultural technology introduced to Oregon farmers in a recent demonstration by Kristie Buckland, an OSU vegetable and specialty seed crop specialist and Pete Berry, an OSU weed ...

May 2025 | Video

Need Internet access?

Extension collaborates to help communities learn how low-income households can pay for internet service and connected devices, test their internet speeds and partner to deploy broadband on tribal lands through broadband connectivity.

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Latest resources

AI fundamentals microcredentials

The AI microcredentials are three OSU academic courses designed for students and professionals and can be taken in person or online. Each microcredential provides a broad-based introduction to artificial intelligence that is built on ethical principles and tailored to real-world contexts. Typically, you can complete a microcredential in 9 to12 months.

Oregon State University | Apr 2026 | Online resource

Value-Added Food Product Development

The OSU Department of Food Science & Technology contributes to the Oregon food industry through its Value-Added Processing Extension Program for new food products marketed to customer needs and perceptions.

Yanyun Zhao | Project

Expanding access and connectivity across Oregon

Good working connectivity is critical to day-to-day operations: Faster connectivity lets researchers generate, store, and transfer data in hours rather than days, and establishes a quality connection to the OSU campus’ health, life, and safety systems.

Nov 2025 | Video

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Oregon climate assessment coastal hazards

This chapter of the Oregon Climate Assessment report looks at recent assessments and analyses that document increasing rates of sea-level rise and erosion along Oregon’s coasts, and measures are being implemented or considered to adapt to these changes.

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Credit: Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original)

Community planning

Rainwater harvesting in tanks or cisterns: Oregon regulations

Learn about Oregon's rainwater harvesting regulations, including required permits and guidelines for compliant rainwater collection and storage in tanks or cisterns for both potable and non-potable uses.

Miranda Gray | Nov 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Fostering Stewardship: A How-to Guide for Trainers

This curriculum package helps natural-resource professionals train landowners in resource management. Topics include forests, fire, streams, wildlife, soil, pastures, water systems and economics.

Rachel Werling, Max Bennett | Jun 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Protecting trees on construction and development sites

Learn best practices for protecting, conserving, maintaining and replacing trees during development in the Pacific Northwest, ensuring urban forest health amid construction activities.

Derek Godwin, Paul Ries, Sarah Foster, Micki McNaughton, Maria Cahill, Toni Fitzgerald, James Freed, Scott Johns, Linden Mead | Mar 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

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Rural economic development

Community disaster preparedness

Local, regional and community food systems

Work skills

Climate change

Sustainability

Meet Our Experts

Rachel Baschieri

Technology in Natural Resources Specialist

Ask me about AI, application development, remote sensing, and robotics.

Sara Swett

Extension Specialist in Marine Renewable Energy and Communities, Assistant Professor of Practice

Victor Villegas

Broadband & Digital Technologies Adoption Coordinator

Contact me for questions on digital equity, digital literacy, safe computing, drones, Artificial Intelligence (AI), VR/AR, digital technology adoption, K-12 STEM/STEAM education and workforce development

Jennifer Boyle

Assistant Director of Open Campus

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