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GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS & SCIENCE

Geographic Information Systems & Science (GIS) is a professional discipline which focuses on computer-based solutions to problems involving the collection, synthesis, analysis, and communication of spatially related information within a geographic jurisdiction or area. Public agencies and private businesses have been rapidly converting paper-based systems used to manage spatially referenced data and information to highly automated graphic systems that integrate digital mapping with computerized databases. GIS provides indispensable tools for governance, for commerce, and for environmental and social science. The demand for innovative geographic information products, services, and know-how is strong, and increasing. Consequently, the need for basic and applied research and education in geographic information science (GIScience) has never been greater. The GIS program offered by the Department of Geography at Samford University was established in 1990, and has been serving regional GIS education needs since that time.

What is GIS?

If you are not familiar with GIS, then scan through this 'What is GIS?' website from www.gis.com to learn more.

GIS Education at Samford

Professional GIS Certification

The AEGIS Project

Academic Excellence and Geographic Information Systems (AEGIS) is a multidisciplinary effort to introduce students in a variety of lower division Arts & Sciences courses to methods of GIS data gathering, analysis, and representation. This three-year project (2003-2006) is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation's Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement program offered through NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education.

ESRI Southeastern Regional Training Facility

The SU Department of Geography has been hosting training courses on the use of various Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) GIS software components since a contractual agreement was reached between Samford and ESRI in 1994. These courses typically last from two to five days, and cover such topics as Introduction to ArcGIS I, Introduction to ArcGIS II, Working with ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, Building Geodatabases I, Building Geodatabases II, and Introduction to Programming ArcObjects with VBA. Explore the ESRI Instructor-Led Training website if you are interested in taking one of the ESRI training courses at our facility.

Samford GIS Exposition

The Department of Geography hosted the 4th Annual Samford GIS Exposition on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 (scheduled as part of the international GIS Day celebration - see http://www.gisday.com for more information). This open-house style event provided an opportunity for the general public to learn more about the rapidly growing field of Geographic Information Systems and Science (GIS). Student GIS projects were displayed, and professional GIS analysts and managers from the northern Alabama region were on hand to discuss GIS activities in a variety of public and private organizations. This event will be held again on Wednesday, November 16, 2005. The Samford GIS Symposium is open to the public. If you are interested in participating or visiting our next GIS Day event, contact Dr. Max Baber in the Samford University Department of Geography at 205-726-2109 (office) or RMBaber@samford.edu (email).

Professional Friends of Samford's GIS Program