• Purpose
• History
• Participants
• Data Services
• Projects
• Classes

Purpose:

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History:

UVaGIS was established in the spring of 1992 to promote and coordinate automated mapping and spatial analysis at the University.

By the summer of 1992 the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and automated mapping producers had grown to such an extent that major investments were made to provide University-wide support for this type of computing, analysis and training. An RS/6000 system, ptolemy.gis, was provided by ITC. GIS software including ARC/INFO and GRASS was provided by the Department of Environmental Sciences (DES). Space, additional software, information resources and full time staffing for user support was provided by the Library system. Specialized furniture was provided by the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture.

Training in the use of software, primarily ARC/INFO, and information resources was provided by Environmental Sciences, the Library and Planning. These investments moved GIS out of individual research project applications and into University-wide training, research, library applications and administration.

During the summer of 1993, UVaGIS developed a formal plan for the University-wide expansion of GIS and automated mapping training, research, library usage, and applications in facilities management and the hospital activities. Since 1993 this plan has been carried out with resources provided by ITC, DES, the Library, Planning, Civil Engineering, Commerce and other departments and schools.

Undergraduate and graduate courses have been introduced and expanded in the College by Environmental Science, the School of Architecture by Planning and Landscape Architecture, and in Civil Engineering. These courses are attended by students from Anthropology, History, Economics, Government, Sociology and Environmental Sciences, Civil and Systems Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Planning students. Instruction is provided using ArcInfo, ArcView, Atlas-GIS, ERDAS, IDRISI and MapInfo software.

In the winter of 1996-97 the UVaGIS coordinated the acquisition of an ESRI Educational Institution Site Licence Agreement making the ESRI line of products available throughout the University computer labs.

Participating Groups:

• Alderman Library
• Geographic Information Center
• Social Science Data Center
• Science Data Center in Science & Engineering Library
• School of Architecture
• Department of Urban and Environmental Planning
• Department of Landscape Architecture
• College of Arts and Science
• Department of Environmental Science
• Department of Anthropology
• Department of Sociology
• Center for Survey Research
• Department of History
• Government and Foreign Affairs
• School of Engineering
• Department of Civil Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science
• McIntire School of Commerce
• Information Technology Center
• Facilities Management
• Health Sciences
• Department of Transportation (GIS)

• Virginia Transportation Research Council
• Virginia Division of Mineral Resources
• Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
• Virginia Department of Forestry
• Piedmont Virginia Community College

Data Services:

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Recent Projects include:

• Pittsburgh City Desktop Mapping System
• Virginia Metropolitan Change Study
• Metropolitan Change in the Chesapeake Bay Region
• Studies of Albemarle County
• Mapping of the University Grounds

Courses in GIS at UVa include:

• EVSC 362, GIS METHODS--Reed
• EVSC 494 Geographic Info Systems--Reed
• EVSC 796-1 GIS METHODS II -- Reed
• EVSC 796-2 Geographic Info Systems (GRAD) --Reed
• CE 452/634 Intro to Geographic Information Systems -- Smith
• PLAN 512 Computers in Planning : GIS --Phillips
• Geographic Information Resources is offered by the GIC on an ongoing basis.

Site developed 2/97
Last Update 9/25/97

By David L. Phillips

Email to:dlp@virginia.edu