Geographic data from satellites, GPS-enabled mobile devices, social media, and environmental monitoring networks are increasingly important in research and policy-making in diverse areas, including business, transportation, environment, and health. At the same time, geospatial technologies are becoming deeply embedded in people's everyday lives and experiences.

Our Geographic Information Science (GIS) program examines the nature of geographic data, the tools and methods for analysis and modeling, and how GIS can be enable environmental and social transformations at the local, regional, national and global scales.

We emphasize methodological training in GIS as the foundation for understanding and modeling these processes and for developing innovative new tools and methods. We also foster critical awareness of the roles of geospatial technologies in society. Areas of research emphasis include: CyberGIS, Big Data analytics, geovisualization, spatio-temporal analysis and modeling, analysis of human mobility (e.g., GPS trajectory analysis), satellite remote sensing, critical and qualitative GIS, spatial analysis, and GIS applications in ecology, health, urban studies, transportation, emergency response, fluvial geomorphology, and environmental justice.

Faculty and students have strong connections with many campus units, including:

• Blue Waters/National Center for Supercomputing Applications
• Department of Computer Science
• Prairie Research Institute
• Department of Urban & Regional Planning
   

Program Information for Prospective Graduate Students