GIS Internet Links, UT Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas

Program in Geospatial Information Sciences

This page documents UT-Dallas' resources for GI Science as required for its continuing membership in UCGIS.

The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) is a non-profit organization of universities and other research institutions dedicated to advancing our understanding of geographic processes and spatial relationships through improved theory, methods, technology, and data.


History and Highlights of GIS at UT-Dallas	UT-Dallas has been a member of UCGIS since 1999. However, GIS-related activities date back to the late 1970s when courses and research in UTD's Graduate Program in Political Economy first began using computer mapping techniques and software such as SYMAP and CALFORM. The Bruton Center for Development Studies was founded in 1989 with a mission focused on the use of GIS to study urban development. The first formal course in GIS was offered in 1991. The first complete digital orthophotography for the Dallas/Fort Worth area was produced under the Bruton Center's auspices in 1994. A Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems was initiated in 1994 (with over 130 recipients to date--Fall 2004), a Master of Science in Geographic Information Sciences in 1998 (with over 40 recipients to date--Fall 2004) and a Ph.D. in Geospatial Information Sciences will begin in Fall 2005.
Research & Related Activities	The Bruton Center has acted as the major focus for most GIS related research in the social sciences. Major projects related with this center include: The Windows on Urban Poverty project funded by the Brookings Institution. Impacts of air pollution in the Los Angeles basin funded by NSF The Texas Schools Project funded by several foundations at the multi-million dollar level. Research on spatial spillovers and civil wars funded by the World Bank. Social justice in urban housing funded by the Belo Corp./Dallas Morning News Founding of the North Texas GIS Consortium, now merged with the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Creation of the first digital orthophotography for the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 1994/5 and again in 1997 The Center for Lithospheric Studies and associated groups conduct GIS-relevant research in geosciences. Major projects include: Reservoir characterization and visualization Remote Sensing, with emphasis on radar applications. Digital geologic mapping Several groups in the Eric Johnson School of Engineering and Computer Science are involved with GIS-relevant research. The CAD and Visualization Laboratory The Digital Forensics and Emergency Preparedness Institute The UTD Database laboratory Additional research activities related to GIS at UTD are detailed in the links to individual faculty in the section below on Faculty Resources. GIS data sets developed at UTD and/or available for faculty or student projects are documented at: GIS research data sets
Teaching and curriculum	UTD offers a: 15 hours for-credit Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems 30 hour Masters of Science in Geographic Information Sciences. 90 hour PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences (available Fall 2005) Courses applicable to these programs are available from: School of Social Sciences GIS-relevant courses Department of Geosciences GIS-relevant courses Management Information Systems GIS-relevant courses Computer Science and Electrical Engineering GIS-relevant courses Examples of student GIS projects from these courses are at: Student GIS Workshop projects Student GIS Masters projects
Laboratories	Facilities to support GIS teaching and research include: The Bruton Center NASA Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing Cybermapping Lab
Multidisciplinary Connections	GIS has a strong multidisciplinary foundation at UT-Dallas: The university itself has a strong multidisciplinary tradition. The School of Social Sciences operates without departments, and faculty involved in GIS hold appointments in geography, economics, criminology and public affairs. The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems can be included as a part of the Master of Public Affairs, the Master of Science in Applied Economics, the Master of Science in Geoscience, as well as the Master of Science in Geographic Information Sciences The Master of Science in GISciences is officially a joint degree, administered by the School of Social Sciences and the Department of Geosciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics through a coordinating MGIS Committee that includes faculty from both schools. The PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences is also a joint degree which additionally involves the Eric Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. It is administered by a GIS Coordinating Committee.
Faculty Resources	Faculty with GIS-related interests are located in at least the following departments/programs: computer science, criminology, economics, electrical engineering, geography, geology, geophysics, public affairs, statistics. They include: Primary faculty teaching courses as a part of the formal GIScience program Associated faculty teaching courses relevant to GIScience who have an interest in GIS Adjunct faculty working as practitioners in the field who provide support as lecturers
Last update: 01/01/2005

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Program in Geospatial Information Sciences
University of Texas at Dallas
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This page documents UT-Dallas' resources for GI Science as required for its continuing membership in UCGIS.

History and Highlights of GIS at UT-Dallas

Research & Related Activities

Teaching and curriculum

Laboratories

Multidisciplinary Connections

Faculty Resources