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Geospatial Analysis Center

The Geospatial Analysis Center (GAC) serves as the hub of geospatial research and activities in support of education, research, and outreach activities at Miami University. Housed in the Department of Geography, the GAC supports individual students, faculty, and staff with geospatial data and analysis needs. It is the access point for licensed geospatial software and geographic information systems (GIS) data. The GAC provides consulting services in the areas of geospatial data and analyses.

Education

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Supported Courses

The GAC supports the Department of Geography's Certificate in GIScience Program (undergraduate and graduate) & GIS courses.

These courses include:

  • GEO 242 - Mapping a Changing World (3)
  • GEO 441/GEO 541 - Geographic Information Systems (3)
  • GEO 442/GEO 542 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems (3)
  • GEO 443/GEO 543 - Python Programming for ArcGIS (3)
  • GEO 444/GEO 544 - GIScience Techniques in Landscape Ecology (3)
  • GEO 445/545 - Geographic Information Systems for Criminal Justice (3)
  • GEO 448/GEO 548 - Techniques and Applications of Remote Sensing (3)
Learn About the Certificate in GIScience Program
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Workshops/Training

The GAC can offer workshops tailored to particular departments or groups of individuals. For example, GAC recently offered the following:

  • OhioView Workshops
    • Using Web-Based Survey123 to Collect Field Data, OhioView Workshop 2022 
    • Using ESRI’s Field Maps App to Collect Field Data, OhioView Workshop 2023
  • Geospatial Online Training
    • ICCI and Miami University's Training for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition: Geospatial Applications for Open Burning Monitoring in Nigeria (February 2021)
    • GAHP and Miami University's Training of Trainers: Geospatial Applications for Pollution Monitoring in Indonesia (November 2020)
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Training for Faculty and Staff (February 2017)
  • GIS for Digital Humanities Workshop (January 2016)
Learn more about OhioView Workshops

Facilities

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Project Room

The GAC project room contains 2 high-end computers dedicated to GAC research, contracts, and projects. This project room is capable of being secured and of storing sensitive data.

This room is can be used for on-site or remote meetings

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Computer Labs

The GAC also has access to the Department of Geography's two 26-seat computer labs. All machines have the latest GIS and Remote Sensing software installed.

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Equipment in Computer Labs

  • High-end desktop PCs
  • Garmin GPSMap units
  • Trimble GEO 7 GPS unit
  • Trimble R1 GNSS Receivers
  • Phantom 3 Drone
  • Android Tablets
  • Color Printer
  • High-resolution Scanner
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Software

  • ESRI ArcGIS
  • ERDAS Imagine
  • ENVI
  • QGIS
  • R
  • Google Earth Pro
  • Microsoft Office Products

Student Spotlight

Abby Heublein

Abby Heublein (Class of 2021)

"Miami's liberal arts program, provided through the College of Arts and Science, has made my major very well-rounded. It allows you to craft a degree combination that fits your interests…The writing requirements at Miami have helped me develop a strong writing background…The liberal arts have definitely made me a better, more deliberate writer."
Ian Berg

Ian Berg (Class of 2019)

"Robbyn Abbitt, the coordinator for the Geographic Information Systems (GISci) Certificate Program in the Department of Geography, played a big factor in solidifying my decision to major in Urban & Regional Planning. She's also the associate director for the Geospatial Analysis Center (GAC), where I worked with her outside of class on contracts for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Miami's Physical Facilities Department."

Research Projects and Publications

Robbyn Abbitt

Service Learning Projects

Virtual Map of Miami Natural Areas & Trails (Spring & Fall 2023)
Updated Map of Miami Natural Areas & Trails (Spring & Fall 2023)

Mapping Matters - Miami University Advanced GIS Course Service Learning Partner Projects, Spring 2021

Virtual Mapathon Resources - Miami University Advanced GIS Course Service Learning with Humanitarian OpenStreetmap Team, Fall 2020

Recent Invited Talks

Mapping Myaamia Landholdings Over Time:  Using GIS to Help Tell a Story, Miami University Digital Humanities Series, April 2022

Invited Keynote Speaker, Ohio GIS Conference, Fall 2020

Invited GIS Day Presenter, SW Ohio GIS User Group, Fall 2020 (video)

Professional Service

Representative for Institutions of Higher Education on Ohio's OGRIP Council - "The Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program (OGRIP) is an organization whose goals are to encourage the creation of digital geographic data of value to multiple users, foster the ability to easily determine what geographic data exists and foster the ability to easily access and use this data."

"Consisting of a 15-member Governor appointed Council, OGRIP is the GIS coordinating body for state and local government."

Student Projects

Validating China's Alleged Fire Emission Reduction: Fire Counts and Land Cover in China 2003-2020

Miami Institutional Relations Mapping Project

Miami University Sustainability Report Project

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The GAC offers geospatial contract services. Faculty and staff have a wide-range of expertise in geospatial analysis, data collection, sustainability, urban and regional planning, and natural resource management.

Featured Services

  • Geo-locating of customer, client, participant data
  • Landscape Modeling
  • Land Cover Mapping
  • Location Analyses
  • Cartography and Map-based products
  • Mobile Data Collection
  • GIS Data Production
  • Web-mapping
Contact Robbyn Abbitt (abbittrj@MiamiOH.edu) for more information and pricing.
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The advanced GIS course (GEO 442/GEO 542 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems) is considered a service learning/experiential learning course at Miami. Each semester students work for real-world clients with needs that can be addressed using geospatial tools and techniques. Past clients include:

  • Butler County MetroParks
  • City of Oxford
  • Hueston Woods State Park
  • Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA)
  • Miami University Institutional Relations
  • Miami University Natural Areas
  • Miami University Physical Facilities Department
  • Miami University Police Department
  • Globe Insurance Agency
  • Promospark promotional company
Email Us to become a service learning partner.
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The GAC also participates in the annual Talawanda Science Week where science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) departments on campus host students from Talawanda's three elementary schools. Students participate in activities using (global positioning system (GPS) units, tablets for mobile data collection, and Google Earth for a look at extreme places on Earth.

Geospatial Analysis Center

Robbyn Abbitt, GIS Coordinator
Shideler Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-5016
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