About WyGISC

The Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Wyoming focused on research and development, education, and outreach associated with geospatial information representation, access, visualization, analysis and modeling. The Center had its early beginnings as the Spatial Data and Visualization Center (SDVC), established in May 1996 as a campus research cluster with funding from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The primary goal of the original research program was to explore and demonstrate the utility and application of spatial data analysis and visualization science and technology in a decision support role for resource management and economic development activities in government and industry alike. In August 1999, a newly approved university-wide academic plan identified the SDVC as the future focal point for, “expand[ing] GIS capacities and competencies throughout campus… to provide critically needed course work for undergraduate and graduate students and to serve as a resource for businesses and government agencies”. In 2001, the SDVC was institutionalized as the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) operating under the Office of Academic Affairs.

WyGISC Constitution

Organization

Today, WyGISC’s mission is to advance geographic information science (GISci) at the University of Wyoming and its application across the State of Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Region and beyond. The Center accomplishes this through basic and applied research, as well as application development in place-based decision-making and Web-based access to geospatial data and mapping applications. In addition, the Center’s education, training and information and technology transfer activities support the adoption and use of geospatial data and information technologies among a wide range of end-users in academia, government, business, and the general public. Funding for the Center is provided in part by the University of Wyoming’s Office of Academic Affairs and NSF EPSCoR program, as well as variety of extramural contracts, grants, and partnership agreements.

WyGISC Logos