Francis Koti

Francis.Koti@mtsu.edu

Francis Koti

Global Studies and Human Geography

Smart Classroom

Peck Hall Room 204

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Proposal seeks to establish a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Lab in the Department of Global Studies and Human Geography in the College of Liberal Arts. GIS is the use of specialized computer software for the acquisition, storage, organization, processing, and analysis of location-based information to aid in decision making or to answer scientific questions. GIS is an essential skill for Geography and Global Studies majors and has become common place across the liberal arts and also basic and applied sciences. Currently, a GIS lab exists in the Geosciences Department with 25 or less computers that primarily cater for the needs of their students and faculty. A GIS lab established in the Global Studies and Human Geography department will serve both instructional and research needs for the department. Instruction: we expect to conduct all labs for our basic Digital Earth class in the GIS lab. Faculty who have incorporated GIS into their courses will also conduct classes in the GIS lab. As the department implements an undergraduate research program, it is expected that both students and faculty will utilize the lab to conduct research and prepare research papers and posters. The lab will also be available to other departments in the College of Liberal Arts engaged in GIS instruction and/research. Equipment: We propose purchasing 21 desktop computers (includes one instructor computer) with the requisite RAM capable of running ArcGIS Pro software. Also required are a scanner and printer.