GIS Core Resarch Lab

• What do we do?
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Location of Laboratory
• Equipment
• Management
• Access and Services
• Interdisciplinary Concentration in Geographic Information Systems (ICGIS) "GIS Certificate"

What do we do?

In the GIS Core Research Laboratory research is conducted using geographic information systems, geostatistical and statistical methods, remote and soil sensing (e.g. visible/near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy). Research goals are to describe the spatial distribution of soil and environmental properties and their spatial covariation to gain insight into complex environmental systems. Modern quantitative methods are used to support digital soil mapping and modeling projects.

Geographic Information

Ref. Burrough P.A., 1986. Principles of Geographical Information Systems for land Resources Assessment. Oxford University Preess, Oxford.

Location of the Laboratory

Equipment

The GIS lab is a modern computer laboratory providing hard- and software to conduct statistical and geostatistical analysis, soil and remote sensing analysis, space-time modeling, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The equipment includes multiple data servers, ~15 PCs with large flatscreen monitors, large format color printers, and scanners. Available software packages include: MS Office Suite; MS SQL database; ArcGIS Suite (ESRI) including Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst; Idrisi  GIS; Erdas Imagine for remote sensing analysis; CART, GenStat, ISATIS, R, RandomForest, SAS, SGeMS, SAS, STIS, and SPSSWin for geostatistical and statistical analyses; Adobe Photoshop; Adobe Acrobat; Neurosolutions for neural network modeling; DreamWeaver; Unscrambler for chemometric modeling; Environmental Visualization Software (EVS-PRO), and RockWorks for 3D modeling and scientific visualization.

Virtual machines (VMs) are also used to provide convenient remote access to a secure work environment, software and workspace.

Several sub-meter accuracy, differential global positioning (GPS) units (Trimble) for geo-referencing of sampling locations. In addition several handheld GPS units (Garmin) are available for field navigation.
Spectroradiometer (ASD Inc.) for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of soil samples.

Management

Lab Director: Sabine Grunwald
Email: sabgru @ ufl.edu
Phone: 352-392-1951 ext. 204

Lab Manager (IT Specialist): Brandon Hoover
Email: hoover @ ufl.edu
Phone: 352-392-1951 ext. 233 or ext. 210

Access and Services

User Access - GIS Soil Research Group
To gain access to the GIS Research Laboratory contact Sabine Grunwald (McCarty Hall A, room 2171). Priority access is given to students in the GISSoil (soil-landscape modeling) program, who will be assigned a user account, password, and allocated storage space. As a user of the GISSoil Reserach Group you are not allowed to provide access to any unauthorized individuals, install private/non-licensed software or use the lab for private purpose. This laboratory is a multi-task environment with multiple users. PCs in the GIS laboratory are connected to a data server to share project data. Virtual Machines (VMs) are available to students and scientists in the GISSoils Research Group.

GIS Service Hub - SWS Department
The SWS Department thrust areas cover a wide range of applications in soil and water science at micro, field and landscape scales. To produce maps for a study area, integrate field and lab data or upscale site-specific data to the landscape scale require the use of GIS. GIS is well suited to synergize various spatial data, extract information and produce presentation style maps. To assist students and faculty in the SWS department a PC station in the SWS GIS Core Lab is set-up to provide free access to GIS software for students and faculty in the Soil and Water Science Department. The PC is equipped with ArcGIS software and MS Office Suite to produce GIS maps, conduct GIS analysis and print maps. Benefits: Computer is readily set-up with ArcGIS software; GIS manuals/tutorials are available that allow non-GIS users to get jump-started on GIS analysis

• Color letter format: $0.80/sheet
• Poster printing (large format): $12 / ft. paper.
• Fill-out the sign-out sheet for poster printing and provide an account number before you print a poster.
• Test prints and failed prints are also charged.

Service Spectral Scanning

• Scan per soil sample: $0.50 (spectral standards are provided for scanning)
• Contact lab manger to schedule scanning; and provide account number before you start scanning

Interdisciplinary Concentration in Geographic Information Systems (ICGIS) - "GIS Certificate"

The Soil and Water Science Department is participating member of ICGIS. Dr.Grunwald is the appointed Representative of the Soil and Water Science Department to ICGIS. The goal of ICGIS is to integrate existing GIS resources on campus, to establish a standard set of courses and activities that  allow graduate students to become experts in the creation, study, and use of GIS/geospatial sciences. More information about ICGIS is available at: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/icgis/.