OGIA

The Office of Geographic Information and Analysis (OGIA) was established in July 1994 to assist the academic community of the University of Massachusetts in its efforts to use GIS technologies in teaching, research, and public service. Since that time the mission of OGIA has expanded as new opportunities and needs became apparent. The Office functions as a central repository at the UMass Amherst Campus for spatial data sets from MassGIS and now works with the University Library in offering a digital library of map images and GIS data for Massachusetts available over the Internet using common Web browsers. OGIA also holds and manages GIS site licenses for ESRI and MapInfo products for the University of Massachusetts five campus system as well as other eligible state institutions of higher education.

     OGIA maintains its own GIS research and training labs in which graduate students acquire professional experience in the use and management of GIS resources and the completion of GIS projects. OGIA professional staff supervise an average of ten graduate research assistants per semester from different departments and graduate programs who provide a wide range of GIS services from simple data conversion and capture projects through more complex analysis and modeling to GIS planning and implementation studies. Client organizations include departments within the University, municipal governments, regional planning agencies, Massachusetts state agencies, U.S. federal government agencies, and regional governments and Universities in nations other than the U.S.

     OGIA works with faculty and staff from various departments in the submission of proposals and the administration and completion of sponsored research projects that have GIS components. In 1997 OGIA organized the University’s application and admission for membership in the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) and represents the University at meeting of the Consortium. OGIA is administratively located within the Environmental Institute under the Vice Chancellor for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development.

GIS Resources

OGIA has two GIS project labs and 12 GIS workstations under its management . Both labs are equipped with a full range of GIS software and input and output devices. Windows NT, UNIX, Mac OS, and Linux operating systems provide a wide range of computing and communication options. GIS software includes all modules of ESRI’s ArcInfo software, ArcView and all related PC products, ERDAS Imagine, MapInfo Professional, and Integraph’s GeoMedia Pro. OGIA also has numerous Web authoring and graphic design software products available as well.

Most of the GIS software products run at OGIA are available to other University departments through inexpensive site license arrangements. Further information is found under the GIS Site Licenses page on the OGIA Web site.

OGIA is also the primary provider of public domain spatial data sets for University users. Most data from the state of Massachusetts MassGIS data base can be downloaded at no cost by accessing a new user interface designed by OGIA staff for this purpose at --------. Historic map images for Massachusetts can be located through the Digital Map Library link built in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts Library.

Consulting services are also easily arranged at OGIA for faculty, students, and community members who have need of short term assistance in the design or generation of GIS products or data.