Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

We provide GIS and geospatial-related services to Texas State University students, faculty, and staff across all departments and disciplines. Our goal is to ensure that you have all the software, data, technical training, and other resources you might need to use GIS in your research, classwork, or instruction. 

This guide contains useful information, including the services we offer, a brief introduction to GIS, links to reputable GIS data, and educational and professional resources. 

If you wish to reach out to us for assistance, the best place to start is by submitting a consultation request through our online form. A member of the team will reach out to you shortly after to schedule a one-on-one meeting. 

Consultations

We offer research and technical consultation services to Texas State patrons on how to best implement GIS and geospatial techniques in their work. Below are some examples of the topics we can advise on: 

• Map design and cartographic production
• Planning GIS or geospatial workflows step-by-step
• Spatial analysis, spatial statistics and geostatistics
• Geovisualization for 2D and 3D spatial data
• Web mapping and application development
• Data discovery of both vector and raster data, including aerial and remotely sensed imagery
• Spatial data management, including spatial databases

If you are interested in scheduling a consultation, the best way is to submit a ticket request through the following link, specifying "GIS and Data Visualization" under the Topic dropdown menu. A member of our staff will reach out to you with scheduling options. 

Workshops

We offer a variety of GIS-related workshops throughout the academic year. These generally last 1.5 hours and include a 30-minute lecture portion offering background information and context on the topic and a 60-minute, hands-on demo where attendees can complete a GIS workflow, increasing their applied GIS knowledge. More information can be found in the Workshops page; interested patrons can sign up through Bobcat Hub. 

Lab Management and Technical Support

Our team oversees and manages the Alkek 452 computer lab. All workstations are loaded with the latest versions of ArcGIS Pro and ERDAS Imagine and are open to any Texas State patron for free use during library hours. In addition, patrons can request on-the-spot technical support from our GIS students by visiting our office in Alkek 452.1, located at the back of the lab. For more information, including support staff hours, visit the GIS & Data Lab page. 

Instructional Support for Faculty and Staff

We offer private workshops and demos for any interested faculty member or staff on request. These can be held in your own classroom or in our Alkek 452 lab. We can provide a general introductory overview of GIS or more specialized instruction for a specific application field or topic as needed. Please give us at least two weeks of advanced notice before your desired presentation date in order for our team to prepare materials and adjust our schedules as needed. To request this service, please email Geospatial Specialist Jose Anza Garcia.