KSU GIScience Targeted Excellence Proposals
Geospatial Technology Infrastructure Enhancement Program
Requested Funding: $2.17 million | Awarded Funding: $330,000 (2004-2008)
Link to full proposal (PDF)
Competency in geospatial technology and GIScience allows students/faculty to acquire, use, and interpret geographic information at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In addition, GIScience competency is critical in analyzing and communicating knowledge about the world around us. Applications of geospatial technologies spans multiple disciplines including agriculture, biological sciences, computer science, earth sciences, ecology, economics, geography, marketing, regional planning, sociology, transportation engineering, surveying, and veterinary medicine.
This proposal seeks to greatly expand K-State’s capabilities in geospatial research, teaching, and service/outreach. Current student underexposure to GIS and other geospatial technologies is related to an insufficient number of trained educators among the ranks of faculty, a shortage of relevant classes and continuing education opportunities, and suitable high-tech lab classroom facilities.
This proposal addresses these shortfalls with the goal of facilitating the diffusion of GIScience and geospatial technologies into the general university community and to promote the informed and responsible use of GIScience and geographic analysis for the benefit of society.
Specific enhancements to K-State geospatial capabilities include:
- New faculty and a GIS Education and Outreach Coordinator to expand the geospatial technology curriculum via traditional courses, web-based modules, and workshops.
- A GIS Research Coordinator to provide training, data, and applications/technical assistance to the campus community and state.
- Additional CNS and iTAC support staff to address core computing, networking, and technical support needs.
- Creation of a university geospatial technology teaching laboratory.
- Exposing a larger, and more diverse, population of students to geospatial technologies and the value of spatial analysis and reasoning.
- Increasing the spatial literacy of K-State students.
- Additional social science faculty and GIS experts that can participate in multidisciplinary teaching and research.
Geospatial Technology Infrastructure Enhancement Program - Phase II
Requested Funding: $931,599 | Awarded Funding: $550,000 (2005-2008)
Link to full proposal (PDF)
Competency in geospatial technology and GIScience allows students/faculty to acquire, use, and interpret geographic information at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In addition, GIScience competency is critical in analyzing and communicating knowledge about the world around us. The goal of this proposed Geospatial Technology Infrastructure Enhancement Program – Phase II is to establish a research Center of Excellence for Geospatial Technology and Applicationsand continue the diffusion of GIScience and geospatial technologies throughout the general university community.
Approval of this “Phase II” program will elevate Kansas State University to a leadership position in geospatial research for agricultural biosecurity (including food safety), biosciences, and environmental quality and serve as a necessary step toward international recognition of K-State for cross-disciplinary application of geospatial technologies.
The field of GIScience and supporting geospatial technologies fully compliments the university’s core missions, is an integral component of several other Targeted Excellence efforts and proposals, and will provide a springboard for the development of unique disciplinary and multidisciplinary programs (e.g., agricultural biosecurity, plant and animal disease modeling, spatial economics, interdisciplinary water resources assessment and modeling, and GIS-related certificate programs). The impacts resulting from approval of this proposal fit hand-in-glove with the published evaluation criteria for the Targeted Excellence initiative and include:
- Provides for the critical research faculty, facilities, and equipment needed to make K-State a premier institution in the application of GIScience and geospatial technologies, especially in the areas of agriculture and the environment.
- Builds from the existing strength of multidisciplinary GIScience research in the applied biological, physical, and social sciences to include geospatial research in business, veterinary medicine, and other areas currently under-utilizing this important technology
- Provides comprehensive geospatial support for proposed/funded research projects, including several Targeted Excellence programs
- Begins development of GIScience education and outreach services, including K-State Online GIS modules for a diverse array of large enrollment classes and graduate/undergraduate certificate programs in GIS and GIScience
Highlights from Targeted Excellence Funding
Updated February 2008
Link to highlights handout (PDF)
Provosts Coffman and Nellis have allocated $880,000 over the five year period between 2004-2008.
The K-State Community of GIS Scholars is now larger, better connected, and working together.
- New University Staff – Chubb, Mohandass
- New Geography Faculty – Caldas (MICH ST), Daniels (UCONN)
- Vanier Chair in GIS in CBA – offer made to B. Mennecke (Iowa State)
- Close Cooperation with CTS Staff – Networking, Windows, Databases
- Co-Located Federal Researchers – EPA, NPS, USDA APHIS
- Support for Faculty/Staff Training – OME, Marketing, Biology
- Formation of All-University GIS Steering Committee
Extramural funding that incorporates GIScience continues to expand.
- K-State has become a national leader in using GIScience to address issues related to agricultural biosecurity and water resources
- No less than $15 of funding received for each GIScience TE dollar invested
- No fewer than 35 extramural grants, totaling over $11 million, have been awarded to KSU researchers since GIScience TE Phase I funding
- KSU won 2005 ESRI Special Achievement in GIS Award for Agriculture
TE funding has been used to acquire new, essential hardward and software.
- Completely new server infrastructure devoted to GIS
- Purchased and operate a GeoWall system
- Expanded ESRI site license to include new extensions - Business Analyst, Tracking Analyst, Data Interoperability
K-State faculty and staff continue efforts to make the university GIScience Commons a reality.
- Developed formal proposal in 2005
- Submitted entries to the Congressional Briefing Book
- Developed and maintain a formal web presence - www.gis.ksu.edu
- Developed phased approach document to implement plan (October 2007)
Student training opportunities in GIScience and GIScience application areas have dramatically increased.
- Course enrollments at all time highs (e.g., GEOG 508 GIS I: 45-60-90), placing increasing demands on computer lab space
- With additional faculty and staff expertise on campus, more courses will be added – especially at the graduate level
- Graduate (26 complete) and undergraduate (14 complete) GIS certificate programs very popular
K-State is now a contributing member of the University Consortium for GIScience (UCGIS).
- Joined in 2004
- Continuous presence at UCGIS functions
- Presented “Protecting Public Health and Food Supplies: GIScience Research for Understanding Plant, Animal, and Human Biohazard Interactions” at UCGIS Congressional Breakfast in February 2005
There are numerous GIS-related synergistic activities happening across campus.
- VPAST Geospatial Tech Lecture Series – Maidment, Wright, Bechdol
- Provost Speakers – Dangermond, Clarke
- Faculty and Staff Training Grants – Marketing, Biology, OME
- Strong linkages with a number of departments and centers/institutes – NABC, FSS, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, KCARE, Kansas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife, KSU Herbarium, GroWE, Konza LTER
- New KSU Flint Hills ESRI GIS User Group
There is limited flexibility in the use of GIScience TE funding, given commitments to funding new faculty/staff.
- Phase I - $330,000
- Spent: 53% Salaries/Fringe, 40% Equipment/Other, 7% Travel
- 57% of grant total spent on one staff member
- Phase II - $550,000
- Planned: 77% Salaries/Fringe, 12% Equipment/Other, 6% Travel
- Spent: 63% Salaries/Fringe, 25% Equipment/Other, 12% Travel
- 40% of grant total will be spent on one faculty member
Geospatial Technology Infrastructure Enhancement Program Phase III - The GIScience Commons, Curriculum Development, and Outreach
Requested Funding: $1.99 million | Not Selected for Full Proposal
Competency in geospatial technology and GIScience allows students/faculty to acquire, use, and interpret geographic information at multiple spatial and temporal scales. GIScience competency is critical in analyzing and communicating knowledge about the world around us. This proposal, Geospatial Technology Infrastructure Enhancement Program Phase III – The GIScience Commons, Curriculum Development, and Outreach, builds upon the vision established by two prior Targeted Excellence awards to support the areas of GIScience education, and outreach. Specific objectives include building the Geographic Information Science Commons, creating education modules to expand the use of GIScience in curriculum delivery across the K-State campus, and enhance the resources available for geospatial extension and outreach within Kansas..
The goal of this proposal is to continue the successful diffusion of GIScience and geospatial technologies into the general university community by comprehensively addressing curriculum enhancement and outreach activities. In addition, this proposal provides a mechanism to begin construction of the much anticipated GIScience Commons facility. Approval of Phase III will further enhance Kansas State University’s leadership position in GIScience-based research, education, and outreach within the State of Kansas. Previously funded Phase I and Phase II Targeted Excellence grants have allowed K-State to achieve a national reputation in innovative applications of multidisciplinary GIScience.
Specific enhancements to K-State geospatial capabilities include:
- Creation of the GIScience Commons - a world-class geospatial technology teaching and research laboratory for Kansas State University.
- Development of curriculum modules that are targeted to students in large enrollment classes across the colleges at Kansas State University.
- Exposing a larger, and more diverse, population of students to geospatial technologies and the value of spatial analysis and reasoning.
- Increasing the spatial literacy of K-State students.
- Increased competitiveness for extramural research funding.
- Establishing a strong geospatial presence within K-State Research and Extension to serve the citizens of Kansas.