GIS Facilities at Virginia Tech
The Center for Environmental Applications of Remote Sensing laboratory in Cheatham Hall includes networked computer systems specially configured to support the specialized software required for remote sensing applications, and for storing the large images acquired by remote sensing instruments.
The Center for Geospatial Information Technology is a dual-campus center, and has cutting edge computing facilities in both Blacksburg and Alexandria. High bandwidth, secure network connectivity, and powerful servers connect these offices and provides state-of-art GIS research support to CGIT staff and affiliated faculty, who also utilize university resources in the many various labs across campus. GPS units, total stations, printers, and plotters are all used for research, teaching, and outreach.
The Civil and Environmental Computer Lab (CEECL) is configured with 18 Windows XPPro, Dell Optiplex 2.6 GHz, 1 GB RAM computers, available to students enrolled in Civil Engineering courses. All ESRI and Autodesk software products for GIS are installed and an 8 computer "overflow" lab is available with identical hardware and software for when the main lab is being used for teaching purposes. Both rooms are available 8am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm Friday and Saturday. The main instructional lab provides multimedia equipment (Computer, VCR, ELMO, LT) for faculty/staff to instruct audiences in the use of installed engineering software. The podium allows an instructor to project two independent video signals simultaneously on two separate screens. A printer and plotter are available for coursework uses.
The CSES Land Information Collaboratory (CLIC lab) was established in 1998 by the Department of Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences as an information and analysis resource for faculty, students and the increasingly internet-savvy public. The physical laboratory resides at the CSES Department in Smyth Hall.
The Department of Geography operates three computer laboratories for research and teaching activities. The main teaching laboratory contains 9 workstations, the GeoSim laboratory contains 6 workstations, and the graduate laboratory contains 4 workstations. All are tied to a central server, and the main and graduate laboratories are connected to the Internet. In addition the department has equipment for GPS work, both small hand held autonomous units and two Trimble GeoXM and GeoXT mapping units.
Torgersen Hall is a new state-of-the-art building with multiple computer teaching labs equipped with geospatial software and utilized by any department on campus for semester or short courses.
The University Libraries at Virginia Tech A search of the library catalog indicates upwards of 550 publications on GIS including periodicals in the areas of geography, forestry, agriculture, soils and engineering. The collection includes over 135,000 maps and 20,000 aerial photographs. As a 70% Selective depository of US federal documents (http://www.lib.vt.edu/dsp/index.php?subject=102) the Libraries receives materials from agencies such as the Bureau of the Census, US Geological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, and National Park Service some of which include cartographic data and statistical information. Datasets available through the VT-GIS Data Center (http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/subjects/maps/gis.html) in the library include digital topographic maps, orthophotography, Census Tiger files, Landsat 7 imagery and local government information from Alexandria, , Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Falls Church, Richmond, Fairfax County, Henrico County and Montgomery County, Virginia. The University Libraries are also a member of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) providing access to the world's largest archive of computer-based research and instructional data for the social sciences (http://www.lib.vt.edu/find/icpsr/). The data archive includes a broad range of disciplines, including political science, sociology, demography, economics, history, education, gerontology, criminal justice, public health, foreign policy, and law.