Spatial Information Analysis (SIAL) Laboratory
The Spatial Information Analysis Lab is a training lab dedicated to spatial data analysis, especially
Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The lab is equipped with 20 Pentium IV (3GHz) - class XP professional
workstations, an instructor station and LCD projection system. The workstations are networked to a dedicated
Windows 2000/XP server as well as the University network and the Internet. Computers are configured with
several GIS software packages that include the latest version of ArcView (9.2), advanced ArcView extensions,
and ArcGIS (including ArcToolbox, workstation Arc/Info, ArcCatalog and ArcMap). Students have the
opportunity to use available on-line federal, state, and local digital databases in gaining GIS database
construction experience.
Computer Geographics Laboratory
The Computer Geographics Laboratory provides access to specialized computer equipment for the facilitation
of map production and geographic analyses. Contour maps, three-dimensional terrain surfaces, and
socio-economic thematic maps are examples of products created by students and faculty in this lab.
The laboratory, which is located on the third floor of the Science Building (B346), has a wide range
of computing equipment including:
- Five cartography/GIS pc workstations (Windows XP professional stations – Dual Intel CPU, 2.4 GH2 computers);
- Hewlett Packard 5P black and white laser printer and a Hewlett Packard Color LaserJet 3800 printer;
- Manual digitizers: Calcomp 36” x 48”, Numonics, two 36” x 24” Calcomp;
- A variety of cartographic and GIS software: ArcGIS (workstation Arc/Info, ArcMap, ArcCatalog,
ArcToolbox) SURFER 8.0, ArcVIEW (9.2), Freehand, Adobe Illustrator, Map Viewer, CorelDRAW, Flash,
Director, Dreamweaver, MapInfo, and ERDAS Imagine.
- A large 11” x 17” color flatbed scanner (Epson 10000XL).
GIS/Remote Sensing Laboratory and Classroom
The GIS/Remote Sensing Laboratory and Classroom Complex are located in B-308 and B-312 and is used for
GIS, cartographic, and remote sensing analysis. The B-312 Lab has five Pentium (Dual CPU, 2.4GHz) computers,
two large format plotters (Hewlett Packard (HP) 2500CP (36”) and HP DesignJet 800ps (42”), as well as a
Calcomp large format scanner (Scan Plus 6 LF742). These devices are used for the production of large format
maps, GIS displays, and orthophotography. There is also an Ashtech GPS base station with associated computer
hardware used for differential positioning. Trimble GeoXT and TerraSync software is used to collect field
data. The Pentium PC’s have a wide variety of software available including ArcGIS (ArcMap, ArcCatalog,
ArcEditor), Leica Erdas Imagine, Macromedia Freehand and Director, CorelDraw, Surfer, MapViewer,
Adobe Illustrator, Flash, and Dreamweaver. B-308 has 20 Pentium computers (Dual CPU, 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM)
that are used for classroom instruction and is available for student use when classes are not in session.
Map Center
The University Map Center, located in Room B304 of the Science Building, is administrated by the
Department of Geography/Geology and is open to use by the university community, as well as by the public.
During the academic year the Map Center is open on a regular basis (a schedule is posted near the Map Center
entrance).
The Map Center is a depository for maps and charts of the U.S. Geological Survey and the National
Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). The collection includes:
- U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps of Wisconsin, and the other forty-nine states and territories, and some Canadian topographic maps.
- Selected road maps of the United States and Canada.
- Urban maps of selected Wisconsin cities.
- U.S. Geological Survey maps of the geology of selected areas of the United States.
- Aeronautical charts of the world.
- Oceanographical and navigational maps.
- The American Geographical Society map series on Latin America.
- Miscellaneous maps of Wisconsin, the world, and of outer space made by various mapping agencies.
- Selected aerial photographs and mosaics of central Wisconsin.
- Gazetteers and atlases.
- CD/DVD-based digital map files (e.g., U.S. Census TIGER files 1992, 1997, 2000).
- DeLorme 3D-Topo Quads (all of U.S).
