Our facilities provide the latest in hardware and software for an exceptional learning experience. The GIS Laboratory is an 18 computer station laboratory, which includes a teaching station and a digitizing station. An HP Designjet plotter, printer, color printer, and digitizing table round out the computer peripherals. The teaching station is State-of the-Art with projection and audio/video capabilities.

Our program utilizes the latest in GIS software. We run the ArcGIS family of software that provides full access to ArcView, ArcINFO, and ArcEditor. ArcView 3.2 also is available. ArcGIS provides 3-D and image analysis capabilities and Idrisi software also may be used for analysis of satellite imagery and raster GIS.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are a part of our curriculum. We have a full complement of navigation and mapping grade GPS receiver units from Garmin and Trimble, including the software to process your data. Finally, UMFK houses a GPS Basestation. The basestation collects satellite signals used in a process called differential correction, which improves the accuracy of GPS field data.

Using GIS as a Gateway to a Career
Choose GIS as an exciting new career field or as a required analytical or investigative tool in professions such as business management, criminal justice, forestry, wildlife biology, and the environmental sciences, to name a few.

GIS is a rapidly developing segment of the economy and is the largest area of growth in electronic commerce (Longley, et. al. 2001). GI Science is a newly emerging field that is providing a wealth of opportunities for people with the proper training. Students of GIS easily can find starting positions with government agencies or private firms. Individuals with greater experience can attain very attractive salaries and can find interesting and exciting careers.

Many of our graduates are working GIS professionals. They work for a number of private companies such as James Sewell Company of Old Town, Maine and for land management companies in Maine. Others work for government agencies. One of our graduates is a planning consultant for Northern Maine Development Commission. Another works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Also, The State of Maine Office of GIS always has entry level openings for people with GIS skills.