GIS Lab
Geographic Information Systems
College of the Atlantic
Mapping place, data, and ideas
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Lab at College of the Atlantic fuses the arts and sciences through mapping, analysis, and planning. Established in 1988—the first of its kind at a small college—our GIS Lab serves as a technical and creative hub for the entire academic program.
Experiential learning
Learning by doing
The GIS program is built on experiential, project-based learning. Through research, service, and community partnerships, students develop spatial thinking and technical skills that give them a marketable edge for jobs, internships, and graduate study.
Students collaborate with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations. Projects range from ecological research to land use planning and community mapping.
Student impact
Student projects and recognition
The GIS Lab supports a broad portfolio of student-led work, like the Vision for Town Hill project, which helped guide local planning efforts in Bar Harbor.
The lab is a recipient of the Esri Special Achievement in GIS Award, recognizing its innovation and community impact.
Connect with the GIS Lab
Get involved with hands-on mapping projects. Access training and technical support. Partner on community research initiatives.
Gordon Longsworth
glongsworth@coa.edu
207-801-5677
Stories from the Field
T. Rex ran on its tiptoes “Like an eight-ton chicken”
The New York Times reports on a groundbreaking biomechanics study led by COA’s Adrian Boeye ’26. Read More
10th annual COA Summer Institute features star lineup
The 2026 College of the Atlantic Summer Institute will bring some of the nation’s most compelling thinkers, artists, and public leaders to Mount Desert Island for a week of conversation and inquiry marking the United States’ 250th anniversary. Read More
Student Resources
Thorndike Library
Research expertise, specialized databases, and guidance for independent and collaborative projects across disciplines.
Registrar
Registration, course offerings, student forms, transcripts, and support as you design your program of study.
Writing Center
Focused help for brainstorming, drafting, revising, and refining papers, projects, proposals, and presentations.
Career Development
Internship planning and placement, resume and interview preparation, and connections to meaningful work.
Academic Support Services
Study skills, learning strategies, and accommodations designed around your strengths and challenges.
more student resources and info
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