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
[email protected]
207-801-5677
Stories from the Field
Sharing a meal to strengthen food access
The fields of College of the Atlantic Beech Hill Farm set the table for the annual Share the Harvest Farm Dinner, an event that pairs local, organic food with meaningful support for food security on Mount Desert Island. Read More
53rd commencement becomes an invitation to step outside familiar paths
It was a chilly, overcast day, but spirits were high at College of the Atlantic as hundreds of family, friends, and alumni gathered with the campus community to celebrate the Class of 2026. Read More
2026 COA Summer Institute celebrates 10 years with star-studded week
Toward a More Perfect Union focuses on the 250th birthday of American democracy while exploring the perils and promises shaping the future. 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
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Academic Support Services
Study skills, learning strategies, and accommodations designed around your strengths and challenges.
Meal menu
From curries to carnitas, savory tofu to Maine seafood, our dining hall celebrates flavor, community, and responsible sourcing.
more student resources and info
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