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
Nepal’s request for flood payout tests UN’s new climate-aid system
College of the Atlantic Professor Doreen Stabinsky tells The Economic Times that international climate aid must respond quickly when vulnerable nations face catastrophic losses. Read MorePrinceton Review places COA among nation’s best for student experience
The Review’s 2027 Best 392 Colleges ranks College of the Atlantic near the top for sustainability, LGBTQ+ friendliness, outdoor engagement, campus food, and quality of life. Read MoreBoard of Trustees welcomes two new members
Art historian and gallery owner Jill Lord, PhD and senior defense and technology executive Richard Ross join the College of the Atlantic Board of Trustees. Read MoreStudent Resources
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