GIS Laboratories at McMaster

Our original GIS Laboratory was established in 1992, with a mission to support undergraduate curriculum in geography. Increased awareness of GIS technology within and outside McMaster increased demand for the laboratory's teaching and research services, and a second laboratory was established in 2008. Both labs are continuously maintained and were most recently upgraded in 2020, and is currently managed by a GIS Specialist. In 2009, SGES became an Esri Development Centre (EDC) based on their expertise in developing GIS tools and software. In 2014, SGES was nominated as an Esri Canada Centre of Excellence for GIS, focusing on new and innovative aspects of GIS technology, including web, mobile, and 3D components of the Esri platform.

The current objectives of the lab are to:

• Maintain highly competent personnel in the state-of-the-art in GIS technology.
• Providing quality teaching within the undergraduate program of the School of Earth, Environment & Society.
• Provide quality short courses to groups from the McMaster community as well as the public and private sector.
• Undertake research projects from a variety of disciplines that are in need of GIS analysis.
• Assist in the development of GIS-related curricula for secondary education in Hamilton and vicinity.