About Us

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The Vanderbilt University Libraries GIS Lab supports the use of geographic information, mapping, and spatial analysis across research, teaching, and learning. We work with students, faculty, staff, and community partners to explore questions about place and use geospatial methods to discover, analyze, and communicate information.

GIS can be useful at many stages of a project. You might need help finding and evaluating spatial data, learning a new GIS tool, developing an analysis workflow, creating a map for a publication, or thinking through how to incorporate GIS into a course. The GIS Lab provides guidance and support throughout these processes.

Areas of Work

Research & Consultation

We collaborate with researchers across disciplines to incorporate GIS and spatial methods into their work. Support may include finding and preparing data, developing GIS workflows, spatial analysis, georeferencing and digitization, cartography, and creating maps and visualizations for presentations and publications.
Our role is to help researchers develop and carry out their own geospatial workflows. We provide technical guidance, help troubleshoot challenges, and connect researchers with relevant data, tools, and resources.
Teaching & Learning

We help instructors and students incorporate GIS into teaching and learning. This includes classroom instruction, workshops, demonstrations, consultations, and support for developing GIS activities and assignments.
Our goal is not simply to teach software. We help learners understand how geographic information can be used to ask questions, investigate patterns, and communicate ideas about place.
Resources & Data

Finding the right data is often one of the first challenges in a GIS project. We help users discover, evaluate, access, and prepare geospatial data, maps, imagery, and other geographic resources.
We also provide guidance on spatial data formats, coordinate reference systems, data organization, and other practical considerations for working with geographic information.
Mapping & Visualization

Maps are more than a way to display data. They are a way to explore information, identify patterns, and communicate an argument or story.
We support cartographic design and visualization for a range of projects, from exploratory maps and research figures to interactive web maps and geographic storytelling.

How We Work

GIS projects often involve more than choosing the right software or learning a particular tool. We approach GIS support as a collaborative process: understanding the question, identifying appropriate data and methods, working through technical challenges, and considering how the results will be communicated. We can help you get started, troubleshoot a problem, explore possibilities, or develop your GIS skills.

Alyssa Sklar (she/her)

As the Librarian for Geospatial Systems and Data, Alyssa supports students, faculty, and staff in using geographic information, GIS technologies, and geospatial data for research, teaching, and learning. Her work includes geospatial data discovery and management, spatial analysis, cartography and visualization, and GIS education and instruction. She provides individual consultations, workshops, and research support, helping users develop practical geospatial skills and apply GIS to questions across disciplines.