16 September 2002
The FAST (Facility for Advanced Spatial Technology) is a coordinated facility of the Colleges of Architecture and Planning, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Liberal Arts and Sciences. The FAST is comprised of computer clients and servers, G IS and related software, and classroom and research space. It is the campus interdisciplinary center of GIS-related activities used by students, faculty and outside community groups seeking to develop and apply GIS techniques to the various domains.
The mission of the FAST is stated as follows:
Teaching
The FAST teaching mission is to provide coordinated GIS learning opportunities for students of varying backgrounds, learning styles, and locations. Courses and degree programs are offered that address modern proficiencies in applying GIS techniques to analyze, plan and design our natural and built environments. These programs are supported by on-line eLearning technologies so that students can tailor their studies as “any time, any place” to accommodate their work schedules and learning styles. Advancing the state-of-the-art through research and development is seen as an educational paradigm, and opportunities for such advances shall be sought that sustain student involvement by bringing research into the classroom.
Research
The FAST research mission is to provide an environment where advances in GIS science and interdisciplinary applications can occur. Through graduate research activities funded by grants and contracts, FAST faculty and research assistants will develop new techniques and analyses that are original and significant. These activities will bring recognition to the FAST and respective colleges as a place where cutting edge research is being conducted.
Service
The FAST service mission is to be the place where GIS is shared with the university, community, region, country and world. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, partnerships, internships, seminars, short courses and workshops, the FAST seeks be the location where practitioners can meet and interact with GIS students, faculty and each other in an interdisciplinary setting.
