Service Center
When your geospatial research project or organization faces a technical hurdle, our Service Center can help you find the solution. With a focus on finding the right approach for each client, we leverage the skill sets and knowledge base of personnel at the Center for Geospatial Analytics to perform geospatial services on a contract basis.
What We Do
Use of our Service Center is open to both on-campus and external partners. We are able to support work from simple GIS tasks to cutting-edge tool development and analysis. We tap into the expertise of the university community to solve problems both large and small. Below is a non-exhaustive list of our specialties:
2D/3D web mapping applications
We build web mapping applications with cutting-edge technology.
Custom geospatial database setup
We create custom schema to house tabular and spatial data.
Data hosting
We offer flexible and robust spatial data hosting for web mapping applications.
Spatial analysis
We leverage the latest techniques to analyze landscape patterns and processes.
Remote sensing
We offer various remote sensing services, including land use classification.
Custom cartography and map creation
We create high-quality maps (both physical and electronic) individually tailored to meet client specifications and cartographic standards.
Batch automation
Let us help you perform your big-data analyses faster through batch automation.
Image processing
We can help you process your geospatial imagery, including scanning and georeferencing hard copy imagery.
Open source development and support
We develop and improve open source geospatial software, build solutions for clients leveraging open source and provide training for existing software.
Consultation and skill-transfer
We offer personalized training to build the skill set of your own team.
How to Get Started
Contact our center’s Assistant Director of Operations, Zachary Arcaro (zearcaro@ncsu.edu, 919-513-4000), to discuss the general scope of your project. This dialogue will establish the key details of the work and determine if the project is within the capabilities of the Service Center.
When contacting Zac, please have these aspects of your project in mind:
- Project scope and expected deliverables
- Timeline
- Budget
Rates
For internal partners within the NC State University community, we use the rates established by the Office of Cost Analysis. Internal partners include individual faculty with funded/proposed research projects, college and departmental offices, other centers/institutes, university consortia, extension offices and other NC State units. Our base rates are determined by the costs (time/effort and materials) associated with service center operations. The costs associated with a specific project are based on the estimated effort and materials needed to produce the project deliverables within the given timeframe. Billing is conducted through the ITD system in Wolfpack Portal.
For external partners outside of NC State University, we provide an estimate for the costs associated with completing the tasks outlined in the established scope of work. Once the key details are determined, a contract is prepared and executed. Invoices are delivered as specified in the contract.
When Your Work Requires Novel Research
The Service Center does not independently conduct novel research. Where this type of activity is necessary, your project will be referred to a Center for Geospatial Analytics Faculty Fellow, who can then establish the project through the appropriate NC State research office.