Welcome
Welcome to GIS Services at the University of Miami Libraries. We provide instructional and computing resources related to Geographical Information System (GIS) software, GIS data analysis and visualization. Additionally, we provide research consultations focused on spatial analysis and spatial statistics. GIS is an integrated collection of computer hardware, software, and data which is used to capture, store, manipulate, display, and analyze layers of information. GIS is a powerful tool that enables users to better understand data and make informed decisions.
We provide research and instructional support for students, faculty, and staff who are interested in integrating GIS, remote sensing, digital storytelling tools, and maps into their research.
Our services are offered on all three campuses, partnered in collaboration with the Richter Library Learning Commons, the Calder Medical Library, and the Rosenstiel School Library. We welcome patrons of all affiliations with the University of Miami.
Our Services
- Issuing and administering ESRI ArcGIS licenses as well as replenishing credits used during analysis. Your ArcGIS user license and account will provide access to all ArcGIS software and applications available in the university ArcGIS organization.
- Consultations for sourcing georeferenced data for use in GIS projects.
- Instructional support for ESRI software packages provided by the university: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ESRI Business Analyst, ArcGIS StoryMaps, ArcGIS Experience Builder, and Esri Field Apps.
- Additionally, we also provide limited support for Social Explorer, QGIS, OpenStreetMap (OSM), and GIS applications using R and Python.
- We can help you interpret geospatial file types, extensions, and common error messages.
- We can guide you learning resources oriented to implementing best practices to manage your data correctly.
- We can guide you toward documentation and other help resources if you need assistance conducting advanced or discipline-specific analyses in GIS.
- We regularly work with faculty who are interested in integrating GIS, spatial analysis, and digital storytelling assignments & modules into their courses. We can provide recommendations for sample lesson plans, best practices, and reading material.
Who We Can Help
While there are limitations for licensing reasons to providing ESRI accounts and services only to University of Miami faculty, students, and staff, we are committed to providing open educational resources when possible. Our training materials are freely available. If you are not a member of the University of Miami community, we recommend you create an ArcGIS public account. Some of the functionalities in the software referenced in our tutorials may not be available through an ArcGIS public account. You can search the following resources for help:
Methods of Support
- Individual and group consultations (via Zoom or email) for faculty, staff, and students.
- Faculty may request in-class instruction or online instruction via Zoom.
- Analysis or software-specific workshops
- Walk-in support provided by our student GIS experts during Digital Scholars’ Lab hours
Types of Support Not Provided
- Solutions to GIS course assignments.
- Conducting analyses and/or evaluating the accuracy of research methodologies used within researchers’ GIS projects. We can provide general guidance with using GIS software, but it is the responsibility of individual researchers to construct and evaluate the methodologies used within their GIS projects.
- We follow UMIT policy for license administration.
A Librarian