What Is RS&GIS at Michigan State University?

Updated

RS&GIS (Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems) at Michigan State University is an academic unit within MSU that focuses on remote sensing and GIS research, teaching, and applied geospatial services. It is part of the university's academic and research infrastructure, not a commercial software vendor or a general-purpose blog. If you are looking for a place to buy GIS software licenses or download commercial products, this is not that kind of site.

What RS&GIS Does

RS&GIS operates at the intersection of geospatial technology and academic research. Its work generally falls into three areas:

  • Research: Applying remote sensing and GIS methods to real-world problems such as land cover analysis, environmental monitoring, and spatial data science.
  • Teaching and training: Supporting students and researchers who need geospatial skills, whether through courses, workshops, or project-based learning.
  • Applied services: Providing geospatial analysis and mapping support to partners within MSU and beyond, including government agencies, nonprofits, and other research groups.

Who the Site Is For

The audience for rsgis.msu.edu typically includes:

Audience Why they visit
MSU students Find courses, training resources, or research opportunities
Faculty and researchers Collaborate on projects or access geospatial expertise
External partners Seek applied GIS/remote sensing support for funded projects
Prospective students Learn about the unit before applying or reaching out

What It Is Not

RS&GIS is not a commercial GIS software store. You will not find product pricing, license checkout, or software downloads for sale. It is also not a general news blog about GIS trends. Its content is tied to MSU's academic mission and specific project work.

How to Use the Site

If you are trying to decide whether to contact or work with RS&GIS, start by identifying which of the three areas above matches your need. For academic collaboration, look for faculty and research project pages. For training, check for workshop or course listings. For applied services, look for a contact or partnership page. Because the site is maintained by a university unit, some pages may be updated less frequently than a commercial site, so verify current offerings directly rather than assuming a listed service is still active.