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Mission and Vision

Mission

The Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence conducts cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and provides quality education for future scientists, educators and decision-makers.

The center is a research and educational collaboration that combines the unique strengths of South Dakota State University and the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Center.

Our mission is to address fundamental questions about the functioning of the biosphere and its implications for the environment and human welfare in a rapidly changing world. Our approach focuses on the development and application of geospatial technologies, including remote sensing, modeling and geographic information systems.

Through research, education and communication, we seek to enhance basic understanding of critical earth system processes, develop practical tools for monitoring and predicting change and facilitate sustainable management of ecosystems, societies and the biosphere.

Vision

To be national and international leaders in the application of satellite remote sensing and other geospatial technologies for monitoring, understanding and forecasting terrestrial environmental change at regional to global scales.

This vision will be achieved by engaging in collaborative research and by conducting graduate-level mentoring and teaching to train the next generations of geospatial scientists.