NATIONAL CENTER FOR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS ANNUAL REPORT

The Center's mission reflects the desires of the NSF, as expressed in the solicitation document: to advance the theory, methods, and techniques of geographic analysis based on geographic information systems (GIS) in the many disciplines involved in GIS research; to augment the nation's supply of experts in GIS and geographic analysis in participating disciplines; to promote the diffusion of analysis based on GIS throughout the scientific community; and to provide a central clearing house and conduit for disseminating information regarding research, teaching, and applications. The Center which has developed in the past twelve months is fully consistent with the proposal submitted to NSF. The Center has been successful in raising substantial additional support for its activities, particularly in the area of equipment. It has involved the external community in many of its activities, not only in outreach, but also in extensive participation in research and education. Numerous activities have drawn attention to the existence of the Center, both in the US and abroad. Finally, considerable effort has gone into refining the external community's view of the Center's purpose and goals, and what can and cannot be expected of the Center's role in the wider field of GIS.