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In the Applied Projects in Geographic Information Science course, students work on projects that help them practice and strengthen their skills in mapping, spatial analysis, and web GIS.

Students use real data to solve real problems for organizations such as businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits. They also learn how to design and manage projects, work as a team, and communicate with a “client” (most of whom are real individuals or organizational contacts students work with directly).

Many students use the skills and training they gain from these projects to pursue graduate school, secure internships, and find jobs in related fields. Along the way, they also develop important professional soft skills, including teamwork, collaboration, time management, problem-solving, and strong written and oral communication.

Applied GIS projects completed in fall 2025:

Client: Green Ridge Cemetery
Students: Ainsley Stallworth ’26, John Kunath ’26, and Steven Espinosa ’26
Project:
Students used high-precision GPS and built a mobile field data collection app to record locations, photos, QR codes linking to an audio guide, and other species attribute information. They also created an interactive and informative web mapping app with search and filter functions for visitors, along with a simplified hardcopy map handout.

Client: National Wildlife Federation
Students: Lily Musich ’26 and Jenna Gunnink ’26
Project:
Students acquired GIS data layers and created interactive web maps visualizing the environmental impacts on water, land, and wildlife, as well as the social impacts on the Indigenous community of an oil pipeline running through the Great Lakes region. They then integrated these maps into a well-researched and engaging storymap.

Client: �ǿմ�ý Facility Management
Students: Lucas Menzer ’26, Robert Kloss ’25, and Boris Milic ’26
Project:
Students used high-precision GPS and built a mobile field data collection app to record locations, photos, and species information, applying tree identification knowledge and skills from their Forest Ecology class, to complete a campus tree inventory. They then created an interactive and informative web mapping app with search and filter functions for maintenance staff, the campus community, and visitors.

Client: �ǿմ�ý
Students: Chris Creutz ’27, Brit Stanton ’26, and Christopher Lyons ’26
Project: In-Depth Analysis of Kenosha County Recruitment and Retention
Students conducted an in-depth statistical and spatial analysis of demographic data, high school and Carthage enrollment figures, census information, higher education spending, and community tapestry segmentation. They then built an interactive web mapping application for the College to support more targeted recruitment and retention planning.

Client: Howard County, MD Board of Education Candidate
Students: Robert Kloss ’25, Brit Stanton ’26, and Lucas Menzer ’26
Project: Campaign and Voter Outreach Spatial Analysis
Students enriched publicly available voting precinct-level data with information on school enrollment, family size, income, education spending, and more. They then built an interactive web mapping application for the campaign team to identify and reach out to key target voter groups.

Client: �ǿմ�ý School of Health
Students: Lily Musich ’26, Jenna Gunnink ’26, and Christopher Lyons ’26
Project:
Students built a spatially explicit survey (Survey123) and used it to collect a wide range of location and attribute information on on- and off-campus health and wellness resources, including AEDs, bike racks, parks, trails, and mental health clinics. They then created an interactive and informative web and mobile mapping app to share with the Carthage community, making these resources easier to access.

Client: Ramboll
Students: Chris Creutz ’27 and Ainsley Stallworth ’26
Project: A Data Center Siting Analysis
Students conducted GIS spatial analysis of 3D buildings and powerlines extracted from LiDAR data using deep learning tools, along with parcel data and environmental constraints such as water, energy, and noise in the target area, and proposed a construction site for a data center that meets environmental regulations while minimizing environmental impact.

Client: An Interdisciplinary Research Team of Economists and Geographers
Students: Boris Milic ’26, John Kunath ’26, and Steven Espinosa ’26
Project: An Interdisciplinary Global Econ-Climate Research Study Spanning 125 years
Students updated the half-by-half degree resolution global temporal dataset of population-weighted temperature and precipitation averages and standard deviations by country with new data from 2018 to 2024 using ArcGIS Model Builder automation.

Students in the Applied Projects in Geographic Information Science course represent a diverse range of majors: geographic information science, geoscience, data science, environmental science, sociology, and business.