St. Cloud State University (SCSU) School of Public Affairs (SOPA) has long been a leader in Geographic Information Systems Technology with advanced degree programs and 2+2 models throughout the state. With the most recent NSF award, Northland and SCSU have increased support for the DRONETECH Educator Workshops funded by the NSF ATE program. The SOPA Research Institute is also conducting workforce assessments and developing heat maps for the autonomous technologies industry and educational programs throughout the country.

SCSU’s Visualization Lab is a state-of-the-art science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) lab. The lab works on several cross-disciplinary projects through the university and local communities, and with private industries, offering learning opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in a continually advancing field. The lab is located in the university’s Integrated Science and Engineering Laboratory Facility (ISELF), a multi-disciplinary student-centered science facility that encourages collaboration, experiential learning, and innovation. The VizLab supports NCAT curriculum development initiatives for distance learning, including development of virtual environments and digital interactive content resources.