Geospatial institute launched at U of L

By Toyin Obatusin - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on December 4, 2024.

The University of Lethbridge has announced the launch of the new geospatial institute with Dena McMartin, Vice President of Research of the University of Lethbridge welcoming their generous donor for the “i4Geo, the Institute of Geospatial Inquiry, Instruction and Innovation”, TECTERRA.
Speakers at the Friday launch included Monty Carter, TECTERRA board member and managing director, Chris Hopkinson, a professor in the Department of Geography and Environment also the Board of Governors and Research Chair in Remote Sensing, and Director for i4Geo, Kevin McGeough, co-chair of the Department of Geography and Environment, and Emily Jones, graduate teaching assistant and researcher.
Since 2009 TECTERRA has supported the geospatial sector in Alberta by funding programs that commercialize technology and academic institutions, and in 2023 donated $5.2 million in a legacy program for Alberta-based universities.
Geomatics is a science that deals with the collection, analysis and interpretation of data relating to the Earth’s surface.
$1.3 million was allocated to the U of L, with the university board of governors matching a portion of those funds as part of their commitment to student scholarships and bursaries.
Funding supports geomatic-related research and teachings, bursaries, scholarships, research grants, undergraduates and graduate awards for students in geomatic relevant courses.
The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in geography, remote sensing, environmental science, agricultural studies, geographical information science and computer science.
“i4Geo encompasses research, innovation and academic programming bringing nationally leading academics and researchers together under one umbrella. The new institute will be a driver for entrepreneurship, innovation, business incubation and community outreach,” said McMartin, extending her congratulations to the faculty members who worked tirelessly to make this institute a reality.
The goal is to further establish the University of Lethbridge as “leaders in geospatial technology and its applications.”
Carter spoke on the history of the company – an idea that stemmed out of the University of Calgary 15 years ago, when a group of professors came together and created an opportunity in the geospatial area to invest in.
The company is a charitable, grant-based organization that invests in companies with interest-free loans. A total 122 companies have been funded over the last eight years. “We appreciate the opportunity to watch and potentially provide additional funding, as we go forward,” Carter said.
While Hopkinson showed gratitude by acknowledging all of the many supporters of this program and the new geospatial institute, he also acknowledged the advantages of their already planned three-part workshop, which debuted last week with their first segment being, “Using R for Geospatial Analysis: Part I.”
“These workshops will allow us to support internal degree-level training needs, public education and outreach, as well as provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows an excellent opportunity to share what they have learned and reinforce their own teaching portfolio in an area of their strength, he said”.
In a news release, finishing PHD Student Linda Flade stated that “Through the opportunity afforded by i4Geo to embed my course on using R for geospatial analysis within this innovative series of workshops, I can share the knowledge gained during my PhD program with ULethbridge students and the public in a blended learning framework. This will expand knowledge transfer from the ULethbridge to the community and will further strengthen my teaching skills and experience.”
The goal of the university is not only to give knowledge to students, but to also empower them to “embrace, inspire and lead transformational change”. Industry led and results driven research plays an important role in life.

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