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furnishes links to ARPANET, BITNET, and DECNETC. МАСС provides access to the San Diego Cray 
X-MP supercomputer via a satellite link using MFENET. МАСС is an integral part of CICNET (Big 
Ten schools and the University of Chicago) which is linked to the NSF network backbone and, thereby, 
provides access to all supercomputer centers and other regional networks, 
Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office 
The Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office, located on the UW-Madison campus, publishes county and 
statewide catalogs of current and historical maps and publishes the quarterly Wisconsin Mapping Bulletin. 
It collects, maintains and disseminates information regarding innovation in cartographic techniques and 
mapping procedures (including GIS), map and airphoto indexes, control data, map accuracy standards, 
and legal aspects of map production. The office also works with state and federal groups to promote 
mapping and GIS implementation. 
Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey 
The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, located near campus, has the broad mission to 
inventory, investigate, and interpret Wisconsin’s geologic, water, soil, and biologic resources and to assist 
in their development and management. It is also responsible for coordinating the completion of 
topographic mapping of the state in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey. 
SUMMARY 
Faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have been involved with interdisciplinary education in 
remote sensing and GIS for more than 20 years. 
Remote sensing instruction is centered in the Environmental Monitoring Program, an interdisciplinary 
graduate program in remote sensing and GIS administered by the Institute for Environmental Studies 
(1ES). Many courses are offered, ranging from introductory photogrammetry, photo interpretation, and 
remote sensing courses to hands-on digital image processing courses and courses dealing with computer 
algorithms for digital image processing. Remote sensing research is conducted both through individual 
departments and the Environmental Remote Sensing Center, an IES research center. 
GIS instruction and research are offered in several departments and arc coordinated by an ad-hoc faculty 
group representing the departments of civil and environmental engineering, computer sciences, 
engineering professional development, forestry, geography, landscape architecture, soil science, and urban 
and regional planning, and IES. Several courses are offered ranging from an introduction to geographic 
information systems to a hands-on course dealing with computerized land information systems. 
UW-Madison faculty have implemented a wide variety of extension/outrcach programs and technology 
transfer projects, and have been involved in formulating state and federal policy in regard to the use and 
impact of GIS technology. 
Instruction, research and extension/outrcach activities in remote sensing and GIS are supported by 
facilities such as the Cartographic Laboratory and Arthur H. Robinson Map Library, Environmental 
Remote Sensing Center, Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility, Spatial Data Acquisitions 
and Analysis Laboratory, Computer Science Systems Laboratory, Center for Land Information Studies, 
Madison. Academic Computing Center, Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office, and the Wisconsin 
Geological and Natural History Survey.