About AGIC

Who We Are

The Antarctic Geospatial Information Center (AGIC) is an NSF-funded organization established in 2007, with a dual role in Antarctica: to provide GIS services to both science and operations for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).  Based at the University of Minnesota, AGIC is responsible for creating and archiving maps, conducting GIS analysis and support, and providing logistics solutions to USAP science and operations, while also conducting research in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

AGIC employs approximately 25 staff, including 10 undergraduate and graduate students, all of whom assist in the support of operations and science at the 3 United States Antarctic stations: McMurdo, South Pole, and Palmer.  Support for the U.S. Antarctic Program is year-round, with personnel at McMurdo Station for about 2 months in the austral summer (typically December and January).

AGIC is funded through an NSF OPP grant, award # ANT-0753663.

What We Do

As a two-faceted organization, AGIC has many responsibilities within the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).  To support USAP operations and logistics, AGIC:

► Provides on-demand maps for planning science operations

► Provides GIS analysis, including spatial, spectral, and 3D analysis

► Develops software solutions (see Projects page)

► Serves as a central location for Antarctic GIS data and information, including        archived USGS Antarctic map series

For the science portion of AGIC's responsibilities, AGIC supports USAP scientists, while also conducting research in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.  AGIC supports science by:

► Providing project-specific maps

► Providing GIS trouble shooting and support

► Conducting GIS analysis to help answer research and logistical questions

► Conducting research to update existing maps of Antarctica (see Projects page)

For more information regarding AGIC's field season in McMurdo for USAP on-ice participants, please click here.