Links to Funding Sources
Presently Funding ISAT Faculty:
- IEEE
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Virginia Council on Innovative Technology
- Valley Air Now, Shenair
- Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission
- Northern Shenandoah Valley Air Quality Improvement Task Force (AQITF)
- University –National Park Energy Partnerships
- Wintergreen Archeological Associates
Others:
- Council of American Overseas Research Centers
- National Science Foundation
- National Park Service
- National Park Service Synthesis Support Center
Contact: Carollyn Oglesby, Director
The National Park Service has been developing a data management system, called Synthesis, for use by various National Parks. Synthesis is an information management system for efficiently locating, organizing, integrating, and disseminating data and information. Synthesis presents the user with a simple, graphical user interface that functions as a gateway to information that may be stored on local computers, networks, intranets or the Internet. From this single gateway, a user may view and integrate many types of information including text-based documents, photographic libraries, databases, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, geographic information system (GIS) data, bibliographies, Internet-based information, decision support systems, and multimedia files.
The success of Synthesis has led to increased demand for it by parks throughout the National Park System. The NPS staff responsible for developing the tool are unable to adequately support the various potential and current Synthesis users, and have decided to establish Regional Support Centers to assist them with this task. Therefore, the NPS has funded JMU’s College of Integrated Science and Technology to establish and operate a Synthesis Regional Support Center, using facilities provided in our Environmental Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL) and the skills of both undergraduate and graduate students under the supervision of JMU faculty.
