The Center for Geographic Information Systems (CGIS) is an interdisciplinary center that focuses on GIS technology solutions, research, and education, offering cutting-edge applications to a diverse range of real world problems. The Center's facility houses professionals from The State of Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse, The US Geological Survey Center for Spatial Analysis Technology, The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and The Georgia Tech Research Institute's Center for Electro-Optics, Environment, and Materials Laboratory.

Additionally, the Center provides support for academic research in the departments of City Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy, and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. The Center's affiliation with these organizations and academic disciplines provides a wide array of GIS research topics.

Some of the Center's current research themes include: web application development, natural hazard risk analysis, economic development, air pollution modeling, infrastructure management, land suitability analysis, precision farming, 3-D GIS, remote sensing, and hydrology development and analysis.

There are many research opportunities for graduate students interested in gaining experience with GIS technologies and applications. Projects in which students are involved include: The Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse, The National Hydrography Dataset, River Basin Management, and Contour Mapping projects.