Current Research

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Geographic Information Systems Spatial Analysis Laboratory
Research
Current Research

Research Projects

The projects below are currently underway or in review with GISSAL research staff serving as principal or co-principal investigator. Listed collaborators are from Kansas State University unless otherwise noted.

The Power of GIS

GIS is built on the art and science of Geography and provides a comprehensive framework to perform insightful geospatial visualizations and powerful quantitative analyses.

Current Projects

Reimagining Kansas City: Collaborative Strategies for Urban and Ecological Resilience

Collaborators: Lauren Harness (PI), Stacy Hutchinson(PI), and J.M. Shawn Hutchinson (PI)
Funding Agency: K-State Transdisciplinary Applied Learning Grant
Funding Amount: $30,000
Duration: 8/1/2025 - 7/31/2026

Geocat: Modernizing Geospatial Cyberinfrastructure at Kansas State University

Collaborators: J.M. Shawn Hutchinson (PI)
Funding Agency: Kansas Water Institute and Amazon Web Services
Funding Amount: $600,000
Duration: 6/1/2025 - 5/31/2028

Submitted Proposals

Leveraging GIS to Visualize and Communicate the Value of Kansas Soybean Checkoff Investments

Collaborators: J.M. Shawn Hutchinson (PI) and Barnali Das (co-PI)
Funding Agency: Kansas Soybean Commission
Funding Amount: $51,136
Duration: 7/1/2026 - 6/30/2027

Powering Geocat: Building Capacity and Maximizing ROI through Dedicated GIS Leadership

Collaborators: J.M. Shawn Hutchinson (PI)
Funding Agency: One K-State Fund (Non-Specific), Kansas State University
Funding Amount: $338,454
Duration: 5/1/2026 - 4/30/2028

Geocat+ - Advancing K-State’s Next Generation Enterprise Geospatial Platform with AI and Real-Time Data Processing

Collaborators: J.M. Shawn Hutchinson (PI)
Funding Agency: One K-State Fund (AI), Kansas State University
Funding Amount: $450,000
Duration: 5/1/2026 - 4/30/2028

Mechanisms of Physical Activity Maintenance during the Transition to College

Collaborators: Denver Brown (PI), J.M. Shawn Hutchinson (PI), Doina Caragea (PI)
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Funding Amount: $415,573
Duration: 3/1/2026 - 2/29/2028

Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant - Technical Assistance for Brownfields

Collaborators: Margaret Belanger (PI), Kelly Pearson, Cynthia Annett, Daena Robinson, J.M. Shawn Hutchinson, Pamela VanderPol
Funding Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Funding Amount: $399,997
Duration: 10/01/2025 - 9/30/2028

Selected Past Projects

Using ADS-B Data to Understand Overflight Travel Patterns at National Park Units

Collaborators: Brian Peterson (PI), J.M. Shawn Hutchinson, and Ryan Sharp
Funding Agency: National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior
Funding Amount: $199,382
Duration: 6/1/2021 - 8/31/2025

Kansas Whooping Crane Stopover Habitat Model Analysis

Collaborators: J.M. Shawn Hutchinson (PI) and Zac Eddy (Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks)
Funding Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Interior
Funding Amount: $159,677
Duration: 8/1/2022 - 7/31/2025

Harvest Activities in Post-War Ukraine - Cancelled by Federal Government

Collaborators: Allen Feathersone (PI), Nina Lilja (PI), Dena Bunnel (PI), Stacy Hutchinson (PI)
Funding Agency: Chemonics International Inc., US Agency for International Development
Funding Amount: $10,462,908
Duration: 9/01/2024 - 3/31/2029

Disaggregating SSURGO Soil Maps across Large Areas using Existing Qualitative Knowledge and Modern Data Sources

Collaborators: Arnaud Temme (PI), J.M. Shawn Hutchinson
Funding Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Funding Amount: $206,975
Duration: 9/20/2019 - 8/31/2021