The Indiana Geospatial Training Academy (IN-GTA) is a collaborative initiative involving Indiana University, Purdue University, and Valparaiso University. IN-GTA’s mission is to provide accessible, industry-ready geospatial training to professionals primarily based in Indiana. Our workshops are tailored to the state’s unique needs, offering participants the opportunity to enhance their geospatial skills using tools, data, and practices prevalent in Indiana’s professional community.
The Indiana Geospatial Training Academy is endorsed by the Indiana Geographic Information Council.
Check out our Available and Upcoming Workshops below!
Available Workshops:
ArcGIS Fundamentals
When: July 22 and 23, 2025, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Eastern each day
Cost: $950.00 Regular Registration / Government employees are eligible for a 10% discount ($855.00)
Location: Indiana University Indianapolis
Registration: Submit your registration online!
Join our immersive two-day workshop to unlock the full potential of ArcGIS Pro! Guided by expert instructors, you’ll dive into a series of demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to help you master the software. You’ll learn to navigate and utilize a variety of tools for data exploration and map creation. Our activities and examples cover diverse use cases tailored to Indiana GIS professionals, including planning, public safety, utilities, surveying, property management, and more.
Day 1 Topics:
- GIS Fundamentals – Understand what GIS is and how it can solve problems and create opportunities in Indiana.
- Navigating ArcGIS Pro – Learn the capabilities of ArcGIS Pro, get started, and navigate the interface.
- Creating Maps – Discover tips and tricks for designing effective maps using ArcGIS Pro features.
- Data Fundamentals – Explore data types and tools for managing and documenting your data.
- Data Sources – Find and access a wealth of free GIS data in Indiana and beyond.
Day 2 Topics:
- The Data Behind the Map – Utilize tools and techniques for working with tables.
- The Power of Selection – Answer questions based on data values and locations.
- Class Project – Test your skills with a realistic use case.
- Other GIS Capabilities -Preview online GIS, advanced spatial analysis, and more.
- Wrap-Up – Review and consolidate your learning.
Coming Early Summer 2025:
The Power of GIS
When: Online and on demand
Cost: Free
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools are integral to a wide range of services, including emergency management, public safety, economic development, public health, transportation, and utility management. Indiana boasts one of the most successful and collaborative GIS communities in the nation. Join our online seminar to discover how GIS is utilized in Indiana and learn how you can leverage this powerful resource.
This seminar is designed for anyone that is curious about what GIS is and how it can support their needs.
Coming Soon:
Intermediate ArcGIS Pro
Constructing and managing GIS data and geodatabases are essential skills for mapping and spatial analysis in GIS. The geodatabase is an intrinsic digital data format to store information, both spatial and attribute, in GIS. This workshop will introduce the basic structure of geodatabases, the geodatabase design schema, and techniques for managing geodatabase.
Introduction to ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Online is a collaborative web GIS mapping and analysis tool that lets you create, analyze, and share your data with others. This workshop will provide opportunities for hands-on exploration of ArcGIS Online capabilities with emphasis on options that do not require coding or other advanced skills.
Examples of addition planned workshops include…
- The Role of the GIS Professional
- Visualization Techniques: Making Effective Interactive Maps
- Introduction to the Indiana Data Harvest
- Supporting the Indiana Data Harvest
- GIS in an IT World
- The Power of Raster Data in ArcGIS Pro
- Geospatial Analysis with ArcGIS Pro
- ArcGIS Pro 3D Tools and Strategies
- Data Design Quality and Considerations
- Introduction to Remotely Sensed Data and Drone Technology
- Applications of Drone Technology
- Introduction to Lidar
- Application Development Fundamentals
- Python Fundamentals
- Geospatial Applications Development Using Python
IN-GTA will be announcing new webinars, online and classroom workshops on a regular basis. Check this website frequently for the latest offerings.
About Our Instructors:
Jinha Jung, Purdue University
Jinha Jung is an Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Construction Engineering at Purdue University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Geomatics – Civil Engineering, specializing in Computational Science & Engineering at Purdue University in 2011. He worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Illinois at Chicago & Purdue University and worked as a faculty at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi from 2014 until he joined Purdue University in 2019. Dr. Jung is noted for his work in 1) the development of UAS based High Throughput Phenotyping system for agriculture applications, 2) developing algorithms to process UAS data for feature extraction, 3) data fusion of hyperspectral and full-waveform LiDAR data, 4) vegetation structural analysis using LiDAR data, 5) high-performance computing for advanced remote sensing algorithm development, and 6) WebGIS software development using Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
Bharath Ganesh Babu, Valparaiso University
Bharath Ganesh Babu is Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography, Meteorology, and Environmental Science at Valparaiso University. He earned his Ph.D. in Geography from Indiana State University, an MBA from Purdue University Global, an M.Sc. in Applied Geography from the University of Madras (India), and a B.Sc. in Geography from Madras Presidency College (India).
Bharath’s teaching and research center on the intersections of globalization, environmental change, and geospatial technologies. He teaches undergraduate course in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, cartographic design, biogeography, environmental conservation, and global development. He is committed to strengthening society through education, especially by preserving information integrity and access. He sees value in integrative geographic education, applied research, and student-centered innovation.
Yuri Kim, Department of Geography, Indiana University
Yuri Kim is a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Geography, Indiana University Bloomington. She focuses on physical geosystems and research methods of geospatial analysis, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). As she works with students who have diverse interests and career goals – e.g., nature, society, environmental change, decision-making in policy, business, etc., her primary pedagogical research and instructional objectives are to boost everyone’s engagement in fast-changing, innovative technologies in GIS and RS and their application to the broad spectrum of research and industry needs.
Yuri developed expertise in geospatial analysis methods during master’s program at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University, South Korea. She completed Ph.D in the Department of Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her doctoral research focus was the analysis of past, present, and future water resources in the context of climate and land-cover change impact in the mountain, Piedmont, and coastal areas of North Carolina, using GIS, RS, and hydrologic modeling as research tools.
Kevin Mickey, Director of Professional Development and Geospatial Technologies Education, The Polis Center, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indiana University Indianapolis
Kevin has more than three decades of experience in the design, management, and instruction of introductory thru advanced geospatial courses and education programs for a wide variety of practitioner communities as well as undergraduate and graduate academic audiences.
He is a recognized expert in the application of geospatial technologies and methods for assessing the social, economic, physical, and environmental impacts of natural hazards with over three decades of consulting and professional education experience for multiple U.S. federal agencies as well as many state and local government, private sector, academic, and nonprofit organizations.
Kevin is a Past President of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), now Geospatial Professional Network. He is also the former chair of the Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and a former member of the Indiana Geographic Information Council Board of Directors. He currently serves on the National Visiting Committee of the National GeoTech Center of Excellence.