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Overview
The Facility for Advanced Spatial Technology (FAST) Lab at the University of Colorado Denver is a collaborative and interdisciplinary spatial analysis, cartography, and geovisualization teaching laboratory located at the heart of the Downtown Campus. Established over 25 years ago, FAST is the central hub for geospatial activity, supported by a longstanding partnership between the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP).
Additional support comes from the Auraria Library, the College of Engineering and Design Computing (CEDC), and the School of Public Affairs (SPA). This interdisciplinary laboratory provides students with access to industry-leading geospatial faculty, staff, professionals, and fellow peers from more than twenty departments across the University. Operating as one of the most robust geospatial teaching facilities in the Colorado Front Range, FAST offers resources and services to students within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and any student taking a class supported by the FAST Lab.
For over 25 years, the FAST Lab has been a teaching and learning hub, fostering collaboration among students committed to pursuing geospatial endeavors in their respective fields. Join us at the FAST Lab, where geospatial excellence meets collaborative innovation!
Capabilities
The lab hosts software applicable to spatial analysis, cartography, and geovisualization. Its physical, on-campus location houses over 50 high-powered Dell Precision work stations to handle the demands of raster and vector analysis, visualization of spatial data, and machine learning.
The FAST Lab’s growing virtual library provides spatial-related content for beginner and intermediate users. From technical skills to conceptual project design, we provide these videos as a resource to assist in your learning.
Student Geospatial Consultants provide peer-to-peer support for those taking geospatial classes as well as any student interested in applying spatial analysis to their area of study. They serve as a go-to resource for assistance with geospatial software installation and orientation, spatial project design, and best practices for technical skills within the consultant’s area of expertise. Consultants are available in the physical FAST Lab Mondays through Fridays. On Saturdays a consultant is available by appointment via Zoom.
The FAST Lab aims to connect people with resources and people with people to expand awareness and application of spatial capabilities across disciplines.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in FAST
The FAST mission, vision, and goals align with the University of Colorado’s strategic priorities. We provide an unparalleled student experience through coordination and support to blend specialized technology with the best of human interaction, whether working together remotely or on campus. Student Geospatial Consultants are currently available via drop-in hours on Zoom, and are happy to walk you through any of the voice, video, text chat, screen share, or closed captioning options that are available to assist your learning online. No question is too large or small to ask.
FAST supports a multidisciplinary approach to collaborative excellence. We welcome opportunities to incorporate perspectives on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, community organizing, and more in our work. Recognizing the impact our methods and analysis can have on addressing issues of inequity, we seek out opportunities to bring such issues and creative problem solving to light.
Where to Find Us
- 5th floor, North Classroom Building
- Suite 5032-C
- 1200 Larimer Street
- Denver, CO 80217-3364
