Overview

The Facility for Advanced Spatial Technology (FAST) Lab is a teaching and learning hub for geospatial activity across the University of Colorado Denver.  For over 25 years, this interdisciplinary and collaborative lab has supported a community of industry-leading geospatial faculty, staff, and students committed to pursuing geospatial endeavors in their respective fields. Its resources and services are available to all students within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and for any student taking a class supported by the FAST Lab.


Hours of Operation: Starting Monday 21 August 2023 through
Fall Semester 2023’s ending

Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Remote Desktop Access is enabled for all students enrolled in FAST Lab Classes or when engaged in faculty sponsored research. Those who require FAST Lab access for faculty sponsored research please contact the FAST Lab via our email, fast@ucdenver.edu and we will reply with instructions as to what is required of you the student researcher to gain Remote Desktop System access.


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.