By Spc. Tremeshia Ellis, GUIDON staff
Recently, The U.S. Army's Terrain Visualization Center (TVC) relocated to the Missouri Research Park (MRP) Business Center at the University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood. This is the first Army operation to locate in the tech park being developed by the university and the Missouri Technology Corporation, according to Tom Donnell, park manager.
The TVC is the U.S. Army Engineer School's laboratory for geospatial information systems (GIS). GIS uses advance computer systems to record, catalog and display geographic and other information about places, things and systems.
The display technology makes it easier for people to understand complex systems and focus rapidly on key information about a subject. It is used in the civilian sector for many purposes such as, city planning, emergency management and industrial plant operation. The military uses GIS to rapidly generate maps and as the basis for advanced command and control systems.
The TVC provides the Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN) subject matter expertise for Geospatial Information and Services (GI&S), develops concepts, doctrine, and experiments for geospatial information visualization, coordinates and provides MANSCEN oversight of geospatial future operational capabilities and supporting research and development activities of the Engineer Research and Development Center and acts as the Training and Doctrine Command proponent for GI&S and Army topography within MANSCEN.
The move, prompted by Army transformation and guidance from the Chief of Staff of the Army, is the first step in an effort to leverage to the fullest extent possible, work being done by government and private agencies, said Dr. Merril Stevens, chief scientist, TVC.
"The TVC relocation hashelped the technology park developers and management realize the vision of creating an environment where industry, academia and government entities with similar geospatial needs can work closely together," Stevens said.
According to Tom Donnell, relocating the GIS lab to the technology park will permit close partnerships with others who have geospatial requirements.
The United States Geological Survey, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, academia, industry partners and other military branches have all expressed interest in having a presence near our operation in the tech park, Stevens said.
"I think that our presence will be a magnet for the technology park," Stevens added.
The center was previously located in the MANSCEN complex. In conjunction with the move, the center is also being upgraded. The upgrade includes new computer hardware and geospatial software.
According to post officials, the TVC will be able to better serve MANSCEN and other Department of Defense and Army customers with more responsive operational support, more in-depth experimentation support and more relevant support to the research and development community.
Training support to enlisted and officer courses should also be more timely and relevant, officials said.
In a recent press release post officials said, they envision the center also serving as a resource for service members pursuing academic degrees in geospatial engineering or related fields of study.
The technology park is located here on 62 acres leased by the University of Missouri. The park is the first-of-its-kind initiative between the Army, the University of Missouri and Missouri's Technology Corporation.
The multi-tenant MRP Business Center is the first building in the park, with the university now finalizing plans for its second building.
For leasing information, contact Tom Donnell at 329.8500.
