VU-Spinlab is specialized in Geo Information. VU-Spinlab is task leader of task 3.2, the construction of the GIS database.

The mission of the SPINLab is to develop an internationally recognised research and education portfolio in the areas of geo-information sciences and spatial technology, with a strong emphasis on wireless and multimedia.

SPINlab research.
The lab carries out research on geo-information sciences and spatial information management. The enphasis is on their added value to environmental protection, health care, emergency and risk management, field work, transport, distribution, logistics, and marketing.The core research lines for the SPINlab are the following:

• 3D and 4D spatial analyses and visualisation
  
• Location based services and mobility
  
• Spatial Data Infrastructures
  
• Wireless and mobile learning
  
• Land Use Change And Simulation (LUCAS)
  

The research is mostly funded by external organisations. The SPINlab also coordinates the activities of several PhD students.

SPINlab education.
The lab provides scientific and technical competences for undergraduate education, MSc courses and PhD education. The main courses of the SPINlab include:

• UNIGIS distance learning postgraduate course and masters on spatial information management
  
• Advance spatial analysis
  
• Health Geography
  
• Spatial data infrastructures
  

The SPINlab also coordinates a summer and a winter school programme on selected topics in geo-information sciences, as well as a regular summer school on Location Based Services.

SPINlab knowledge centre.
The lab manages a software and hardware platform available for research and education of the funding organizations (the Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration) and the VU as a whole. The lab provides support and services on technical and content matters for GIS, spatial software, spatial data and web infrastructures. The lab also operates a help desk and a service desk.

Given the close relationship between geosciences and technology for spatial information management, all the lab personnel share a technology background with extensive GIS competence. The laboratory also stimulates industry-academia initiatives and is a centre of excellence for Oracle Spatial.

Eric Koomen
E-mail: ekoomen@feweb.vu.nl