The Vanderbilt Institute for Spatial Research (VISR) provides geospatial analysis and geophysical survey for diverse projects within Vanderbilt and for diverse clients in Nashville, middle Tennessee, and nationally. Our collaborations span the social sciences, humanities, medicine, public health, and epidemiology, STEM education, environmental health and science, and engineering. Our projects take place throughout the U.S. and globally. VISR is a core research facility with advanced geospatial computational resources, including a number of high spec workstations, several servers, and a broad suite of commercial and open-source software tools. We also maintain a diverse pool of geophysical survey and land survey instrumentation.
Support for a Variety of Spatial Needs
We provide geospatial support for projects utilizing basic geospatial techniques (ie. proximity analysis, overlay analysis, summary statistics, digitization) to more advanced spatial statistics (hot spot analysis, cluster analysis, density mapping, surface interpolation). Analysis will be performed by a trained geospatial professional. Our staff have a deep understanding of spatial science and the unique implications of working with spatial data to solve location-oriented problems.
Need a quick map for a publication or presentation? Our staff can also assist with that!
Project Portfolio
Cup of Excellence Guatemalan coffee competition path with smallholding coffee producers numbered. Map 7 from “Making Better Coffee: How Maya Farmers and Third Wave Tastemakers Create Value,” by Edward F. Fischer. 
Evolution of the European landscape compared to birth and death locations of famous female Jewish authors during WWI and WWII. Collaborator: Allison Schachter. 
Movement density analysis of persons living with HIV in Tennessee. Collaborators: Aima Ahonkhai, Kate Clouse, Jessica Perkins, Bryan Shepard, Meredith Brantley. 
Student movement density with space-time cube model of person student movement paths from a two week period in Fall 2020. Collaborators: Rogers Hall, Ben Rydall Shapiro. 
Geographic Variation in Access to Cardiac Rehabilitation, published June 2023. Collaborators: Meredith Duncan, Natalie Robbins, Steven Wernke, Robert Greevy Jr., Sandra Jackson, Alexis Beatty, Randal Thomas, Mary Whooley, Matthew Freiberg, Justin Bachmann.
Services
Geospatial modeling and analysis
- Photogrammetry
Interactive geospatial applications
Land survey (total station/GNSS)
Ground Penetrating Radar
- Magnetometry
Cartographic Consultation & Production
Recent VISR Publications and Presentations
Ahonkhai, A.A., Bian, A., Robbins, N., Maurer, L., Clouse, K., Pierce, L., Perkins, J. M., Wernke, S.A., Shepherd, B., Brantley, M.R., (2023). Characterizing Residential Mobility Among People Living With HIV in Tennessee and its Impact on HIV Care Outcomes. AIDS. DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003778.
Duncan, M. S., Robbins, N., Wernke, S. A., Greevy, R. A., Jr, Jackson, S. L., Beatty, A. L., Thomas, R. J., Whooley, M. A., Freiberg, M. S., & Bachmann, J. M. (2023). Geographic Variation in Access to Cardiac Rehabilitation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 81(11), 1049–1060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.01.016.
Johnson, S.C., Robbins, N., (2023, October). Geophysical Investigations with Open Source Software. Oral presentation for FOSS4G NA annual conference, Baltimore, MD.
Meet the Team!
From Left to Right: Steve Wernke, James Zimmer-Dauphinee, Natalie Robbins, Samantha Turley, Juliette Lovell
Request a Consultation & Quote
Contact Natalie Robbins, VISR Manager:
(615) 343-1893
Copyright 2023. Vanderbilt University.