Geospatial artificial intelligence pathways for technician education and workforce development

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded San Bernardino Valley College one million dollars on October 1, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to develop and implement a geospatial artificial intelligence technician education pathway.

The project will design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive GeoAI technician education pathway by developing two new courses—Introduction to Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Geospatial Artificial Intelligence—and creating stackable credentials including a new GeoAI certificate and an enhanced GIS Associate degree. San Bernardino Valley College will partner with the University of Redlands, industry partners including a global industry leader, and regional K–12 districts to create student pathways linking high school, community college, and university education. The project incorporates dual-enrollment opportunities, hands-on learning environments, and co-development with industry to prepare next-generation geospatial technicians with competencies in GeoAI for applications in urban planning, infrastructure development, natural resource management, and emergency response. Expected outcomes include increased student participation in and completion of GIS programs, improved workforce readiness, and nationally replicable curricula.

Performance runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029, at San Bernardino, California.

Abstract

This project will advance the national interest by strengthening the nation's skilled technical workforce in geospatial technologies, supporting economic competitiveness, public safety, environmental resilience, and national security. The project will prepare next-generation geospatial technicians with competencies in geospatial artificial intelligence (geoai), an area of growing importance across industries such as urban planning, infrastructure development, natural resource management, and emergency response. The project will create a nationally replicable pathway that enables GIS technicians to build advanced data analytics and AI skills through stackable credentials, including a new geoai certificate and an enhanced GIS associate degree. Led by SAN bernardino valley college in partnership with the university of redlands, industry partners, and regional k?12 districts, the project will create student pathways linking high school, community college, and university education. Innovative aspects include CO-development with a global industry leader, hands-on geoai learning environments, and integrated dual-enrollment opportunities. Expected outcomes include increased student participation in and completion of GIS programs, improved workforce readiness, and curricula that can be adopted nationwide. The project will advance understanding of how to effectively integrate AI into technician education and expand access to high-demand technical careers. The goal of the project is to design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive geoai technician education pathway that aligns with evolving workforce needs. The project will convene cross-sector partners to define geoai competencies, develop and pilot two new courses (introduction to geospatial artificial intelligence and advanced geospatial artificial intelligence), and embed applied, hands-on learning experiences into the curriculum. The project will strengthen instructional capacity through faculty development, a geoai summer bridge program, and access to industry-standard technologies. External evaluation will ensure rigor and inform continuous improvement. A mixed-methods approach will be used to investigate conditions under which improved student learning and persistence occur, including assessment of student outcomes, program effectiveness, and pathway progression. Engagement with k?12 systems, higher education institutions, and industry partners will support integrating AI into technician education, as well as scalability. The curricula, evaluation findings, and implementation models will be disseminated through ATE and GIS professional networks. This project is funded by the advanced technological education program, which focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.