Esri Partners with Saint Louis University

Esri, provider of location intelligence, announced that it has entered into an official partnership with Saint Louis University, well-known for its commitment to geospatial research and application.

The university recently founded the Geospatial Institute, also known as GeoSLU. The institute encourages students and staff from a variety of areas to explore ways that GIS technology can provide insight into issues affecting the world today, including climate change, access to food and clean water, and economic stability. Esri will collaborate with Saint Louis University to advance programs focused on these and other areas of global concern.

SLU and Esri are both affiliated with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the nation’s primary resource for geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) for the defense and intelligence communities. Esri has collaborated with the NGA for the last 30 years to broaden the scope and application of GEOINT nationwide. SLU signed a collaborative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the NGA last year to share technical capabilities and research efforts to drive innovation in the geospatial field.

"Saint Louis University is thrilled to partner with such a world-class company like Esri," said Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., president of Saint Louis University. "With SLU’s Geospatial Institute, we are excited to team our expertise with Esri's experience to create security solutions for critical customers like NGA and to mitigate global challenges in a way that promotes human flourishing."

Several projects are under development by SLU and Esri to promote GIS research and awareness. Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president, will participate at Geo-Resolution 2020, a free geospatial collaboration event hosted by SLU and NGA. Esri is also supporting an Ideathon event, known as Saving the Herd with AI, launched by NGA, Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), and SLU. The event encourages competing university groups to use ArcGIS Online to explore automation possibilities to help counter wildlife trafficking activities. The winning group will be recognized at Geo-Resolution.

"This partnership opens up exciting opportunities for collaboration and discovery between Saint Louis University, the NGA, and Esri," said Dangermond. "SLU and the NGA are already coordinating research work to find solutions for areas of common concern such as public safety, health care, and emergency response. Esri is looking forward to joining their efforts and contributing the latest geospatial tools to find answers to some of the most compelling problems facing the world today."