Research Map Notes

This page describes the purpose and content of the research map and provides instructions on how to use its search features.

Introduction

This map provides information on current research projects of the University of Maine’s College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture. The map is designed to serve as a resource for interested citizens, state and local leaders, public agencies, university stakeholders, and UMaine faculty, students, and administrators. Additional information about the college’s research programs can be found on its Research & Development website.

This is a map of current research activity, and it includes both campus-based and off-campus projects. Projects are only listed with an off-campus location when there is extended research activity at that location. Please recognize that many projects listed as campus-based also have connections to businesses and communities across Maine as noted in their project descriptions. A map of business and community connections will be created at a later date.

Faculty members in the college also lead or collaborate on research that addresses issues of national and international significance. This work takes faculty to research locations across the nation and globe. Projects at international locations or in other states are presented on the map as part of the listings for the Orono campus. A map of national and global research activities will be created at a later date.

Map users can search the map by general research topic, city or town, legislative district, project title, key words, and project director. Map users can also identify projects that are collaborative efforts with state and federal agencies or private organizations. And users can identify research that is supported by the state’s Maine Economic Improvement Fund.

The map is not a complete database of all research projects in the college. Emphasis is on larger projects in active phases of field or laboratory work. All listed projects are currently in progress and were either newly initiated or active in the field or laboratory within the past year.

The research map was released on June 13,2014. It is still in its development phase with projects being added to the map database. As of June 13, 2014,the map included the research of approximately 30% of the college faculty and a total of 86 projects. We are continually exploring ways to improve the map and website. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please send comments to maes2@maine.edu.

You can find additional information on the map, its contents, and search functions below.

Primary Map Controls

“Return to map with all projects” button – Click on this button to return to the original map screen at any point.
“Re-expand/Re-center map” button – Click on this button when you want to return to the original map position after using the zoom tool or after a map search has changed the map scale.
Extended Markers – Many project markers are hidden on the full map because of the large size of markers relative to the map scale. Zooming in on a location will separate overlapping markers. Clicking on overlapping markers will cause them to separate for easy access.

Avoid use of the back or forward buttons on your browser when using the map.

Search Options

The map has a number of search functions to help users locate research projects of interest. Search functions can only be used independently; searches based on combinations of attributes are not possible. Below are descriptions of search options.

Research area – Map users can select all projects in a general research area, such as marine sciences or agriculture, by clicking on the corresponding checkbox.
Technology sectors – Map users can select research projects in specific technology sectors using a drop-down menu. The sector choices are the designated research areas of the Maine Economic Improvement Fund (MEIF), a state appropriation that supports university-based research. The map can also be searched for projects supported by MEIF funding.
Town – Map users can search for research projects occurring in a town or city from the drop-down menu.
Legislative Districts – Map users can search for research projects occurring in a house or senate district by selecting district numbers in a drop down menu. When a district boundary splits towns, all projects for those towns are listed for both districts.
Campus and Off-Campus Facilities – Clicking on the icon for an off-campus research center provides access to descriptions of research projects based at that location. Clicking on the icon for the UMaine campus provides access to descriptions of college research projects based at the Orono campus or at national or international locations.
Keywords or Phrases – Map users can search for projects using words or phrases in the project titles and descriptions or investigator names. Users can also use this function to identify projects involving collaboration with federal or state agencies by entering the name of the agency in the textbox. UMaine users also can find projects associated with the college’s academic units and UMaine’s research centers by searching on the unit or center name.

Project Locations and Mapping

This is an activity-based map. Projects with significant off-campus research activity are mapped at their off-campus locations. New research projects (off-campus sites not established) or projects with primary activity at the UMaine campus in Orono are listed as campus-based. Projects with primary activity at off-campus college research centers are mapped at those locations. Note that research projects in the Gulf of Maine often occur over relative large areas around the indicated map location.

Projects are only mapped at an off-campus location where there is extended activity by researchers on-site. This off-campus work may have local significance because it brings researchers and activity to an area or community for an extended period of time and may generate information that is useful to the local community. Projects with brief or one-time visits to off-campus sites are listed as campus-based projects. Note that, while there may be exceptions, surveys and similar research activities are listed as campus-based projects.

Some research projects have study sites in several parts of the state. For these projects, the map displays a maximum of one location per township.

Exact locations of research sites are not accessible on the map. Project locations are randomly placed within towns and the zoom tool is limited to a low level of resolution.

More on Projects

To be included on the map, research projects must have significant research activity and be new or relatively current. Therefore, the map does not include pilot or short-term projects, small research activities, or outreach activities. Projects are displayed on the map for a maximum of one year after the major “field or laboratory phase” of the project is completed. Note that the field or laboratory phase of a research project is typically followed by a significant period of analyses and report writing.

To Learn More about Research Projects

Names and contact information for project directors are provided with each project description.