Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services (RS&GIS) began as the Remote Sensing Project in 1972 through a grant from NASA to study land cover use change from satellite imagery. Early staff, including Bill Enslin, Dr. David Lusch and Dr. William Hudson were instrumental in promoting geospatial education and research in Michigan. In our early days we were known for our in-house GIS program called CMAP, which predated current industry-leading GIS software, and our expertise in land cover interpretation and analysis. Over the years we have evolved along with the industry into a full-service geospatial unit servicing clients both within and outside of Michigan State University, including researchers, local/State/Federal government, not-for-profits and the private sector. Our technical staff, which include both geospatial analysts and application developers, focus on solving geospatial problems across various industries, including engineering, agriculture, transportation, natural resources, health care, environmental contamination, transportation, climate and more. This ability to work in nearly any industry sets us apart from our peers and allows our staff to work in a highly creative and rewarding environment.
Phillipe Wernette, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences
Director, RS&GIS
pwernett@msu.edu; 517.432.0446
Twelve years after working for RS&GIS as a student GIS technician while in graduate school, Phil re-joins the group in 2025 as its Director. Phil specializes in applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to solve geospatial problems, particularly those focused on coastal geomorphology and the Great Lakes. His technical expertise ranges from application and algorithm development, to GIS data development, to complex modeling of the environment. Prior to RS&GIS, he served as a postdoctoral fellow both the University of Windsor and Laval University and then moved on to become a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow and research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey while serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Windsor. His most recent experience was as a research scientist at the Michigan Technological University Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC).
Robert Goodwin, RPIC, GISP
Associate Director / Senior Geospatial Analyst
goodwinr@msu.edu; 517.432.0879
Bob Goodwin began his geospatial career in 1998 after a stint working at the U.S. Forest Service. His is a certified GIS professional (GISP), certificated remote pilot in command (RPIC) and unabashed storyteller. He has served in nearly every role at RS&GIS, including student assistant, GIS technician, analyst, manager and director. Along with Dr. David Lusch and Joe Welsh, Bob founded the program's Drone program in 2013. Bob is also the lead trainer and has taught GIS software, drone and land cover/use mapping courses to over 2,000 industry professionals throughout his career. He currently serves as the academic representative on the State of Michigan GIS Advisory Group, which advises the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) Center for Shared Solutions (CSS).
Dylan Hoffner
Lead Web Developer
hoffnerd@msu.edu; 517.432.0604
Dylan Hoffner joined RS&GIS in January 2018. That same year he started helping Enviroweather build their new website in ReactJS. Unknowingly, he started a shift in the way sites are developed here at RS&GIS. Nicknamed "Dynamic Dylan," he has always focused on developing tools, features, components in a dynamic way so that it can be used by any project. In early 2022, he took on the role of being the Lead Web Developer, growing a new team of developers. Dylan makes teaching his team a core piece of his work. With a focus on the NextJS web framework, the RS&GIS web developers have now shaped a way forward that allows RS&GIS to develop sites and services swiftly, in an organized manner. In his free time, Dylan likes to do game development, write stories, and keep up to date with the programming world.
Joseph Welsh, RPIC, GISP
Geospatial Analyst / Web Mapping App Developer / Drone Pilot
Joe Welsh has been a full time analyst with RS&GIS since 2012 and serves as our lead web GIS developer, primarily working with ArcGIS Experience Builder. He is a certified GIS Professional whose skills include web application development, GIS data development, drone data collection, database development and more. As is clear from his picture, he is a great lover of the outdoors.
Nicholas Weil, RPIC, GISP
Geospatial Analyst / Enterprise GIS Administrator / Drone Pilot
Nick Weil is a GIS Analyst at RS&GIS with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from MSU and an M.S. in Natural Resource Management from GVSU. Nick Weil began at RS&GIS as a student assistant in 2007 working in the Aerial Imagery Archive. Shortly after completing his graduate degree, he returned to RS&GIS as a full-time staff member. Nick has worked on a wide variety of projects but is particularly interested in geospatial modeling and GIS and Remote Sensing for Ag and Natural Resource applications. Nick is also the group's Enterprise GIS administrator where he is responsible for deploying and managing the suite of ESRI Enterprise software. In his spare time, Nick also acts as a remote pilot in command (RPIC) and manages the historic Aerial Imagery Archive.
Ava Gawel, RPIC
Geospatial Analyst / Lead Drone Pilot
Ava Gawel started with RS&GIS in 2022. A graduate of the Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Ava specializes in drone data acquisition and processing, geospatial education materials development and GIS data development.
Charles Kellogg, BCS
Developer
Charles joined RS&GIS in 2022 as a student developer and continued working for the group after he graduated from Michigan State in 2023. He became a permanent developer with RS&GIS in early 2025. His primary skills include web application development with Next.js and programming with JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and Lua. In his free time he enjoys grappling and adjusting his Linux setup.
Rita Martin
Fiscal Officer / Research Administrator
Rita Martin joined RS&GIS in 2025 as our financial officer and research administrator. Rita is responsible for managing the group's finances, helping develop and route proposals, and find new research opportunities. She brings a wealth of experience from other units across Michigan State University over the years and we are excited to have her.
Michele Weil
Office Assistant
Michele Weil began working at RS&GIS in 2019. Michele is responsible for the group's time tracking management as well as handling training course registration and class setup. In addition, she handles credit card payment processing and storefront configuration. Michele also assists with special projects as needed and is an occasional cat wrangler. In her free time Michele enjoys gardening and reading.
Tamsyn Mihalus
Fiscal Officer / Training Administrator
Tamsyn Mihalus began working at MSU in 1972. She has served many roles over the years but was our fiscal officer for over two decades. She is a contracts and grants specialist. Tamsyn retired from RS&GIS and MSU in 2025.