This chapter researches whether a link exists between public top‐tier institutions and their host municipalities. The study then researches whether the same link exists in the state of Texas's “Emerging Universities.”

Geographic information systems (GIS) are a major component of the geospatial sciences, which are also composed of geostatistical analysis, remote sensing, and global positional satellite systems. These systems can be integrated into GIS for georeferencing, pattern analysis, visualization, and understanding spatial concepts that transcend conventional academic disciplines. There are many elegant definitions of GIS, and the correct uses of it can assist analysts and decision makers in their quest to answer spatial questions and issues (Aitken and Michel, 2007;Chrisman, 1999;Teodorescu, 2003). Cutter (2003) contends that GIS can be classified as "1. spatial data acquisition and integration; 2. distributing computing; 3. dynamic representation of physical and human processes; 4. cognition of geographic information; 5. interoperability; 6. scale, spatial analysis, and uncertainty; 7. decision support systems" (p. 442). The tragedies of September 11, 2001, led many governments, quasi-governmental entities, and private businesses to seriously consider the use of GIS to assess their infrastructure, attempt to identify and protect assets, integrate emergency operation centers with GIS, and use GIS in emergency response systems (Murchison, 2003). Higher educational institutions have lagged behind in their support efforts in using GIS for their homeland security and emergency management needs. Many of the reasons for this lag are discussed in This chapter describes how data derived from geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to reinforce and integrate emergency operation plans at institutions of higher learning. 75