Len Kne
Len Kne is the director of U-Spatial, an internationally recognized center that created a model that serves and drives a fast-growing need for expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and spatial computing across the University. U-Spatial has supported over 2,000 researchers across 150 departments and centers through a help desk, training, application development, database design, consulting, and events. Before joining the University of Minnesota in 2011, Len had leadership roles with GIS and Information Technologies in higher education, construction, government, and non-profit organizations. Kne has extensive experience designing and hosting scalable databases and GIS infrastructure. Technologies include Postgres/PostGIS, Oracle, Esri ArcGIS, MapServer, and GeoServer. He has overseen the development of over 50 web-based mapping applications
Len has served as a principal or co-investigator on several research projects sponsored by regional, state, and the private sectors, including the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Minnesota State Auditor, Minnesota Department of Health, and Esri. He is on the faculty of the Master of Geographic Information Science program and teaches project management, spatial databases, and a variety of graduate seminar classes focusing on the use of technology in GIS. Len is an active member and on the leadership team of the Minnesota Geospatial Council, the coordinating body for the State’s geospatial community. He speaks regularly at national and regional conferences about the importance of integrating spatial thinking into research and teaching.