Part of the Information Technology mission is to “participate in, support and enhance research.” eCorridors is comprised of personnel whose competencies and credentials result from their engagement in university research efforts. Staff understand the technical, social, and political implications of access to advanced technologies. Our depth of knowledge enables us to contribute at all levels to technology policy analysis and development in network infrastructure deployment, security, quality of service, ecommerce, and the rights of individuals and municipalities. Our research specialties include spatial analysis and public and private strategic alliances as well as the regulatory and policy issues associated with advanced network infrastructure, ecommerce, fiber and wireless technologies, and economic development best practices.
Research support activities in recent years include:

• Regional voice interoperability demonstration for emergency communications and disaster recovery
• The development and proof-of-concept for an enterprise GIS information system and associated database management
• The completion and publication in 2003 of a series of 11 studies on aspects associated with broadband infrastructure for economic development for the tobacco regions of Virginia (Strategic Technology Infrastructure for Regional Competitiveness in the Network Economy)