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The Regional Analysis Laboratory (REGAL) was a collaborative research group within the Department of Geography, San Diego State University. REGAL research focuses on the development and application of state of the art open source tools in the areas of regional science, economic geography, geocomputation and geovisualization. REGAL’s computational resources reside in the Center for Earth Systems Analysis Research (CESAR).

REGAL is home to the software project STARS: Space-Time Analysis of Regional Systems. An open source package written in Python, STARS is designed to support exploratory analysis of data having both spatial and temporal dimensions.

What is a analytical laboratory?

An analytical laboratory is a facility where samples of various materials are analyzed to determine their chemical, physical, or biological properties. These laboratories play a crucial role in various fields, including:

  • Research and development: Identifying the properties of new materials, testing the efficacy of drugs, and understanding the mechanisms of biological processes.
  • Quality control: Ensuring that products meet specific standards for safety, purity, and performance.
  • Environmental monitoring: Testing air, water, and soil for pollutants and contaminants.
  • Forensics: Analyzing evidence from crime scenes to identify suspects and reconstruct events.

There are many different types of analytical laboratories, each specializing in a particular type of analysis. Some common types of laboratories include:

  • Chemical laboratories: Analyze the chemical composition of materials.
  • Biochemical laboratories: Analyze biological materials such as blood, tissue, and DNA.
  • Microbiological laboratories: Analyze microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
  • Environmental laboratories: Analyze environmental samples such as air, water, and soil.
  • Food laboratories: Analyze food products for safety, quality, and composition.

Analytical laboratories typically use a variety of sophisticated instruments and techniques to analyze samples. Some common techniques include:

  • Spectroscopy: Measures the interaction of light with matter to identify the elements and compounds present in a sample.
  • Chromatography: Separates the components of a mixture based on their physical properties.
  • Mass spectrometry: Measures the mass of individual atoms and molecules to identify their identity and abundance.
  • Microscopy: Examines samples under a microscope to identify their structure and composition.

The specific techniques used in an analytical laboratory will depend on the type of sample being analyzed and the information that is being sought.



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