The University of Rhode Island is authorized and empowered to establish in connection with the university and within the department of natural resource sciences a geographic information system laboratory with suitable facilities for developing and maintaining a level of scientific and technical expertise in the use of computer technology in the management of land related natural resources. This will include maintaining a statewide data base of land related economic, physical, cultural, and natural resources and providing for controlled access of this database to the university community, other state, municipal, and federal departments and agencies, and the general public. The university shall, to the extent that facilities are available, offer courses for the training of students and the general public in methods and applications utilizing geographic information systems and shall perform applications research projects involving this technology at this laboratory. The university shall cooperate with and provide technical assistance to the division of planning of the department of administration in the management of the statewide geographic information system and shall advise other state, municipal, and federal departments and agencies and the general public in its use.