GIS & Data Lab

The GIS & Data Lab, housed on the 1st floor of Rotch Library (7-238), is available for use during Rotch’s operating hours. Computers and in-person help is available for the MIT Community only. See Data Services for more info on how to get help.

Using the lab

Valid MIT ID required for access.
The lab can be used for group study, but there are no private study rooms.
The lab may occasionally be reserved in part or full for workshops. Information on closures for workshops will be posted on our GIS guide.

Computers

The GIS & Data Lab is open to all MIT community members. A reservation is required if you will be using a computer remotely.

Computers

Computers: 16 are available in the Lab and 1 in the front alcove. In-person access is available during Rotch’s operating hours, MIT ID required. MIT Athena (kerberos) is required for login on all computers.
High performance computers:
- Computers #1-8:
  - Alienware Aurora R8
  - Processor: 9th gen Intel Core i7-9700K: 8 cores; 8 threads; 3.60-4.90 GHz
  - GPU: RTX2080Ti; Turing architecture with 4352 CUDA cores and 7.5 compute capability; 11GB GDDR6
  - RAM: 64GB
- Computers #9-16:
  - Alienware Aurora R15
  - Processor: 13th gen Intel Core i9-13900F: 24 cores (8 performance, 16 efficient); 32 threads; 2.00-5.60 GHz
  - GPU: RTX4090; Ada Lovelace architecture with 16384 CUDA cores and 8.9 compute capability; 24GB GDDR6
  - RAM: 64GB, 2x32GB, DDR5, 4800MHz
  - Drives: 1TB NVMe M.2 PCle SSD (Boot); 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s (Storage)
- Computer #17 (in the alcove):
  - Alienware Aurora R7

Monitors

Free-standing monitors with a variety of connectors that you can use with your own laptop, tablet, etc.

27″ monitors: 4 available — 2 at tables and 2 at desks in open cubes
48″ monitors: 4 available — 1 at each of the computer clusters
75″ monitor: 1 available in the front alcove

Data storage

Upon logging off, all files will be cleared. For temporary data storage, utilize the shared drives, accessible via the File Explorer path: This PC > UserData(D:) > UserData > and create a folder using your kerberos name (this allows staff to contact you). Mislabeled folders will be deleted. The GIS & Data lab is not an archive and data could be deleted at any time; be sure to properly manage and back up your data. For help with data management or storage, contact Data Management Services.

Power settings

Computers should never be shut down to allow for shared drive access at all times (locking of machines is allowed during remote access only).

Remote access

GIS & Data Lab computers can be used remotely during the following times:

Weekends (6pm Friday – 10am Monday)
When Rotch Library is closed for an extended period of time (holidays, Institute breaks, etc.)
While running an analysis, process, etc. that takes longer than 1 day
If a personal circumstance prevents you from coming to the lab in person (sickness, extended remote working arrangement, etc.)

To use a computer remotely, you MUST email gishelp@mit.edu to schedule a reservation BEFORE beginning your work.

Use policies

Use of installed software on the computers takes priority over other uses of the machines. See full list of software below.
A reservation is required if you will not be using a computer in-person. Reservations cannot be made for more than 1 week, but can be renewed if a computer is available.
If you do not renew a reservation the computer will be re-started so that others may use it.
GIS staff are not responsible for monitoring the computer. We will place a sign on computers that are being used remotely. But, the GIS & Data lab is open to all MIT community members and computers could accidentally get re-started or unplugged.

Software

The following software is installed on all computers unless otherwise indicated. Use of licensed software is restricted to members of the MIT community for the purposes of research, education, and scholarship. Additional software may be requested pending relevance, cost, and licensing terms by emailing gishelp@mit.edu.

GIS & mapping software

ArcGIS Pro
- ESRI Business Analyst with 2023 data*
- ArcGIS StreetMap Premium North America 2023*
CityEngine
Google Earth
GeoDa
QGIS

*If you have an ArcGIS account created prior to June 2023 you may not have these licenses. Contact GIS Services and we’ll add them to your account.

Imagery & visualization software

Adobe Acrobat, Illustrator & Photoshop (sign in with your MIT Adobe ID)
AutoCAD
- Civil 3D
Drone2Map (Contact GIS Services for an Advanced license. Standard licenses are included with every ArcGIS account.*)
Fusion 360
Rhino 7
SolidWorks

*If you have an ArcGIS account created prior to June 2023 you may not have these licenses. Contact GIS Services and we’ll add them to your account.

Data analysis software

Anaconda python (to open Jupyter Lab, run ‘python -m jupyterlab’ from an Anaconda prompt)
Mathematica
MATLAB
NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit (computers #13 – 16)
R & RStudio

Terms of use

Use of licensed software is restricted to members of the MIT community for the purposes of research, education, and scholarship. Under MIT’s licenses, users generally may not:

redistribute the software or materials or permit use to anyone other than a member of the MIT community.
remove, obscure, or modify any copyright or other notices included in the software or materials.
use the software or materials for commercial purposes.

Leaving MIT: When a member of the organization terminates affiliation with the organization or a member’s affiliation with the organization is terminated by the organization or a person not affiliated with the organization leaves campus, the member or person must destroy all personal copies of the software or derived data. Users are individually responsible for compliance with these terms.