Geocomputation Laboratory
University of Toronto Mississauga Geocomputation Laboratory
Room 1150, William Davis (South) Building
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
(24 hour/7 day access with UT-card only)
Introduction
The University of Toronto Mississauga has a well-equipped GIS facility. This is comprised of an instructional computer lab with an integrated teaching component. This space is equipped with a thin-client network of 35 computer terminals, industry standard and open source GIS software, and a digital data library.
The lab software includes a wide range of GIS and remote sensing software packages, including the full suite of ESRI GIS products and PCI Geomatica. The lab is committed to always expanding the support of freely available open-source packages, such as GRASS GIS and R Statistical Software.
The lab, the hardware, the software, and the GIS staff are available to the Department of Geography faculty, researchers, and staff for both teaching and research projects. The lab is also supported with data and references from the GIS & Data Library at the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre.
It is asked that all users visit the link to the Department of Geography's Computing Agreement & Policy and abide by and respect both its letter and its spirit.
Our Mission
The Geo-Computation lab will meet the specialized needs for instruction in Geographic Information Systems/Sciences and provide lecturers, researchers and students with the technology to effectively pursue research and study in the areas of Geographic Computing.
Teaching Resources
The lab is available as a teaching facility, and teaching remains a fundamental part of our mission. A suite of GIS courses are offered in the lab through the Departments of Geography, and the Programs in Environment. In addition to these semester-long traditional courses, Dept. of Geography faculty members use the lab to teach individual units of other courses. The lab is also periodically used to teach workshops and seminars.
Lab Schedule (Fall/Winter 2011)
Please refer to the lab schedule available here in .pdf format (Updated every semester). Most lab sections are held in the intructional component of the lab and access to these facilities during those scheduled hours is limited to the respective course use only. Similarly, please respect the lecture schedules for the teaching component of the lab, as well.
The lab is available to Geography students (enrolled in GIS courses at the Dept.) after hours for course work and assignments. The lab door is equipped with a card swipe that allows students to use their UT-card to gain access to the facility (both, during peak and off-peak hours). If you are registered in GIS courses at the Dept. but have not been able to gain entry into the lab with out UT-card, please see Computing Services help desk in DV/SB 2039 or Sarosh Jamal in DV/SB 3251 (9AM-5PM). Students may, as a last resort, kindly ask to sign in with UofT Mississauga Campus Police and they can be escorted into the lab after hours - Campus Police maintains a list of currently enrolled GIS students.
GIS Software
The Dept. of Georaphy in collaboration with the Licensed Software Office of the University of Toronto participates in and manages an institution wide software license agreement with ESRI, Inc. This agreement allows the installation of ESRI software products for academic use for a set number of users on university owned computers being used by faculty or researchers. For information about ESRI products that are available with this license, go to The Licensed Software Office's website and click on the links for information about ESRI software.
How to use GIS in your Research/Teaching
The Geocomputation lab, hardware, and software are available to Dept. of Geography/Program in Environment faculty, researchers, and staff to support teaching in the GIS affiliated courses. Based on lab availability, prior schedules/agreements may have to be arranged. Contact staff if you need specialized data sets, software, training, or more extensive technical support.
Staff and Technical support
The Geo Computing & IT Specialist is charged with providing technical support for GIS software and solutions at the Department of Geography at UofT Mississauga. Technical support priorities are:
1. Systems programming for the maintenance and upkeep of a highly specialized unix/windows computing environment for teaching and research.
2. Installing and maintaining GIS software and high-precision GPS hardware.
3. Supporting GIS and Remote Sensing teaching, funded research projects.
4. Providing ad hoc technical instruction and fixes for users (staff, faculty and GIS students).
The Geo Computing & IT Specialist, Sarosh Jamal, supervises the day to day operation of the laboratory. He will be happy to answer any questions, or to direct you to someone who can help you, if you need more information about using GIS resources.