The GIS & Data lab, housed on the 1st floor of Rotch Library (7-238), is available for use during Rotch's operating hours. Software and one-on-one help is for use by the MIT Community only.

Get Help

Complete our GIS help request form to ask a question or schedule an appointment (in person or virtual) or stop by during drop-in help hours (no appointment needed).

GIS Drop-In Help:

GIS drop in help is Tuesday through Thursday from 2 pm to 4 pm.  Contact GIS Services for an appointment Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. We can meet in person or over Zoom.

GIS & Data Lab computers are available to use remotely when the lab is closed. The lab is open from 10am-6pm, Monday-Friday, excluding institute holidays. Submit our help request form to make a reservation.

Computer Use

• 16 computers are available in the lab during Rotch's operating hours and require an MIT Athena login. The lab may occasionally be closed for workshops. Information will be posted on our website.
• Computers can be used by members of the MIT community only.
• Use of installed software on the computers takes priority over other uses of the machines.
• Upon logging off, the Documents, Downloads and Desktop will be cleared of files. The UserData/D: drives can be used for temporary data storage. INSIDE the UserData folder, create a folder using your kerberos name.  For help with data management or storage, contact Data Management Services.
• Per the Libraries' Food and Beverage Policy, food and uncovered drinks are not allowed near computer terminals.

Remote Computer Reservations

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 contact GIS Services to schedule a reservation BEFORE beginning your work.

Remote Computer Use Policies

• A reservation is required if you will not be using a computer in-person. Computers that are locked but have no reservation will be restarted.
• Analysis must be for MIT-related work. Projects using software already installed on the computers take priority. 
• Reservations cannot be made for more than 1 week, but it may be possible to extend a reservation with permission from GIS staff if the computer is not needed by others. You may be asked by GIS staff to end an analysis if the machines are needed for other users or classes.
• If you do not renew your reservation the computer will be restarted 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 inadvertently get re-started or unplugged.

The software listed below is installed on all GIS & Data lab computers unless otherwise noted. Software is for use by the MIT Community only.

GIS & Mapping Software

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

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

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

*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.

Software Use Terms

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

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.