Resources: Software, Laboratories, Data
University-wide
Arizona State University's University Technology Office manages a site license for ESRI software, including ArcGIS ArcInfo-level desktop software, ArcPad, Image Server, ArcIMS, ArcSDE, and ArcGIS Server Enterprise. The GeoDa Center for Geospatial Analysis and Computation develops and distributes and uses diverse open-source GIS software, including GeoDa, STARS and R-Geo. Also available campus-wide are OpenOSX GRASS GIS and Saga GIS.
Students can run ArcGIS 9.2 ArcGIS 9.3 and as Saga GIS from any internet-connected computer, by means of a web-based Citrix interface.
Unit-based laboratories
Laboratories that serve both research and teaching can be found in the following academic units and research centers:
Academic Units
- School of Geographical Sciences
- School of Life Sciences
- School of Planning
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change
- School of Social and Family Dynamics
- School of Computing and Informatics
- School of Sustainability
- School of Earth and Space Exploration
- Department of Applied Biological Sciences at ASU Polytechnic
Centers, Institutes, and Libraries
In addition to the software available university-wide, these laboratories provide access to diverse software including IDRISI, ERDAS, ENVI, and Intergraph products.
Data resources
At present, the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) provides geospatial data to the ASU community through a network-accessible data repository. The collection focuses on digital geospatial data important to Arizona and the southwest U.S., including the U.S. Mexico trans-border region. In addition, the University's central technology unit, the University Technology Office, provides access to ESRI's national and international data sets, including global elevation and image data.
An ASU Geospatial Digital Library, a web portal currently being developed at the ASU Libraries, will replace the ISSR portal. As development continues, it will add search functionality and facilitate collection and preservation of geospatial resources in support of ASU's teaching, research and scholarly activities.
