SPARS Laboratory Policy Statement: Rules and Regulations

Last Update: 01/31/06

    Rules Overview

        Do not allow anyone to use your computer account.
        Do not give out door codes to unauthorized people.
        Do not install software on any machine. All software installs are done by department employees.
        Unless an emergency, don't save work to the local PC drives. 

    Introduction

    The Spatial Analysis and Remote Sensing Laboratory (SPARS) is part of the Department of Geography. Its purpose is to provide a research and educational facility to faculty and students in the areas of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and image processing, automated cartography, statistics and analysis and other quantitative methods.

    

    The SPARS laboratory is administered by the Director who is supported by room coordinators and laboratory assistants. The department chairperson has supervisory control over the laboratory's operation.

 

    The laboratory offers considerable computer hardware and software to support users. Composed of a gigabit local-area and wide-area network, the LAN is anchored by two Sun Microsystems SPARCserver E250 fileservers with more than 4-terrabytes of disk storage. The Department features two new (as of fall 2004) PC labs containing 40 new Dell PCs.

 

    To use the laboratory's computers you need permission and an account. See your professor or the Director of the SPARS Lab for information about how to gain access to the laboratory's resources.

1. Usage.

Only students, faculty, staff and researchers associated with Geography Department-related programs are permitted to use the facilities of the SPARS Laboratory. An application for an account is made to the Director of the SPARS Laboratory. Accounts are subject to review at the beginning of the fall, spring and summer semesters and may be closed as a result of this review.

 

The facilities are for course-, project- and Hunter-related activities and for faculty and graduate student research projects. They are not for personal use. To do so is against CUNY and state regulations. Use of the SPARS Laboratory facilities is with the approval of the Director. Any person who allows an outsider use of her or his account without the permission of the Director, may lose all laboratory privileges.

2. Obtaining an Account.

To obtain a computer account on the department's network, you must file a User Account Request Form. Accounts are opened for those individuals registered in GTECH 201 or who can demonstrate a level of competency expected of a person who has successfully completed GTECH 201, or have special permission of the Director of the SPARS Laboratory.

A valid email account must be provided to be added to the Department's email list used for sending out information relating to Geography.

3. Software.

Personal software is not permitted to be installed on any machine in the department unless permission is obtained from the Geography Department Computer Lab Committee. This includes programs such as Napster and audio/video playback programs.

Certain laboratories are designated to run selected software because of limited site licenses, equipment configuration and specific use designations.
 

4. Conduct.

The laboratories must be kept neat, clean, secure and quiet at all times. There is to be no eating, drinking or smoking at the computer stations. You may eat/drink in the 1090B-1 lab at the center tables. Any music that is played must not be heard beyond your workstation. Socializing must be kept at a minimum as it can disturb others working in the laboratory. The telephones are for college-related business only. When you are through working, clean up after yourself, return books, manuals and maps to their proper home and push in your chair. In room 1090B the blue chairs should be returned to the center tables and not left at workstations.

5. Security.

Doors must be kept closed. Codes for the door locks must not be given to people who are not associated with our programs, nor should keys be exchanged without informing the Department of this action. You are financially liable for keys issued in your name. Door lock codes are changed at random intervals without advance notice.

You may not share your account with anyone.

Passwords are the first line of security for the department's network. You must choose your password according to the following rules:

1-passwords must be 6-8 characters long.
2-passwords must contain at least one upper-case letter, one lowercase letter and one number.
3-names or words are not allowed. Compound words are ok.

6. Disk Quotas.

All user accounts have a soft limit of 400MB and a hard limit of 450MB. Users may exceed their soft limit for up to five days. On the fifth day your account will be turned off automatically. To reactivate your account you must see the Director of the SPARS Laboratory. At no time can you exceed your hard limit. If you try to save a file that exceeds your hard limit you will be denied permission.

 

Requests for additional disk space may be made to the Director of the SPARS lab.

7. Lab Assistance.

Students enrolled in classes requiring use of the department's computers who have questions about the software used in that class, should direct their questions to the class instructor or teaching assistant.

8. Scratch Disk.

There is a 17.0G-Byte scratch partition located at /scratch. Anyone may use this partition as a temporary workspace. When using this disk, create a directory that is your user name and put all files and directories in there. This disk will be automatically wiped clean periodically. Users will be notified via email.

9. System Backups.

UNIX-based hard disks are backed up two times a week, usually Monday and Thursday. PC-based hard disks are NOT backed up at any time.

10. Use of Peripheral Equipment.

Use of the department's peripherals is restricted to those who have been approved by the Geography Department Computer Lab Committee. Hardcopy output is monitored. The costs of bond paper, color printer paper and ink cartridges are expensive. Excessive use will result first in a warning and then a restriction of access.

11. Non-compliance.

Non-compliance with the rules will result in the suspension of accounts.