Resources
GIS Student Newsletter Archive
GIS Library Support
GIS Librarian
The GIS Librarian (Center for Digital Scholarship) provides GIS consultation and outreach, manages the GIS Hub, participates in the BTAA Geospatial Information Network, and teaches two credit-bearing courses per year in the Social Sciences Division on geospatial information.
Rob Shepard, GIS Librarian
rcshepard@uchicago.edu
The Map Collection
The Map Collection is currently open to faculty and students Mon-Fri from 1-5PM. No appointments are necessary. Map scans can be requested by using the ‘Scan and Deliver’ link at the bottom of map catalog records. Sam Brown, Map Collection Assistant, is available to help select maps from the collection for viewing and scanning.
Library Guides
- The Library Guide for Geographical Sciences link to journals and books are available as e-resources though the library catalog and databases like Web of Science and Scopus to find peer reviewed articles that are available online
- The Library Guide for Spatial Data Resources includes resources for finding spatial data on the web and in the library, and provides guidelines for citing spatial data.
Additional Resources
- Big 10 Academic Alliance Geoportal
- Library Special Collections (including Maps)
Understanding Non-Text Plagiarism
- Writing Code and plagiarism (from MIT’s handbook)
- What Is Programming Plagiarism and Why Is It On the Rise (specifically refers to GitHub)
For specific references at UChicago
- CMSC 15400’s academic honesty policy
- CMSC 12100’s academic honesty policy (specifically refers to GitHub)
RSOs
Tobler Society
The Tobler Society seeks to bring together students’ curiosity about spatial data science and expand the incorporation of spatial thinking into different branches of research, as well as harnessing that growing knowledge for social good. Throughout the year, we’ll hold regular tutorials on geographic information systems (GIS), with a focus on open source technologies, and how to apply spatial analysis techniques. Several times a year, we’ll host “mapathons” through YouthMappers’ humanitarian projects.
UCGeo
The University of Chicago Geographic Studies Club (UCGEO) is a general-interest student-led group for undergraduate students to explore the world from the classroom by learning geography and geographic information science through a rich program of engaging activities.
Technology Support
Campus Virtual Private Network
This is software that creates a secure connection to the campus network, so you appear to be on campus when connecting to Library and other University resources. The CVPN is the most complicated of these tools to set up, but generally the most reliable for accessing university resources. Learn more about accessing the CVPN on the Information Technology Services website.
ProxyIt
ProxyIt is a browser tool that lets you add the proxy server information to a web site with a click. This will work for many resources, but it does not guarantee access. For example, this method will fail where the Library has access to a journal’s archive in JSTOR rather than the publisher web site. Learn how to download ProxyIt on the library’s website.
GIS Software
Software is available to students through remote access through vLab (UChicago Virtual Lab) and ArcGIS Online. Individual access to GIS software is immediately available through open source applications like QGIS and GeoDa, or purchase via the Research Computing Center. ArcGIS Online is a particularly user and classroom friendly option for beginners and those looking to work collaboratively in groups.