Spatial Computing Lab
The Geography and Environmental Studies Spatial Computing Lab (SCL) is located in Room 106, in Bandelier East Hall (which is building number 008 on the main campus map). For the Spring 2024 semester, the spatial computing lab will be open weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and can be accessed using either of the buildings entrance doors (it's closest to the buildings East entrance).
There are general use/open lab hours each day (designated in Green) which can be viewed by clicking here (.pdf). In order to ensure the health and safety of the labs numerous users we request that all lab patrons adhere to the labs usage guidelines which can be viewed by clicking here (.pdf).
Do you need assistance with completing your GIS homework or help with utilizing the GIS software in the lab?
If so, then help is available to you throughout the Spring/Fall semesters. All you need to do is come into the lab during it's open availability hours listed below during which TA's office hours are hosted or during the GIScience Help support hours displayed below.
TA’s Office Hours & Locations
Yujian Lu – Mon. 10am-11am & Friday 11am-12pm – Location: In Lab (Room #106)
Rebecca Hobart – Friday 3pm-5pm – Location: In Lab (Room #106)
Katie Slack – Thurs 3:30pm-4:30pm & Friday 1:30pm-2:30pm – Location: In Lab (Room #106)
Sarigai Sarigai –Mon. 12pm-1pm & Wed. 12pm-1pm – Location: In Lab (Room #106)
Cameron Blumhardt – Mon. 12m-2pm – Location: Bandelier East 111A
Blair Mirka – After her class, by appointment
Rowan Converse – Tues. & Thurs. 1pm-2pm – Location: PAIS 2140
Aaron Canter – Wed. 9am-11am – Location: Bandelier East 111A (bad weather) or Lobo Gardens (good weather)
Kingsley Oppong - Thurs. 10:30am-12:30pm – Location: Bandelier East 111A
GIScience Software Usage - Help & Support
Eric Brannen – Wed. 12pm-2pm & Friday 12pm-4pm – Location: In Lab (Room #106)
In addition to using the SCL on campus you can also access several of our lab systems software applications through UNM's remote system called Lobo Virtual Desktop.
Lobo Virtual Desktop (https://lobovirtualdesktop.unm.edu/) allows you 24-hour, secure access to UNM computer applications from your personal computer or other web-enabled devices. You do not need to install the applications on your personal device, and you do not need to purchase specialized hardware.
In order to use the virtual desktop, you must have internet access and utilize Microsoft Remote Dekstop to access it. In addition, to get the best performance you will need to use a high speed internet. If you are using a lower-speed connection you may experience significant delays when using many of Lobo Virtual Desktop applications; if you are using a Macintosh computer, some applications will not function correctly.
The Lobo Virtual Desktop enables you to run common and specialized software used in geography, such as Adobe Creative Cloud Programs, ArcGIS, Maxon Microsoft Office Programs, PTC Creo, R 4.2.1, R Studio, and SPSS, with very minimal setup.
User guides to accessing and using the Lobo Virtual Desktop can be viewed here.
In addition to the campus wide programs available on Lobo Virtual Desktop the GES department has it's own special remote environment available through Lobo Virtual Desktop which contains additional specific GIS software (i.e., ENVI, QGIS). To gain access to this special environment (named "GES Desktops") please email your instructor/advisor requesting to be granted access to it. After which once you have been granted access to the environment you'll be able to conduct GIS work utilizing additional GIS software not available through Lobo Virtual Desktop.
