FAQ
General FAQ
What is the GIS Lab?
The GEO GIS Lab is a teaching and research computer lab in Suite 3135 at 990 W. Fullerton, run by the Department of Geography and GIS. It supports GIS coursework, student research, and departmental projects, and is sometimes used by GIS Assistants during posted tutoring hours. See GIS Lab.
The lab is available by request for collaborative use with other DePaul groups and external partners with an existing arrangement with the department, subject to university policy.
What can DePaul’s ArcGIS license be used for?
Teaching, research, and coursework only. The license does not cover commercial use, consulting, or work performed for an outside organization. Content uploaded to ArcGIS Online should not include personally identifiable information.
Who at DePaul can get an ArcGIS account?
Students enrolled in GIS courses receive access automatically. Accounts are created the first time you sign in with your BlueKey credentials. Faculty, staff, and researchers elsewhere at the university can request access; see “Who do I contact?” FAQ below.
Can faculty, staff, or researchers outside Geography and GIS get access?
Yes, by request. DePaul’s ArcGIS licensing is limited, so accounts are issued as needed rather than automatically, and access is arranged in coordination with Information Services. Email gis@depaul.edu with a short description of your project and what you need.
The same applies to collaborators outside DePaul. Because ArcGIS access is tied to BlueKey credentials, an external collaborator needs a DePaul account (Friends of DePaul) first, sponsored by a department through the IS Help Desk.
Where else on campus is GIS software available?
ArcGIS Pro is installed in several computer labs across campus and is available through the DePaul Virtual Lab:
Lincoln Park Campus
• 990 W Fullerton, Room 3135 (GEO GIS Lab)*
• Richardson Library (all floors)
• Arts and Letters, Room 110*
• Schmitt Acad. Center, Room 224*
• Schmitt Acad. Center, Room 232*Loop Campus
• Daly Building, Room 1327*
• Loop Library (all floors)For more information, visit this IS maintained list for all campus locations with ArcGIS. Rooms noted with an asterisk (*) also serve as classrooms and are not available for students to work in when a class is being held.
What is the Virtual Lab?
Virtual Lab is a DePaul service that runs Windows software, including ArcGIS Pro, from a browser, the Windows App, or macOS client. If you don’t have a Windows computer and use either Macbook or Chromebook, Virtual Lab can be used to access Windows software that wouldn’t run on your local computer. The Virtual Lab is set up and supported by Information Services, not by the department. See more at https://offices.depaul.edu/information-services/services/labs-classrooms/virtual-lab/Pages/default.aspx.
What is GIS tutoring?
GIS Assistants (GISAs) are student workers who hold support GIS classes and office hours in the GIS Lab each quarter to help with GIS coursework and software questions. Hours are posted each term. See GIS Tutoring Schedule.
Who do I contact?
For help with a specific course assignment, general software questions about ArcGIS Pro/ArcGIS Online start by emailing your GIS Assistants (GISA) or attending their tutoring hours. See GIS Tutoring Schedule.
For the GIS Lab, specific GIS software, ArcGIS accounts, and departmental GIS questions, email gis@depaul.edu.
For questions regarding courses, the GIS certificate, and the Geography and GIS department, email geography@depaul.edu.For the Virtual Lab, BlueKey credentials, and IS-managed labs, contact the DePaul IS Help Desk.
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FAQ For Students
How do I declare a GIS Certificate?
The Department of Geography and GIS offers undergraduate and graduate GIS certificates. Visit the GIS certificate page for more information on the certificate and how to declare.
How do I sign in to ArcGIS Online?
Go to arcgis.com, choose “Your ArcGIS organization’s URL,” and enter depaul-edu. You will be redirected to the DePaul login page to sign in with your BlueKey credentials. Full guide: Accessing ArcGIS Online with your DePaul account.
How do I install ArcGIS Pro on my own computer?
Sign in to ArcGIS Online, open My Settings, then Licenses, and select Download ArcGIS Pro. Note that ArcGIS Pro runs on Windows only. Full guide: Downloading ArcGIS Pro.
I have a Mac or Chromebook. Can I still use ArcGIS Pro?
You will not be able to install ArcGIS Pro directly onto your Mac or Chromebook, but you can still access it by using the DePaul Virtual Lab. The DePaul Virtual Lab runs ArcGIS Pro (and other software) for you in a browser or through an app. The Virtual Lab is set up and supported by Information Services. Full guide: Using ArcGIS Pro in the Virtual Lab.
Why are my extensions in ArcGIS Pro missing or greyed out?
Extensions such as Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst are assigned to your account and activate automatically when you sign in. To check what you have, open ArcGIS Pro, go to Settings, then Licensing. Anything marked “Yes” is available to you. Full guide: Enabling extensions in ArcGIS Pro.
If a course you are enrolled in requires a licensed extension that is not listed, email gis@depaul.edu with your course and section number.
What are credits, and will I run out?
Credits are the currency ArcGIS Online uses for storage and certain analysis tools. Student accounts are allocated 500 credits by default, which covers normal coursework. It is best practice to estimate credits (a tool available in ArcGIS tools) before running a process that consumes credits. If you need more credits, consult your instructors as they are limited and expensive. If an assignment involves unusually large hosted data, your instructor should flag it with us at the start of the quarter.
Still having ArcGIS access issues after reviewing the guides and FAQs?
You should first reach out to GIS Assistants (GISA) by emailing them or attending their tutoring hours that fit your schedule. See GIS Tutoring Schedule. If the GISAs cannot resolve your issue, they will escalate it to the GIS Coordinator.
What software is on the lab computers?
ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS, and a range of supporting statistics, analysis, and select design software (such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator). For a full list of current software, see GEO GIS Lab Current Software List. There is no printing facility in the lab; use other campus printers for map output.
Which version of QGIS should I use?
QGIS is an open-source software – meaning it doesn’t require purchasing a license to use the software. Download the Long Term Release (LTR) from qgis.org rather than the newest version, so your build matches the lab. Project files saved in a newer release may not open correctly on lab machines. You can confirm the version with your course instructor.
Where should I save my work?
It is important to save your work to places other than the lab machines or the Virtual Lab’s file structure. Lab workstations are re-imaged between quarters and local files may be wiped without notice. Virtual Lab storage is limited and cleared during periods of inactivity. Save to OneDrive, your network drive, or external media, and copy files back at the end of each session.
Avoid opening ArcGIS Pro project files directly from OneDrive. Esri does not support cloud storage paths, and Pro will run slowly or crash. Copy the project to the machine, work on it there, then copy it back.
Why doesn't my ID card provide access to the lab?
Email gis@depaul.edu with your name, DePaul ID number, and course section to be added. If the door is unlocked but sticking, swipe, push in, then pull.
Can I use the GEO-GIS lab for coursework that is outside of Geography and GIS?
Students enrolled in Geography and GIS courses have priority to use the lab. If you need to use the lab for other DePaul course-work, email gis@depaul.edu and we will let you know what is possible.
Can I use my DePaul ArcGIS Online account for work or client projects?
No. DePaul’s license with Esri covers teaching, research, and coursework only. Commercial use, work for an employer, and work for outside clients are not permitted, including unpaid work for an organization. For professional work you will need your own license from Esri.
What happens to my ArcGIS account and my maps when I graduate?
Access ends when your DePaul affiliation ends, and your content is subject to deletion after that. Plan to move anything you want to keep before your final term ends. See Alumni Access for details.
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FAQ For Faculty and Instructors
Do my students need to request ArcGIS accounts?
No. Accounts are created automatically the first time a student signs in with their BlueKey credentials to ArcGIS Online. Licensed extensions are assigned by default and activate at sign-in.
My course assignment(s) will generate a lot of hosted data. Does that matter?
Yes. ArcGIS credits are a limited pool shared across all DePaul users. Let us know at the start of the quarter if your course involves large hosted layers, imagery analysis, or heavy geocoding, so we can plan capacity and allocate credits accordingly.
Can external collaborators access ArcGIS Online through DePaul’s license?
ArcGIS Online access is tied to DePaul BlueKey credentials, so they will need a DePaul account first. Ask your department to sponsor a “Friends of DePaul” account through the IS Help Desk. Once that is active, email gis@depaul.edu to request ArcGIS access.
What happens to my students’ work in ArcGIS Online after they graduate?
Access ends when DePaul affiliation ends, and content is subject to deletion after that. If a student’s work has ongoing instructional or research value, flag it before the end of their final term so ownership can be transferred to an active account. See Alumni Access.
How do I reserve the GEO GIS lab for my class?
If your course is not scheduled in the GEO GIS lab but you would like to reserve it for a single class period, reach out to geography@depaul.edu. The lab is available for booking anytime there are not any scheduled class or office hours being held.
Which software versions are in the labs?
The labs run the designated stable releases and hold them for the academic year. This keeps course materials working across all three quarters and avoids mid-year breakage from plugin and file-format changes. See currently available lab software list. Email gis@depaul.edu for any additional versioning questions.
Can I get GIS software on my office computer?
Yes. Faculty hold local administrator rights on their own office machines and can install and license ArcGIS Pro directly using the same instructions available to students [Full guide: link Downloading ArcGIS Pro]. The department does not have administrative access to faculty machines. For further help, you can contact DePaul Help Desk.
Can I use department drones in my course or research?
The department holds and maintains a drone fleet and loans equipment to DePaul instructors, researchers, and students working under instructor supervision. Flying the larger drone requires a current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate. Smaller drones available with the department could be flown if the individual has completed the TRUST certificate offered by FAA. Identifying and reserving a flight location is the responsibility of the person requesting the equipment. If you would like to borrow a department drone, email your request to gis@depaul.edu.
Do I need to prepare anything for GIS teaching before the quarter starts?
Yes, there are several things faculty and instructors need to do before the quarter starts to ensure proper access to software and GISA support. The details of this can be found in the guide in the GIS internal MS Teams folder. You can also request a copy of the guide from the GIS Coordinator.