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University of California, Berkeley College of Natural Resources
Geospatial Innovation Facility UC Berkeley · College of Natural Resources

GIF Policies

These guidelines for lab usage are intended to supplement any existing campus-wide protocols with respect to proper use of computing resources for the College of Natural Resources. These policies are subject to change without notice.

General Policies

  1. Access to the computers or computer-related equipment in the GIF is reserved for registered users. Those with disabilities will be given priority in terms of lab accommodations and usage.
  2. Workshops held in the Facility will take precedence over individual work and research. See the GIF calendar and workshop schedule for specific times. Although GIF personnel will make every attempt to give advance notice of closures, GIF personnel reserve the right to fully or partially close the Facility due to workshops and events without advanced notice.
  3. Food and drinks are permitted only in the 111 Conference Room, away from computer and GPS equipment.
  4. Typical users do not have the ability or permission to alter hardware or software settings (including web-browser plug-ins). Computers can be configured by GIF personnel on a case-by-case basis.
  5. Each account is assigned to a single individual, who is responsible for all computer usage under that account. Sharing user accounts is not permitted.
  6. You may NOT use the Facility for any personal or business practice; all Facility use must be related to a UC project or a GIF partner-related project.
  7. All computer lab users must log off after they have finished with the computer. To respect the privacy of other users, log off any user who fails to do so before using a particular workstation.
  8. Users are to clean up the area around the computer they used as they leave, including returning their chair to the proper workstation.
  9. All equipment in the GIF is not to be removed, modified, relocated, or disassembled.
  10. Please refrain from using the lab phone to make or receive personal calls, viewing offensive content, or distracting others in any way.
  11. Please report any problems with computer lab equipment to GIF personnel immediately.
  12. Printer maintenance/assistance should be left to GIF personnel. Request help when needed.
  13. Reproduction of any copyrighted material (e.g., software, music, video, books, photographs) is prohibited.

Users who fail to comply may have their accounts disabled.

Desktop Storage

As a GIF user, you can store data in the following locations on each workstation:

  • C:\Workspace\username — create your own folder under C:\Workspace at each workstation for local processing
  • My Documents
  • Desktop

Data stored on a workstation is not private and can potentially be deleted by other users. The GIF periodically deletes all user data from every workstation in 111 and 124 Mulford. GIF is NOT responsible for any data stored on workstations. It is highly recommended that all users back up their data to USB flash drives or external hard drives.

Network Storage

Users may store up to 10 GB of data on the shared network drive at Z:\users\username. GIF staff will establish your user folder upon creating a new account. Your files on the Z:\ drive are private and cannot be read or modified by other users; however, GIF personnel reserve the right to access, view, or scan any file or software stored on individual workstations and/or the server.

Unattended Computer Use

Priority for the use of GIF workstations is given to users that are present and working on a single computer. GIF computers may be used to run unattended processes under the following conditions:

  • During normal weekday hours (9 am–5 pm), any unattended computer may be logged out for use without notice due to demand or workshop activities.
  • Users running long-term processes may run one computer overnight but must return at 9 am the following morning to close out and log off.
  • Long-term use of one or more computers beyond these conditions will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Please see the GIF Executive Director for more information.

Printing

Printing is not currently available in the GIF facility.

New User Accounts

All computers in the lab are joined to the CalNet Active Directory domain. Register online for a new GIF user account. Once activated, your CalNet username and password may be used to log in to GIF computers.

Acknowledgements

As a courtesy, we greatly appreciate acknowledgement of our services — training, advising, equipment, and workspace usage — in any publications that have benefited from the GIF. We suggest:

"This research benefited from the support and services of UC Berkeley's Geospatial Innovation Facility (GIF), gif.berkeley.edu."

Visiting Researchers

Temporary workspace in Mulford 115 may be granted to any student or staff directly collaborating on GIF-funded projects. Visiting researcher accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to available equipment and office space. The GIF Executive Director oversees all visiting researcher arrangements. Contact GIF staff for inquiries.