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- CRN supports departmental computing in DUSP and complements MIT's campus-wide
Information Systems. The CRN's specialized computing facilities include a mix
of geographic information systems, multimedia representational aids, spatial
data access tools, and urban modeling software applications that reflect DUSP's
special interest in understanding places and spaces. The CRN works closely with
DUSP program groups to facilitate research and education about how information
technologies can influence the way people think and communicate about urban and
regional places.
CRN depends primarily on an online infrastructure that makes use of MIT's
Project Athena resources and augments them with network services,
PC/Mac/linux/unix workstations, software applications, video editing tools,
scanners, CD-writers, and other peripherals that are needed for DUSP research
and education. This infrastructure has provided a heterogenous environment for
accessing distributed databases, analytical models, visual images, and
graphical tools from a variety of platforms including personal machines. Each
student has an Athena account that allows access to e-mail, the Internet, the
World Wide Web, course data, digital cameras, and an extensive software
library.
CRN's physical facilities include several collaborative computing work spaces,
a computer-supported lecture space, computer-based hands-on instructional
facilities, and specialized computer-supported research and studio areas.
Computing work in these DUSP spaces frequently involves GIS and other forms of
specialized analysis, access to large sets via specialized database management
tools, computer-aided design, the creation of multimedia projects that
juxtapose analysis results with maps and imagery, and document production. Much
of this work happens in parallel with small teams of students and researchers
drawing from each others' expertise. CRN staff offices are concentrated on the
5th floor of Building 9.
CRN resources can also be accessed from many MIT-supported classroom and
computing lab facilities that house hundreds of workstations and dozens of
projection facilities--all of which have connections (wired or wireless) to the
Internet. Students can use personal laptops as well as DUSP/MIT machines to
access CRN resources from classrooms and labs, and even the Dome Cafe. Some CRN
resources can be accessed from personal machines that are off campus.
Information provided by: crn.mit.edu
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