GIS on High-Performance Computing at the RCC

Overview of GIS services

The Research Computing Center (RCC) at the University of Chicago provides comprehensive support for Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) on our high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. This integration empowers researchers to leverage HPC capabilities for complex spatial analyses, large-scale geospatial data processing, and cutting-edge GIS technologies.

Visit our main GIS portal for all the RCC-GIS services.

Available GIS Software

RCC supports a variety of GIS software platforms optimized for HPC environments:

Software	Description
GRASS GIS	Open-source GIS for geospatial data management and analysis
QGIS	User-friendly, open-source GIS for viewing, editing, and analyzing data
ArcPy	Python site-package for ArcGIS Pro (available upon request)
R (spatial packages)	Statistical computing with powerful spatial capabilities
Python (geospatial libraries)	Versatile programming language with robust GIS support
Orfeo Toolbox (OTB)	Advanced remote sensing toolbox
SAGA GIS	System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses
STATA	Statistical software with spatial econometrics capabilities
SAS	Analytics software suite with geospatial procedures
MATLAB	Numerical computing environment with mapping toolbox

ArcGIS Pro named user licenses are available to all faculty, staff, and students at the University of Chicago.

HPC-Enabled GIS Capabilities

Big Data Processing: Analyze large-scale geospatial datasets that exceed the capacity of desktop systems.
Parallel Computing: Utilize multiple cores for faster processing of computationally intensive spatial analyses.
Remote Sensing: Process and analyze satellite imagery and LiDAR data efficiently.
Spatial Statistics: Perform complex geostatistical analyses on large datasets.
Machine Learning for GIS: Implement advanced machine learning algorithms for geospatial applications.

Advanced GIS Technologies

GeoAI: The Fusion of AI and Geospatial Science

GeoAI integrates artificial intelligence with geospatial data and analysis, revolutionizing the GIS industry. On RCC's HPC infrastructure, researchers can leverage GeoAI capabilities for:

Pattern Recognition: Identify complex spatial patterns and relationships in large datasets.
Predictive Modeling: Enhance forecasting accuracy using historical geospatial data.
Real-time Monitoring: Analyze streaming geospatial data for rapid detection of environmental changes.
Automated Feature Extraction: Use machine learning algorithms to extract features from satellite imagery and LiDAR data.

Our HPC environment supports popular GeoAI frameworks and libraries, enabling researchers to develop and run sophisticated AI models on geospatial data at scale.

CyberGIS: Unleashing the Power of Cyberinfrastructure

CyberGIS combines cyberinfrastructure capabilities with GIS to tackle computationally intensive spatial problems. RCC's HPC resources are well-suited for CyberGIS applications, offering:

Scalable Processing: Handle very large spatial datasets and complex analytical software beyond the capabilities of desktop systems.
Collaborative Environment: Enable multiple users to access CyberGIS capabilities and share resources.
Advanced Geospatial Tools: Provide access to cutting-edge spatial analysis techniques optimized for high-performance environments.
Interdisciplinary Integration: Facilitate the synthesis of geospatial approaches with other scientific domains.

Accessing GIS on HPC

Request an RCC account if you don't already have one
Connect to the RCC cluster via SSH or our user-friendly web portal
Load GIS modules using the module load command (e.g., module load qgis-ltr)
Execute your GIS workflows through batch jobs or interactive sessions

Training and Support

Workshops: RCC-GIS provides complimentary workshops and bootcamp courses on GIS, including specialized workshops on GeoAI and CyberGIS applications every quarter to assist UChicago researchers in addressing location-based data issues. Students, faculty, and staff can sign up through the RCC website.
Documentation: RCC-GIS offers regularly updated documentation for running various GIS software, including popular tools and specialized applications.
Consultation: One-on-one support is available for integrating GIS workflows with HPC and advanced GIS technologies. If you have specific questions about how GIS can assist with your research project or need guidance on getting started, please contact the RCC-GIS team.

Data Management

Access to shared geospatial datasets on RCC storage systems.
Tools for efficient data transfer and management of large geospatial files.
Integration with RCC's data management policies and best practices.
Geocoding services available at geocoder.rcc.uchicago.edu and instructions.

Research Examples

Climate modeling with high-resolution geospatial data
Urban planning simulations using parallel processing
Large-scale ecological analyses across multiple geographic regions
Real-time environmental monitoring using GeoAI
Complex spatial problem-solving with CyberGIS

RCC-GIS provides complimentary workshops and bootcamp courses on advanced GIS techniques and software every quarter to assist UChicago researchers in addressing location-based data issues. Students, faculty, and staff can sign up through the RCC website.

The workshops cover various topics and are suitable for most faculty, staff, and students. Introductory sessions for popular GIS software assume no previous knowledge of GIS technology, making them an excellent starting point. More advanced sessions are also available, focusing on specific GIS applications and techniques.

Use Online Training

As part of the University of Chicago's commitment to GIS education, RCC-GIS provides access to various online training resources through ESRI Training. These may include self-paced tutorials, video courses, and interactive learning modules covering a wide range of GIS topics and software.

Contact RCC-GIS Staff

If you have questions about how GIS can enhance your research or need assistance on how to begin, reach out to the RCC-GIS team for customized support suited to your requirements and expertise. The RCC-GIS promotes interdisciplinary research and education, assisting UChicago users in incorporating GIS techniques and software across various fields.

Sources [1] gis.rcc.uchicago.edu https://gis.rcc.uchicago.edu

For more information on general RCC-GIS services, visit our main GIS portal.