On this page, you will find info on:
- Tufts VDIs – Accessing Data Lab Software Remotely
- Installing Geospatial Software
- Installing Data Analysis and Programming Software
- Data Management and Data Visualization Software
- Installing Design Software
Note: This page is not inclusive of all software available to Tufts affiliates, but only provides information on popular Data Lab software.
Please see the Access Tufts Software page for the full list of software available to the Tufts community.
For the full list of all software installed in our Data Labs, please see the Data Lab Software Page
Tufts VDIs: Access Software Remotely
Tufts Technology Services (TTS) offers 24/7 online access to remote computing Virtual Desktop Infrastructures (VDIs) that allow Tufts users to connect to a Windows 11 desktop that has Tufts licensed software installed and ready to use. These VDI solutions grant access to licensed software for use outside of the Data Lab or another physical computer lab, or without needing to install software on a personal computer.
These VDIs are called the TTS Virtual Lab (VDI) and the Engineering Lab (VDI). All Tufts University members have access to these remote solutions. To learn about the other VDIs available to specific schools, see the access Tufts Remote Computing Infrastructure page. It is recommended that you use of the VMware Horizon client and not the HTML access if you use these VDIs regularly.
- TTS Virtual Lab (VDI)
- This VDI provides access to most general computing software and resources.
- This solution is appropriate for most use cases with the exception of GIS and engineering applications.
- GIS users should use the Engineering Lab VDI.
- Engineering Lab VDI
- The Engineering Lab VDI is the best VDI solution for remote usage of GIS, graphically intensive software, or various engineering software, due to the increased RAM and graphics capabilities.
- Instructions for Accessing the Engineering Lab VDI
*TTS Remote Lab Update: As of January 1, 2024, the TTS Remote Lab has been officially retired due to significant infrastructure and resource investments to improve the Engineering Lab VDI. The Engineering Lab VDI is now a much better experience for remote usage of GIS, graphically intensive software, or various engineering software, due to the increased RAM and graphics capabilities. TTS is excited to offer this improved remote solution for your classes and research.
**Unfortunately, Adobe products can not be installed on VDIs and can only be accessed in physical computer labs on Tufts’ campuses or through purchasing a discounted license on Tufts on the Hub. Additionally, much of the data intensive software can be installed on personal computers following instructions below.
For inquiries regarding which remote solution is right for you, please contact DataLab-Support@elist.tufts.edu
For technical issues connecting to one of Tufts VDIs, please reach out to TTS at IT@tufts.edu or 617-627-3376
Installing Geospatial Software
ESRI ArcGIS Desktop: ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Desktop is the industry standard GIS software for users to create maps, perform spatial analysis, and manage data. The two primary desktop applications for ArcGIS users are ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap. These desktop products can only be installed on a Windows Operating System. However, Tufts students, faculty, or staff can access ArcGIS Pro or ArcMap remotely on the TTS Remote Desktop or the Engineering Lab (VDI). They are not available on the TTS Virtual Lab (VDI)
Tufts Technology Services holds a university-wide site license for ESRI products. ArcGIS Desktop is installed in the Medford and Boston Data Labs, in addition to most Windows computer labs throughout campus. ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro can be installed on any Tufts-owned or faculty personal computer running Windows OS. The software may only be used for educational, research, and academic purposes, and not for commercial use or resale.
For more information on ESRI ArcGIS products and ESRI web-based tools and applications, please see our page on ESRI ArcGIS at Tufts
Resources for Installing ArcGIS Desktop
How to Install ArcGIS Pro on your Windows Computer
This guide include information on how to install ArcGIS Pro on your Windows OS
How to Install ArcMap on your Windows Computer
This guide includes information on how to install ArcMap 10.x on your Windows OS. There is also a video here for that goes through the process.
How to Update your ArcMap Provisioning File License
This guides includes information on how to update your provisioning file single use license on your computer when ArcMap is already installed.
Learn to use Box on your personal computer for GIS and Remote Sensing
How to Connect to the VPN and Map Network Drives
Choosing the right computer for ArcGIS Desktop Tip Sheet
This tip sheet provides information on processors, RAM, hard drive, and resolution suggestions for the best ArcGIS experience.
QGIS
QGIS is a free and open-source desktop geographic information system (GIS) application that supports viewing, editing, and analysis of geospatial data. It can be installed on Windows OS, Mac OS and Linux platforms. QGIS integrates with other open-source GIS packages, including PostGIS, GRASS GIS, and MapServer.
How to Access and Install QGIS
This guide provides information on where to access QGIS for your Mac OS or Windows PC. QGIS is installed in the Data Labs andalso available on the TTS Remote Lab and TTS Engineering Lab (VDI).
GeoDa
GeoDa is a free and open source software tool that serves as an introduction to spatial data analysis. It is designed to facilitate new insights from data analysis by exploring and modeling spatial patterns. GeoDa runs on Windows, MacOSX and Linux (Ubuntu).
How to Access and Install GeoDa
This link provides a guide on how to install GeoDa for your personal computer. It is available on both a Mac and PC and both installers are included in this link. Geoda is also available on the TTS Virtual Lab and the TTS Remote Lab.
ENVI + IDL
ENVI is a remote sensing software used for processing and analyzing geospatial imagery. ENVI software combines spectral image processing and image analysis technology. Customize ENVI with IDL, a scientific programming language for data analysis, visualization, and manipulation.
Tufts University holds a site license for ENVI and it can be installed on any Tufts owned computer.
How to Access and Install ENVI
Please see the Access Tufts ENVI software page for information on how faculty and staff can install ENVI on their tufts owned computers and how students can purchase a student license of ENVI. ENVI is available in the Data Lab and and the TTS Remote Lab and Engineering Lab (VDI).
ERDAS Imagine Software
ERDAS Imagine is software designed for processing, interpretation, and analysis of remotely sensed imagery.
ERDAS is installed in the Medford Data Lab. Tufts Technology Services owns five floating licenses of ERDAS Imagine. To install ENVI on your Tufts owned computer, please email DataLab-support@elist.tufts.edu and we can assist.
Google Earth Pro
Google Earth Pro is a free geospatial software application that displays a virtual globe, which offers the ability to analyze and capture geographical data.
Google Earth Pro is available to download for free on your personal Mac OS or Windows PC. Google Earth Pro is available on the is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab and Engineering Lab (VDI).
DNR GPS
DNRGPS is an open-source software built to transfer data between Garmin handheld GPS receivers and GIS software.
DNRGPS is available to download for free on your personal Windows PC. DNRGPS is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab and Engineering Lab (VDI).
GRASS
GRASS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) is a free GIS and open source software for geospatial data management and analysis, image processing, graphics/maps production, spatial modeling, and visualization.
Grass is available to download for free. Tufts does not have any guides on how to install the software. GRASS is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab and Engineering Lab (VDI).
Geospatial Modeling Environment (GME)
Geospatial Modeling Environment (GME) is a suite of tools designed to facilitate rigorous analysis of geospatial data. It combines the power of the statistical software R with the geographic processing functionality of ESRI ArcGIS to drive geospatial analyses
GME is available to download for free. Tufts does not have any guides on how to install the software. GME is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab and Engineering Lab (VDI).
Crime Analytics for Space Time (CAST)
Crime Analytics for Space Time (CAST) is a free and open-source, cross-platform program (Windows, Mac OSX and Linux) designed to detect spatial patterns and trends for event and area data.
CAST is available to download for free. Tufts does not have any guides on how to install the software. CASTS is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab and Engineering Lab (VDI).
CrimeStat
CrimeStat IV is a freeware spatial statistics program for the analysis of crime incident locations. It is Windows-based and interfaces with most desktop GIS programs.
CrimeStatis available to download for free. Tufts does not have any guides on how to install the software. CrimeStat is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab and Engineering Lab (VDI).
Installing Data Analysis Software on your Computer
STATA
Stata is an integrated statistical software package that provides facilities for data analysis, data management, and graphics. Stata offers a broad suite of features including advanced techniques, such as survival models with frailty, dynamic panel data (DPD) regressions, generalized estimating equations (GEE), multilevel mixed models, models with sample selection, multiple imputation, ARCH, and estimation with complex survey samples. Additional features include summary statistics, data management facilities, publication-quality graphics.
How to Access and Install Stata
Tufts provides an enterprise site license for Stata SE enabling students, faculty, and staff to install Stata SE on their Tufts-owned or personal computer for educational use. The software is installed on all computers in the Data Lab. The Access Tufts Stata software page has instructions on how to install STATA SE or access it remotely. STATA is available on the TTS Virtual Lab. Stata/MP is available on the research cluster.
SPSS
SPSS Premium Campus Edition is an extensive statistical software package that includes statistical graphics, data mining capabilities, in addition a number of modules. SPSS Statistics addresses the entire statistical analysis process – planning, data collection, analysis, reporting – for better decision making and performance.
How to Access and Install SPSS
Tufts Technology Services owns a university-wide site license. The software is installed on all computers in the Data Lab. Please see the Access Tufts SPSS software page for information on how students, faculty and staff can install SPSS on their personal or tufts owned computers. SPSS is also available on the TTS Virtual Lab.
SAS
SAS is a statistical software package used for predictive and descriptive modeling, data mining, text analytics, forecasting, optimization, simulation, experimental design and more.
How to Access and Install SAS
Tufts Technology Services owns a university-wide site license. The software is installed on all computers in the Data Labs. Please see the Access Tufts SAS software page for information on how students, faculty and staff can install SAS on their personal or tufts owned computers. SAS is also available on the TTS Remote Lab, the Engineering Lab (VDI), and the Research Cluster.
R and RStudio
R: The R Project for Statistical Computing is a free software for statistical computing and graphics. It compiles and runs on a wide variety of UNIX platforms, Windows and MacOS.
R Studio is a set of integrated tools designed to help you be more productive with R. It includes a console, syntax-highlighting editor that supports direct code execution, as well as tools for plotting, history, debugging and workspace management.
How to Access and Install R and RStudio
This guide provides information on how to install R and RStudio on your Windows, MacOS, or Linux personal computer. R and RStudio are available in the Data Labs along with the TTS Virtual Lab, the TTS Remote Labs, and the Engineering Lab (VDI).
Anaconda (Python)
Anaconda (Python) is the leading open data science platform powered by Python. The open source version of Anaconda is a high performance distribution of Python and R and includes over 100 of the most popular Python, R and Scala packages for data science.
How to Access and Install Python
This guide provides information on how to install Python on your Mac OS or Windows personal computer. It also provides information for getting started and using python and using Python on the Tufts Compute Research Cluster. Python is available in the Data Labs along with the TTS Virtual Lab, the TTS Remote Labs, and the Engineering Lab (VDI).
MatLab
MATLAB is a software package published by The MathWorks and used by engineers, economists, mathematicians and scientists to perform a range of very specific technical computing tasks.
The software is installed on all computers in the Data Lab. The software may be installed on faculty, staff and student computers through Tufts Technology Services.
How to Access and Install MatLab
Tufts Technology Services owns a university-wide site license. Please see the Access Tufts MatLab software page for information on how to install MatLab. The software is installed on all computers in the Data Labs. MatLab is also available on the the Engineering Lab (VDI).
DNaSP v6 and MEGA7
How to Access and install DNaSP v6 and MEGA7
These two guides give instructions on installing software used in the Bio143 Evolutionary Biology class. This software is not available on the TTS Virtual Lab.
PyCharm Educational (Python)
PyCharm Educational (Python) is a free and open source educational tool to teach users programming with python.
PyCharm Educational is available to download for free. Tufts does not have any guides on how to install the software. PyCharm is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab.
Compare Data Science Notebooks
Data Science Notebooks: See a comparison of the data science notebook applications available to enhance your Python and R programming.
Notepad++
Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages.
Notepad ++ is available to download for free. Tufts does not have any guides on how to install the software. Notepad++ is available in the Data Labs and and the TTS Remote Lab.
Data Management & Data Visualization Software
Tableau
Tableau is a visual analytics platform transforming the way we use data to solve problems—empowering people and organizations to make the most of their data.
Tableau Server: Provides online access for staff and faculty to administrative reports and dashboards. Access using the OPEN button below.
Tableau Desktop: A desktop software use to create data visualizations and combine data sets to produce reports, graphs, maps, animated visualizations and more.
How to Access and Install Tableau
See the AccessTufts page on installing Tableau. It also provides information for getting started and using Tableau. Tableau is available on the TTS Virtual Lab and as a stand alone app in the VMware Horizon Client. It is also available in the Data Labs.
NVivo
NVivo supports qualitative research and mixed methods research using unstructured data. NVivo permits the user to collect, organize and analyze content from a range of sources including interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, audiovisual content, social media, literature reviews, and web pages.
How to access and install NVivo
In order to obtain the NVivo Software, please visit the Access Tufts page on NVivo. The software is installed on all computers in the Data Lab and is available on the TTS Remote Lab.
OpenRefine
OpenRefine, formerly called Google Refine, is a standalone open source desktop application for data cleanup and transformation to other formats, the activity known as data wrangling.
OpenRefine is installed in the Data Labs and on the TTS Remote Labs. We do note have guides on how to install OpenRefine.
Design Software
SketchUp
Sketch Up Pro is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architectural design, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering, film, and video game design.
How to Access and Install SketchUp Pro
Please see the Access Tufts SketchUp Pro software page for information on how faculty and staff can access SketchUp Pro on their tufts owned computers. The software is installed on all computers in the Data Lab. SketchUp Pro is also available on the TTS Remote Labs.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Creative Suite is a software suite of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications. Products include, but are not limited to, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere Pro, and more .
How to Install Adobe Creative Cloud
Tufts Technology Services owns a university-wide site license. The suite of software is installed on all computers in the Data Lab. For more information on who is able to install Adobe products, please please visit the Access Tufts page on Adobe. Unfortunately, due to changes in Adobes licensing, the software is no longer available on any remote infrastructure.
Microsoft Office 365
How to access and install Microsoft Office 365
Please see the Access Tufts Microsoft Office 365 software page for information on how students, faculty and staff can access MatLab on their personal or tufts owned computers. This version of Microsoft Office 365 available for download does not include Publisher or Access, which are only available on TTS Virtual Lab.