1. Departmental IT Personnel

Does your department have a dedicated information technology staff?

We have our own IT group
We depend on a campus-wide IT group
We don't have dedicated IT support

If your department has its own IT group, does the staff have a background related to your department's science focus?

Yes   No   Not Sure

2. Desktop Computing Support

Who provides support for "desktop computing" — things like electronic mail, web browsing, and office applications — in your department? (Check all that apply)

A campus-wide IT group
Our departmental IT group
A technically-savvy colleague
I do it myself

3. Scientific Computing Support

Who provides support for "scientific computing" — things like analysis tools, visualization tools, and software development environments — in your department? (Check all that apply)

A campus-wide IT group
Our departmental IT group
A technically-savvy colleague
I do it myself

4. Scientific Computing Platforms

What are the predominant platforms for scientific computing applications (analysis tools, visualization tools, and software development environments) in your department?

Linux   Unix   Macintosh OS   Microsoft Windows   Other

5. Data Infrastructure Support

Who provides support for "data infrastructure" — things like retrieving or accessing remote data sets, or designing ways to store data locally — in your department? (Check all that apply)

A campus-wide IT group
Our departmental IT group
A technically-savvy colleague
I do it myself

6. Data Infrastructure Computing Platforms

What are the predominant platforms for data infrastructure computing applications in your department?

Linux   Unix   Macintosh OS   Microsoft Windows   Other

7. Student Computing Support

Who provides support for student computer labs or other student-facing computing resources? (Check all that apply)

A campus-wide IT group
Our departmental IT group
A technically-savvy colleague
I do it myself
Students are on their own
Our department doesn't have any dedicated computing resources for students

8. Computing Resources in the Lab/Classroom

Do students typically use computing resources in the classroom or lab environment in your department? (Check all that apply)

Yes, using department or campus equipment
Yes, using their own laptops
Yes, using mobile devices (tablets or smart phones)
No, students do not typically use computing resources in the classroom

9. Student Use of Department Computing Resources

What type of computing resources do students typically use when doing coursework for classes in your department?

Students mostly use department or campus computing resources
Students mostly use their own computers
Some of each

10. Departmental Data Servers

Does your department operate any data servers, either for internal departmental use or for use by the wider community? (Check all that apply)

No, we access the data we need on remote data servers
We bring data from remote servers to a local data store, then access the local data store
We generate datasets and make them available to other organizations

11. Scientific Computing Technologies in Use

Which scientific computing technologies are in use in your department?
(Check all that apply)

Local Data Manager (LDM) / Internet Data Distribution (IDD)
THREDDS Data Server (TDS)
RAMADDA
Integrated Data Viewer (IDV)
GEMPAK
McIDAS
Matlab
IDL
GrADS
Python
Other   Alphanumeric characters only, please.

12. Local Data Manager / Internet Data Distribution

Please tell us about your department's use of the LDM software and the IDD network. If you do not use the LDM or participate in the IDD network, can you tell us why you choose not to? Are IT policies or the availability of IT resources a factor in the decision?

Alphanumeric characters only, please.

13. THREDDS Data Server

Please tell us about your department's use of the THREDDS Data Server (TDS). If you run a TDS, do you make data available outside your department? If you do not run a TDS, can you tell us why you choose not to? Are IT policies or the availability of IT resources a factor in the decision?

Alphanumeric characters only, please.

14. RAMADDA

Please tell us about your department's use of the RAMADDA scientific content managment system. If you run a RAMADDA server, do you make data available outside your department? If you do not run a RAMADDA server, can you tell us why you choose not to? Are IT policies or the availability of IT resources a factor in the decision?

Alphanumeric characters only, please.

15. Visualization Software (IDV / GEMPAK / McIDAS)

Please tell us about your department's use of Unidata-supplied visualization software (the IDV, GEMPAK, and McIDAS). If you use any of these packages, can you provide details? If you use non-Unidata-supplied visualization software, what packages do you use, and how did you make the choice? Are IT policies or the availability of IT resources a factor in the decision?

Alphanumeric characters only, please.

16. Challenges

What are the biggest challenges facing your department with regard to scientific computing, data acquisition, and data management? How does the availability of IT resources affect these challenges? How can Unidata help?

Alphanumeric characters only, please.

17. Information Technology Contact Information

Unidata is exploring new ways to deliver and support software and data access for the academic community. Can you provide contact information for someone who coordinates IT services for your department? (We will use any information you provide to explore the IT constraints on possible Unidata initiatives; contact information will not be shared or used for any other purpose.)

Alphanumeric characters only, please.

18. Other Comments

Please give us any other comments on the above topics that you may have.

Alphanumeric characters only, please.

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