Introduction to the Digital Earth Lab and the Environment for Visualization of Imagery (ENVI)

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Exercise #1

Introduction to the Digital Earth Lab and the Environment for Visualization of Imagery (ENVI)

Name ______( )444 ( )544 Section:______

Objectives

• To set up your workspace in the Digital Earth Lab
• To begin using the Environment for Visualization of Imagery (ENVI) software
• To explain your interests in this course

1. Setting up your computing workspace

The Digital Earth Lab is in Wilkinson 210. This computer lab is equipped with 25 student workstations, an instructor workstation and a server (\\Sci-geo). The workstations are Dell Dimension 8200 with 2.0GHz Pentium 4 processors, 1.0GB RAM, and 64MB video cards. The server is a Dell Precision 530 Workstation with two 2.0 MHz Xeon processors, 1GB RAM, and two 120GB hard drives. The laboratory also has a Sanyo overhead projector, a HP LaserJet 8100 black and white printer with duplexer, a HP Color LaserJet 4500 with duplexer, and a HP DesignJet 36” color plotter.

Logging In
All students will need an ONID account to log in and access the server. Instructors and TAs that have SCIENCE accounts can use that account to log in. This will be the only local space available to you.

IMPORTANT: The local drives are not secure and are cleaned from time to time. You will need to create your own backup disks. Please use either a Zip disk (100 or 250 MB) or a CD for this purpose. This is especially important for the graduate student projects.

Mapping a Drive
When you log in to a computer in Wilkinson 210 the ONID domain must be selected. After log on you can map a drive to your class folder. To do this, right click on My Computer and select Map Network Drive… In the dialog box type \\sci-geo\444\section1 or \\sci-geo\544\section1. If you are asked for a user name and password enter your ONID information. You should be able to access this workspace from any computer on compass using the ONID domain.

Mapped drives will only be saved on the local machine profile. If the same machine is used and ‘Reconnect at login’ was selected the drive should reappear in My Computer. If a student moves to another machine they will need to map the drive again.
NOTE: The first time someone uses Internet Explorer or Microsoft Office the system will ask for some setup information. See me for help getting through these wizards.

Class Folders
Each class section is provided with four folders.
1. Data – a place where Instructors and TAs can place files for student access.
2. Drop – a place where electronic assignments can be dropped. Students can not delete or alter a file once it has been placed in the “Drop Box”. They can drop another file with a different name if they want to make changes.
3. Instructor – instructor and TA work space. Not accessible by the students.
4. Student – contains a folder for each student. Students will only be able to read/write/delete the contents of their own folder.

Printing
Please do not to print anything that not specifically requested. Printing personal items such as email, web pages and images not related to class assignments or using the printers as copy machines are not appropriate. Software has been installed that monitors printer use and establishes page or dollar quotas on individuals. If a student exceeds their quota they will be prohibited from printing until the situation is cleared up. If they wish, students can always print from other locations on campus.

Laboratory Hours and Access
The Digital Earth Lab is only open when a class is being held or when monitors are present. A current laboratory schedule is available on the Digital Earth web page (select Teaching Schedule). Weekly schedules will also be posted outside the door to Wilkinson 210 and on the wall behind the instructor’s work station. This term we have two volunteers laboratory monitors to help keep the laboratory available to students outside of class time.

2. Learning to use ENVI

To start up ENVI, click on the ENVI_3.6 icon. The ENVI toolbar will appear at the top of your computer screen. Click on Help and go to ENVI Manual and Tutorials. Open the PDF file for ENVI Tutorials. Click on Contents and then go to Getting Started with ENVI. Proceed through the tutorial up through page 44. There's no need to save your work today; the goal is just to familiarize yourself with the software. Feel free to explore some of ENVI's other capabilities if you'd like.

3. Questions:

What is your major?

Why are you interested in remote sensing?

What are your goals in this class?

Do you have any previous remote sensing experience? If so, please describe.

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Last updated: March 27, 2003