Frequntly Asked Questions

Lab General

Are the GIScience Labs open during holidays or weekends?
The GIScience Labs are accessible 24/7 throughout each academic semester, including weekends when SFU Burnaby campus is open. Between semesters, the labs are closed for maintenance. For SFU view academic calendar, please check the SFU Academic Calendar.

My account is locked after entering the wrong password multiple times. What should I do?
For security reasons, SFU IT Services temporarily locks accounts after multiple failed login attempts. Please wait 20 minutes before trying again with the correct password. GIScience Lab Support staff cannot unlock accounts. For assistance, contact SFU IT Services at its-help@sfu.ca or call 778-782-8888.

File and Space Management

Which drives are available for use in the GIScience Labs?

• D: Drive – This is your primary local workspace. You have full read/write/delete access. Use this drive for all lab-related work. 
• S: Drive – A network drive with read-only access. Instructors may share course materials here.
• Microsoft OneDrive – Students have access to Microsoft cloud storage. On lab computers, access OneDrive via a web browser. For setup and usage details, visit MS OneDrive Info.

What are the recommended file management practices in the GIScience Labs?

• Delete residual files upon login – The D: drive may contain leftover files from previous users. Clear these before starting your session.
• Work locally – Copy necessary files to the D: drive and set it as your workspace. Avoid working directly from cloud storage or USB drives.
• Backup before logout – Save your work to external storage (e.g., OneDrive or USB) before logging off.
• Clean up before logout – Delete all files from the D: drive to protect your data. Files left behind may be accessed or deleted without notice.

Detailed instructions for Teaching Assistants and Instructors are available here.