GIS
GIS (Geographic Information System[s]) allows you to visualize spatial data as points, lines, polygons, etc. alongside descriptive data for each feature. This data can be manipulated and analyzed for various purposes.
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The most commonly used software are ArcGIS and QGIS, both work very similarly and are compatible. At McGill ArcGIS is the preferred software.
How to Access
McGill students are entitled to licenses for Esri’s GIS software suite (including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Desktop) through the Geographic Information Centre (GIC). Individual licenses are otherwise very costly, so this is a great opportunity.
Contact the Centre at gicsupport@mcgill.ca or visit them directly on the 5th floor of Burnside Hall.
Licenses are given out in the form of one-year, single-use authentication files. Once a year has elapsed you can renew your license as long as you are still a McGill student.