Information Technology and Computing Facilities

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides technology leadership and support to Georgia Tech students, faculty, staff, and researchers. OIT serves as the primary source of information technology, cable television networking, and telecommunications services for the Institute. Key information technology services include operating the campus computer network, providing access to national research networks, providing technical support for centralized computer accounts and computing systems, and protecting the integrity of Institute data and administrative computing systems.

OIT has built the campus network architecture to provide very high performance general-purpose connectivity and peering, including Internet2, with services provided over a multigigabit backbone. OIT is responsible for the Southern Crossroads network aggregation point that connects universities and colleges in the southeast. Georgia Tech also hosts Southern Light Rail, which serves as the anchor in the southeast for National LambdaRail, a high-speed, optical fiber networking infrastructure designed for advanced research and experimentation.

Centrally managed computer user accounts permit on-campus access to the campus network and Internet, the wireless network, computing labs, and core computing services and resources. Remote access to computing resources is supported for the satellite campuses. Examples of core computing services include e-mail, online software distribution, online library resources, Web course development software, campus Web hosting, the campus Web portal, and associated software for collaboration and communication.

Students living on campus can access the Internet and the campus network from student residences, which are equipped with Internet connection ports and cabling. Students also have access to general-purpose computing labs on campus. The computing lab in the library has more than one hundred computer workstations, including systems equipped for multimedia projects, and a presentation rehearsal studio. The newest facility, the Library East Commons, is equipped with 34 workstations designed for group or individual projects, as well as a performance area for small audiences. Another new facility, the Resource Center, is located on the lower level of the Library building and houses walk-in computing support, tutoring, and undergraduate advising.

In addition, academic and research units may operate their own computing labs. The Institute's computational science venue initiative operates a high-performance computing cluster and network emulation facility to support classes and start-up research projects. In conjunction, OIT's Public Access Clustering Environment (PACE) service fosters the acquisition and development of high-performance, parallel, and distributed (grid) computing systems by campus units.

Georgia Tech operates a wireless network for use with laptop computers and other mobile computing devices. The wireless network has wireless access points in and around most campus buildings and walk-up ports in several buildings. Outdoor wireless coverage includes green spaces, pedestrian corridors, and a one-mile corridor along the Tech Trolley route. The wireless network supports guest access through the incorporation of a commercial service.

Technology enhances academic and research activities in more than 300 classrooms, lecture halls, and specialty rooms. These rooms are equipped with desktop computers, video projectors, VCRs, DVD players, document cameras, audio systems, and electric screens. Videoconferencing and streaming media systems are available for teaching and collaboration on the main campus, at satellite campuses, and in distance learning programs.

Georgia Tech administers its own information systems, data repositories, and administrative software systems. The Institute manages information security with campus community education, policy development, technical measures to protect campus resources, and procedures for reacting to events that endanger the Institute's information assets. IT policy development and strategic planning enable Georgia Tech to keep pace with demands for the use and delivery of sustainable services. For more information, visit www.oit.gatech.edu.