The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy operates three state-of-the-art computer laboratories used for both instruction and research. These laboratories include 75 networked PCs equipped with CDRW and Zip drives. They support geographic information systems (GIS) software as well as spreadsheet, database, word processing, graphical design, and statistical analysis software. These laboratories support the leading GIS software packages including the full suite of products from ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute). In addition, each laboratory has presentation equipment including projectors and laptops with Internet and network access.
The center also contains a specialized facility for GIS training and analysis. These high-powered workstations also have access to scanners, plotters, color printers, and digital cameras.
Connection to the university computer network is accomplished through 10 base-T Ethernet cables and CISCO routers. There is wireless network access for presentation laptops. These secured network configurations allow access to domain shared network drives and resources, email, online library catalogs, and the World Wide Web.
The computer technology center is used for graduate class instruction, workshops sponsored by the various centers affiliated with the school, the New Jersey State Data Center, and for professional continuing education. Research projects carried out in the laboratories include student term projects, doctoral research analysis, and applied GIS grants and contracts.