This course requires the use of a number of free software packages. The software is installed in the classroom/lab, though the classroom computers do not always have the most recent versions. As we will be using free software, if you have an available laptop, it is recommended that you install the necessary software on your own laptop and bring it to class. This will save you having to shuffle your data and work files between the classroom, open lab, and personal computers. Additionally, you will be able to install the newest versions of the software, which often have new features and important bug fixes.

R and RStudio

R is a widely-used, open source statistical software. RStudio is perhaps the most widely used IDE for R. These applications can be downloaded from the following links. Make sure to download the most recent versions, and the correct versions for your operating system:

• R – https://cloud.r-project.org/
• RStudio – https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/

GeoDa

GeoDa is a software for spatial statistics and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA).

• GeoDa Installer – http://geodacenter.github.io/download.html
• Exploring Spatial Data with GeoDa: A Workbook
• The workbook make use of sample data available at https://spatial.uchicago.edu/sample-data