Computing
The Department of Aeronautics is well known for its intensive use of computing facilities at undergraduate and postgraduate level. The following subsections provide general information about IT services at Imperial College London and also specific IT services provided by the Department of Aeronautics.
Visit the ICT website for further resources for new students.
Getting help
- For all enquiries about Windows, accounts, login problems, MS Outlook Calendar or email contact ICT (Ext. 49000, service.desk@imperial.ac.uk, 4th floor of Sherfield Building).
- For queries with access to courses or content on Canvas please contact the Undergraduate Office on ae.office@imperial.ac.uk.
- For any software/hardware issues or queries in Aeronautics computer rooms then please contact email aero.computing@imperial.ac.uk
Printing
Whatever else you do at Imperial, you will at some time or other need to print a document or make a photocopy or scan an image or document, ICT provides printing, photocopying and scanning services via touch card printers.
Available on most campuses, MFPs may be mono or colour with respect to the output printed. All MFPs will scan in colour. Some MFPs are capable of producing output in A3 size. All will print in A4.
The ICT print service provides a "pay-for-print" service using your Imperial ID card for authentication and payment. All Imperial ID cards should automatically be registered with the print service within an hour or two of issue by Imperial security. Most students are normally set-up as "pay" users.
Undergraduate students are provided with a minimum credit. Credit can be added to a card using the print service website.
Software
Windows:
You can access a variety of software packages from Windows computers via the University Software Hub . This includes commonly used pieces of software such as Matlab, STAR CCM+ and Abaqus. The department additionally provides licenses to the Dassault 3DExperience platform.
Linux:
A range of software is also available under the departmental Linux environment. Please see the Aero Computing software page for more information.
Windows Computer rooms
Aeronautics offers the following computer room:
- Room CAGB 205 (Undergraduate common room)
Shared rooms:
- Room SKEM 208 – 70 Machines
- Room SKEM 317 – 41 Machines
- Room CAGB 203 – 90 Machines
- Room CAGB 761 – 42 Machines
- Room CAGB 762 – 42 Machines
All computers run Windows and use your ICT login credentials. Computers can be used between the hours of 8:00 and 23:59.
- Eating or drinking is not allowed in computer rooms (except for water).
- Never turn off the computers, disconnect them from the network or interfere with the cabling. While the keyboards and mice can be placed next to the computer based united when not in use, do not move the base units.
- Report any software or hardware faults promptly to ICT service.desk@imperial.ac.uk
- It is requested that you keep noise levels down, in particular please use mobile phones outside the rooms.
- Users doing low priority tasks, such as e-mail or web browsing, must let others use the computer when there is a queue of people waiting.”
To use any of the University computers you must have an active login account.
As a member of Imperial College London, you will automatically be provided with an Imperial username and email address. These enable you to:
- send and receive email;
- log-on to the University network and Virtual Learning Environment e.g. (Blackboard); and
- access electronic information services provided by the library.
- The central computing services, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) create an inactive Imperial College London account. You must activate this account online or by following the instructions posted in the public computer rooms by ICT.
- You will need your CID (College Identifier) number and you will choose a password. Passwords should have three types of character out of: upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters (i.e. + - , /) and they must be at least 8 characters long. Please DO NOT choose dictionary words or proper names as part of the password!
- After the account is active you login with your own User Name and the password you chose.
- If the details you have entered are correct your Imperial computer account should be activated within a few seconds and your Imperial username and email address will be displayed. Please write these down so you do not forget them.
- If you have made a late entry to the University or there have been problems with your registration then it may take a few days before your Imperial computer account can be set up. Please repeat the above again a day or so later before reporting a problem.
- If you have problems with activating your account, please contact ICT service desk on West Wing, Level 4, Sherfield building, South Kensington Campus.
When you first join Imperial College, the central computing services, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) create an inactive Imperial College London account. You must activate this account online or by following the instructions posted in the public computer rooms by ICT. Any problems with accessing electronic journals, books and databases access service should be reported to the Central Library Help Desk library@imperial.ac.uk. More information about Electronic Library Services can be found on the Library website.
Linux departmental account
The department has its own Linux environments for teaching and research. These are provided primarily through a remote desktop environment. All members of the department can access these systems to use Linux software. The username and password for your Linux account is the same as your Windows University logins.
If you need further help or if you missed the start of session talk, please contact Dr Masoud Seifikar
Back up of data
Data may be lost for a number of reasons, e.g. hardware failure, theft, flooding or fire, and the effects on your work may be catastrophic. For this reason you are required to back-up all your data files regularly.
All students are expected to back-up their data files, preferably daily, to avoid any major problems in submitting their coursework. Back-up files and original files should be kept at two separate locations, e.g. on your own computer, on a university server or on a separate memory stick. A memory stick which is kept attached to your computer is not a valid back-up!
Imperial provides OneDrive storage, which can be used as an off-site backup. For further information, please see the university's OneDrive for Business webpage.
Loss of data due to failure to backup your files will not be considered as a valid reason for not submitting coursework on time!
University wide rules (extracted from ICT rules)
- Password and Login Names cannot be disclosed to anyone else.
- Use is restricted to non-commercial university related work.
- Displaying, handling, or sending offensive, derogatory or pornographic material is strictly forbidden.
- Users must respect copyright laws and intellectual property rights.
Users must comply with the DATA PROTECTION ACT 1984 regulating the use of data about living persons. Failure to comply with university rules will lead to disciplinary action. Penalties can go from temporary suspension from all use of the computing facilities to in serious cases, expulsion and dismissal from the university.
Home computer and laptops
Specific software requirements vary along the whole range of courses offered and it could change from year to year. Despite this, software like Matlab is now widely used in many branches of science and engineering and forms part of introductory and advanced courses in our Department. For this reason, the Faculty of Engineering currently offers free personal downloads for students.