IA 342: Visualization Methods, Technologies, and Tools for Intelligence Analysis

Lab 1: System Access and Account Setup

Due Date: Canvas is the authoritative source for the exact due date/time and submission status.
Submission Location: Canvas

Objective

Our first technical module focuses on setting up the necessary platforms for the course, including spatial visualization using ArcGIS and AI tools via Google Cloud. This assignment is to ensure that every student has proper access to the required applications to avoid issues later in the semester.

[!IMPORTANT] 📢 Policy Update & Track Changes (Gemini / AI Pro Policy Updated):

• In-Class vs. Current Policy: In class, we initially walked through activating the Gemini One Year Student Plan (AI Pro tier). This is now updated: activating the Gemini Student Plan / AI Pro tier is completely OPTIONAL and NOT required for the course.
• Why this change was made:
  1. Payment Information & Financial Decision: Activating the Gemini student offer requires submitting personal payment/credit card information. Financial and subscription decisions are strictly personal choices.
  2. Privacy & Verification Documents: The third-party student verification system (SheerID / Google) often asks students to upload verification documents. We strongly recommend that you DO NOT upload sensitive personal documents such as academic transcripts. If you independently choose to verify, upload at most a low-sensitivity document such as your course schedule. Never upload unredacted confidential records.
  3. Course Grade Unaffected: Whether you activate Gemini AI Pro or not will have ZERO impact on your course grade or assignment evaluations.
• What Remains STRICTLY REQUIRED: You MUST still have or create a Google account using your official James Madison University email address (@dukes.jmu.edu or @jmu.edu). The instructor needs your JMU-associated Google email to enroll you in the Google AI Skills modules and grant access to the shared Google Cloud credits pool.

Instructions

Part 1: ArcGIS Business Analyst Access Check

1. Go to: https://jmu.maps.arcgis.com/
2. Sign in using the James Madison University account / JMU SSO.
3. Complete institutional MFA if required.
4. Open the ArcGIS Online App Launcher.
5. Locate ArcGIS Business Analyst.
6. Open Business Analyst.
7. Confirm whether it loads successfully without an access/license error.

If Business Analyst does not appear or you encounter a license/access error, you do not need to troubleshoot the permissions yourself. Simply report the failure in Canvas so we can provision your account.

Part 2: Google Account & AI Tools Setup

(Note: If you have already completed these steps in IA 340 this semester, you must still ensure your JMU Google account details are submitted for this course.)

1. Create a Google Account (REQUIRED): You must create/register a Google account using your official James Madison University email address (e.g., e-ID@dukes.jmu.edu or e-ID@jmu.edu). This allows your JMU email to access Google Cloud services and is strictly required for the instructor to grant you access to Google Cloud credits and enroll you in the Google AI Skills program.
2. Gemini Student Plan / AI Pro (OPTIONAL / APPLICATION NOT REQUIRED):
   • Original In-Class Requirement: Activate Gemini One Year Student Plan → Now completely OPTIONAL.
   • Due to payment information entry and document verification requirements (where we strongly advise against uploading transcripts), you do not need to apply for or activate this offer.
   • If you still choose to activate it on your own at https://gemini.google/students/, remember to cancel before the 1-year free trial ends to avoid recurring charges.
   • Your grade will NOT be affected in any way if you skip this.
3. Google AI Skills Enrollment (REQUIRED): Once you submit your JMU-associated Google email, the instructor will enroll you in the Google AI Skills program and provide access to the shared Google Cloud credits pool.

What to Submit on Canvas

Once you have completed the steps above, go to the corresponding assignment in Canvas and submit your response as a text entry in the following format:

SUCCESS:

• Status: Yes. (Confirming ArcGIS access and JMU Google account creation.)
• Google Email: [Provide your official JMU email address used for your Google Account. This is required so the instructor can enroll you in the Google AI Skills program and Google Cloud pool.]

FAILURE:

• Status: No
• Details: Brief description of which required step failed (e.g., ArcGIS license error, JMU Google account creation error) + screenshot if useful.

Note: Do not include credentials, MFA codes, or sensitive information in your screenshot. No student data, screenshots, or credentials should ever be committed to or shared in this public GitHub repository.

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