Research Tools
Below is a list of commonly used research tools within the University.
Many of the applications noted can be self-installed through the Software Centre on your University computer for Windows or Self Service app for Mac, and some are also available for home use by staff or students.
Click the headings below to learn more about each of the research tools that are currently available.
Advanced Computing
Do you need to collect and store large amounts of data? Is data analysis or processing taking far too long on your computer? Do you need to use specialised hardware or software for your research?
We work with University staff and students to help solve problems like these through the use of advanced technology. We can provide research groups with:
- Data storage for large research data sets
- Access to and help using High Performance Computing and other tools to improve data analysis
- Help solving difficult IT-related research problems
For computing support, log a ticket via ServiceNow or contact your IT Business Partner.
Service Workbench (SWB) on AWS
SWB provides access to a range of different sized servers to meet specific compute requirements. Instances come in several pre-defined configurations and run in a safe environment that provides secure access to data, tooling, and compute power for research. Users can also elevate their privileges which is often necessary for advanced computation or code development.
- Operating system: Linux, SageMaker, and Windows (coming soon)
- Instances: come in a wide range of sizes and configurations with internal collaborative storage options
- Access: Request access through the ‘Set up Research Compute’ request form
AWS WorkSpaces
WorkSpaces is a virtual desktop in the cloud that’s prefect for small-to-medium computational loads. It’s a great user interface for entry level cloud compute for researchers who need a graphical interface.
- Operating system: Windows and Linux
- Instances: come in a limited range of sizes and contain their own storage options
- Access: Request access through the ‘Set up Research Compute’ request form
High Performance Computing (HPC) is the use of large-scale computers and parallel processing techniques for solving computational problems. Aggregating computing power allows analysis of very large data sets and solving of complex, time-consuming problems in areas such as science, engineering, health and medicine, or business and marketing. The terms High Performance Computing and Supercomputing are used interchangeably. For more information on HPC, see the Introduction to High Performance Computing knowledge base article.
If you are new to HPC, we highly recommend that you contact us via ServiceNow or by contacting your IT Business Partner for assistance getting started.
How To Access
Request access through the Set up research compute webform in ServiceNow.
ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a Geographic Information System (GIS) for viewing, manipulating, compiling, and sharing maps and other geographic information.
This software is available under a site licence.
- License: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
Google Earth Pro
Google Earth Pro is a mapping program that allows interactive visualisation and exploration of the Earth’s surface through satellite imagery, aerial photography, and GIS data. In addition to visualisation, it contains several tools for analysis, including computing distances and areas, creating movies, and reviewing historical data.
This software is freeware and available to research staff and students.
- License: Freeware
- Operating System: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
ImageJ
ImageJ is a program for displaying, editing, and analysing images. It is especially useful for working with scientific multidimensional images, including three-dimensional, time series and multiple imaging systems. A large range of plugins are available to extend core functionality.
This software is open source and available to research staff and students.
- License: Open Source
- Operating System: Cross-platform
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
JMP
JMP is a statistical analysis package that allows data to be imported from a variety of sources and explored using descriptive statistics, grouping, filtering and visualisations. Other functionality supported includes statistical modelling, 'what-if' analysis, and custom scripting using the JMP Scripting Language.
This software is available under a site licence.
- License: Commercial licence
- Operating System: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
NVivo
NVivo is a software application for qualitative analysis of unstructured data, such as text, images, audio, video and web-based information. It provides a range of tools for analysis, coding, annotation and exploration of data, as well as tools for visualising data.
This software is available under site licence.
- License: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
Prism 7
GraphPad Prism is a software package that combines scientific graphing, curve fitting, statistical analysis, and visualisation. It contains several features designed to help simplify curve fitting and statistical analysis and is commonly used in the life sciences.
This software is currently available to members of the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, and the PRC for Reproductive Science.
- License: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
SAS
SAS (Statistical Analysis System) is a suite of software designed for a wide range of advanced statistical analysis. It can retrieve or import data from a variety of sources, as well as processing and visualising data through a graphical user interface or via the SAS programming language. SAS could be more powerful, but more complex than applications such as SPSS or JMP.
This software is available under a site licence.
- License: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
SPSS
IBM SPSS is statistical analysis package used to analyse and visualise data in many fields of research. SPSS allows importing data from a variety of sources, and supports various types of analysis including descriptive statistics, bivariate statistics, regression, and generalised linear modelling. In built functions can also be extended using 4GL, R or Python programming languages.
This software is available under a site licence.
- License: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
LabVIEW
LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment that allows a user to build and execute programs by connecting node inputs and outputs through a drag and drop style graphical user interface. It is used across a wide variety of research disciplines, especially in STEM related fields.
This software is available under a site licence.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows only
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
QuestionPro
QuestionPro is a powerful web-based survey and data collection application. It includes custom point and click logic, and advanced question types. The University has an enterprise licence and there is no additional cost to individual users. It meets the security and ethics requirements to collect all types of data classification. It’s available to all staff, as well as Higher Degree by Research students on request.
- Licence: University Enterprise licence - Research Edition
- Operating system: Cloud based
- Staff access: QuestionPro
- HDR and affiliates access: Raise a ticket via ServiceNow titled ‘Access to QuestionPro’.
- Support and training: ServiceNow Knowledge based article on QuestionPro.
Eclipse
Eclipse is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) primarily used for developing Java applications, though it can also be used to develop applications in many other programming languages.
This software is purchased by the School of Engineering. Licenses may be available to users from other areas.
- Licence: Open source
- Operating system: Cross-platform
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
Open JDK (JAVA)
The JDK (Java Development Kit) allows software developers to build and compile applications in the Java programming language. Several editions of the JDK exist, and many are freely available under a GNU public licence. The University maintains deployable packages of the JDK, as well as Java3D (a Java based graphics library), JFlex (a lexical analyser generator) and JavaNNS (the Java Neural Network Simulator).
This software is mostly open source and available to research staff and students.
- Licence: Open source
- Operating system: Cross-platform
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
Maple
Maple is a programming environment designed for analysing, visualising, and solving mathematical problems. It includes many mathematical functions, as well as interfaces for working with conventional mathematical notation. Maple is used in a wide array of areas including financial modelling, statistical analysis, computational physics, control design, signal processing and thermophysical modelling.
This software is available under a site licence.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
Mathematica
Mathematica is software for symbolic mathematical computation. It combines the Wolfram programming language with a notebook-based interface that allows combining programmatic code, with rich text, visualisations, and interactive interfaces. It is primarily used in scientific, engineering, mathematical and computing fields.
This software is available under a site licence.
- Licence: Commercial license
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
MATLAB
MATLAB is an application that provides both a high-level matrix-based programming language and an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Core features include data visualisation; apps for signal analysis, data classification and curve fitting; graphical user interface building tools; and interfacing with other languages such as C/C++, Java, Python, and SQL. Several toolboxes are also available that further extend capabilities. MATLAB is commonly used in science and engineering fields of research.
This software is available under a site licence.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that can be used to develop Windows based applications, as well as web applications, mobile applications, web services and databases. It supports many different languages including C, C#, C++, VB.NET, JavaScript and Python.
This software is available under a site licence for educational use only. A free version of this software (Visual Studio Community) is also available and can be used for academic research.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows only
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
Python or Anaconda
Python and Anaconda are a general purpose, object-oriented programming language that emphasises code readability. It includes a large standard library, and many other libraries are publicly available to extend its capabilities.
This software is open source and available to research staff and students.
- Licence: Open source
- Operating system: Cross-platform
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
RStudio (R for Windows)
R is an open-source programming language focussed on statistical computing, data analysis and a graphics. RStudio is an integrated development environment (IDE) for R. It supports several features for working with R, including syntax highlighting, plotting, history, debugging and workspace management. RStudio can either be installed as a desktop application or on a web server after which it can be accessed via a web browser.
This software is open source and available to all staff and students.
- Licence: Open source
- Operating system: Cross-platform
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
ANSYS
ANSYS is a suite of software related to computer aided engineering. The ANSYS suite includes components for simulating fluid dynamics, finite element analysis and structural analysis. ANSYS products generally support graphical user interfaces as well as scripting and expression language for automation.
Licences for ANSYS CFX and Fluent have been purchased by the School of Engineering and may be available to users from other areas. Contact IT for more information.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
ArchiCAD
ArchiCAD is a Building Information Management (BIM) package that provides computer aided assistance for designing and engineering-built environments.
This software is available under a site licence, however, restrictions to use may apply. Contact IT for more information.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a software package for 2D and 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) and drafting. It is generally used in fields related to architecture, engineering (civil and mechanical) and interior design.
This software is purchased by several different areas within the University, and licenses may be available to users from other areas. Contact IT for more information.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
Blender
Blender is a program for creating and editing 3D computer graphics including modelling, rigging, animation, and rendering. It also provides support for game creation.
This software is open source and available to research staff and students.
- Licence: Open source
- Operating system: Cross-platform
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
Creo Parametric
Creo Parametric is a 3D Computer Assisted Design (CAD) package primarily used for product design. It supports several types of modelling (solid, direct, robust assembly) and as well as technical design and visualisation.
This software is purchased by the School of Engineering. Licenses may be available to users from other areas.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows only
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
CPLEX Optimizer
IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer (CPLEX for short) is a software package for mathematically modelling and solving problems. It provides high-performance programmatic solvers for linear programming, mixed integer programming, quadratic programming and quadratically constrained programming problems.
This software is free for academic use after registering through the IBM website.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows only
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
Adobe Creative Cloud Enterprise Suite
The Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of software that encompasses many Adobe products. Most notably, this includes Adobe Photoshop for image editing, and Adobe Illustrator for the creation and editing of vector graphics.
Several faculties and individual schools have purchased bulk licences to the creative cloud enterprise suite, and full access is available to staff and students from those areas. The University also holds a site licence for other Adobe products, including Acrobat Pro, Photoshop Elements and Premier Elements - this software is available to all staff and students. Contact IT for more information.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
ChemWatch GoldFFX
ChemWatch is a web-based application that provides an independent review of substances, mixtures and preparation, training packages, emergency responses and advice related to fire/explosion, spills, and chemical exposure. It includes a database for Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS), chemical labelling, and an inventory system for chemical storage.
This software is available under a site licence.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Cloud based
- Access: Click here for access.
EndNote
EndNote is a tool for managing references and bibliographies. EndNote allows collecting, storing, and managing references, including full text PDFs. It is capable of automatically creating and formatting bibliographies and inserting citations directly into documents in a selected referencing style.
This software is available under a site licence.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
FileZilla
FileZilla is a tool for transferring data between computers via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). These are commonly used methods for transferring large datasets to or from databases or repositories.
This software is open source and available to research staff and students.
- Licence: Open source
- Operating system: Cross-platform
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows
Mendeley
Mendeley combines a reference management system with social network capabilities. Reference information can be automatically captured from websites and PDFs and shared with other Mendeley users and groups. Stored PDFs can be viewed and annotated. Bibliographies and formatted citations can be created and inserted into MS Word and other documents.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Self-installable through the Software Centre for Windows or Self Service app for Mac
Microsoft Office 365
Office 365 is a suite of software covering key applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It is available both through a web interface and as a downloadable local application.
This software is available under a site licence. Check out the Knowledge Base for more information.
- Licence: Commercial licence
- Operating system: Windows or Mac
- Access: Click here for access.
Other useful resources
In addition to applications listed here, there are several other sites that contain useful information for finding research tools. These include:
- UON Online Research Systems – Web-based systems for the application and management of research projects
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