GeoLab Acceptable Use Policy

Purpose¶

The GeoLab JupyterHub environment provided by EarthScope is a shared computing resource intended to support geophysical research, education, and collaboration. This Acceptable Use Policy establishes guidelines for ethical, respectful, and responsible use of the system.

Acceptable Use and Resource Management¶

• Users must use computational resources responsibly in order for EarthScope to ensure access for all.

• Large computations should be scheduled appropriately; long-running jobs may be subject to termination if they impact system performance.

• Idle sessions will be automatically terminated after a set period to free up resources.

• The following activities are strictly prohibited:

  • Cryptocurrency mining or any resource-intensive non-research activities.

  • Running unauthorized services or servers.

  • Conducting denial-of-service (DoS) attacks or other malicious activities.

Data Security and Privacy¶

• Users are responsible for the security of their data and should not store personally identifiable information or sensitive proprietary data unless explicitly authorized.

• EarthScope does not guarantee data backups; users are encouraged to maintain their own copies of important work.

• Users should respect the privacy of others and not access, modify, or share data without explicit permission.

Software and Package Management¶

• The installation of additional packages is allowed but should be done within user-specific environments to prevent disruptions.

• Users should avoid installing unverified or insecure software that could compromise the integrity of the system.

• Software dependencies should be managed responsibly to maintain compatibility with the provided environment.

Account and Access Policies¶

• Access is granted based on institutional affiliation or approval by EarthScope administrators.

• Users must not share their credentials or attempt to access another user’s account.

• Accounts may be suspended or revoked due to prolonged inactivity, policy violations, or security concerns.

Responsible Collaboration and Conduct¶

• All users must adhere to the EarthScope Code of Conduct, ensuring respectful communication.

• When working in shared notebooks, users should:

  • Clearly attribute code and data sources.

  • Maintain readability and documentation for collaborative work.

  • Avoid modifying or deleting others’ work without discussion.

Incident Response & Reporting Violations¶

• Users should immediately report suspected security breaches, unauthorized access, or system misuse to the designated EarthScope GeoLab administrator.

• Violations of this Use Policy may result in:

  • A warning for minor infractions.

  • Temporary suspension of access for repeated or serious violations.

  • Permanent revocation of access for severe offenses.

Reports can be made to EarthScope administrators via email: geolab@earthscope.org (geolab_admin?)

Updates & Amendments¶

This Acceptable Use Policy may be revised periodically to reflect changes in policy, technology, or community needs. Users are expected to review and adhere to the latest version.