Week 0: Onboarding — Installing R and RStudio

Before the first session, complete this setup. It takes about 30 minutes.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install R and RStudio, the two essential tools for working with GIS and Remote Sensing in R.

Step 1: Download R

R is the programming language we will use throughout these tutorials.

  1. Go to the official R website: https://cran.r-project.org
  2. Choose your operating system:
  3. Windows: Click "Download R for Windows" → "base" → download the installer.
  4. macOS: Click "Download R for macOS" → choose the latest .pkg file.
  5. Linux: Follow the instructions for your distribution (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.).
  6. Run the installer and follow the default options.

Step 2: Download RStudio

RStudio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that makes working with R easier.

  1. Visit https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/
  2. Download the free RStudio Desktop version for your operating system.
  3. Install RStudio using the default settings.

Note: Install R first, then RStudio. RStudio depends on R being present.

Step 3: Verify Installation

Open RStudio

When RStudio opens, you will see four panes. Here is what each one does:

Pane Purpose
Source Edit and save R or Python scripts, or author computational documents like Quarto and R Markdown.
Console Write short interactive R commands.
Environment Displays temporary R objects created during the current R session.
Output Displays plots, tables, or HTML outputs of executed code, along with files saved to disk.

RStudio GUI

Check the R version

In the Console, type the following and press Enter:

version

This will display the installed R version. Confirm it is 4.3 or later.

Try a simple command

Still in the Console, type:

10 + 10

You should see:

[1] 20

If you see that output, R and RStudio are installed correctly and ready to use.

Pre-Session Checklist

Complete every item before Week 1:

  • [ ] R installed (version 4.3 or later)
  • [ ] RStudio Desktop installed
  • [ ] version command in the Console shows the correct R version
  • [ ] 10 + 10 returns [1] 20
  • [ ] You can identify all four RStudio panes
  • [ ] You have access to the program Teams channel

Troubleshooting

RStudio will not open, or shows "R not found" Reinstall R, then reinstall RStudio. R must be installed first.

macOS blocks the installer Open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway for the blocked installer.

Windows SmartScreen warning Click More info → Run anyway. The R and RStudio installers are safe.

Console shows a + prompt instead of > You have an incomplete command. Press Esc to cancel and start again.

Still stuck? Post in the program Teams channel before the first session. Do not wait until session day.

What Comes Next

In Week 1, we install the core spatial packages (sf, terra, ggplot2, dplyr) and begin working with spatial data structures.

→ Go to Week 01

Last updated: 05 October 2026ss