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| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
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| Subject: | Re: GISList: Geography Masters Student |
| Date: |
01/03/2002 04:29:45 PM |
| From: |
Bill Wilder |
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Greetings Derek,
(Note: I am in software development -- not at all involved in GIS. I follow
this list out of personal interest. Thus, I am not able to comments
authoritatively, but I hope my comments prove helpful.)
Other technologies I recommend you consider becoming familiar with include
SQL (and relational databases generally), HTML, XML (emerging standard for
data exchange), and web servers (like IIS or Apache, very useful for sharing
data through images and HTML or collecting information from users).
Programming language skills (VB, C++, Java) will complement these.
I don't think you need real deep understanding of all the above -- but, say,
knowing enough to create an HTML page that loads up an image from a database
on a web server can be quite useful. Also, much scripting in applications is
done via VBScript, so if you've learned regualr VB already, VBScript will be
easy.
If you decide to get heavily into software development (e.g., developing
non-trivial applications or working as part of a software team writing code)
there are many other topics you would want to consider learning about
(Object-Oriented programming, data structures, methodologies, UML,
development tools, books/web sites/conferences/technologies, ...).
I've never been to a GIS conference, but in my experience in my own field
there is nothing more valuable than someone who thirsts for more knowledge
and is willing to continually seek it out. Also, it will certainly do you no
harm to make some connections.
In some software conferences I've attended (SIGGRAPH comes to mind), many of
the sessions were staffed with volunteers who get free access to the
conference (modulo volunteer responsibilities, of course) -- you may want to
check into this if money is an issue.
Good luck!
-Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Derek Link" <dereklink@yahoo.com>
To: <gislist@geocomm.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 3:16 PM
Subject: GISList: Geography Masters Student
> Greeting GISListers:
>
> I've been a list lurker with a purpose for the past 8
> months or so. This month I begin a masters degree
> program in geography at the City University of New
> York (www.geo.hunter.cuny.edu). My goal with it is to
> learn how to develop, maintain and use a GIS, with
> sufficient training in geography so I can apply these
> skills wisely.
>
> Reading the posts on this list has helped me get a
> sense of the field. The reason I am posting now is
> because I would appreciate any advice you may have for
> a beginning graduate student in two areas:
>
> 1. Computer programming is, obviously, a very large
> part of a GIS. My computer nerd friends recommend
> learning as many as possible. My coursework will
> reflect this, at least as time allows. I know Java
> moderately well already, and I plan to learn C++,
> Avenue, and Visual Basic. Does this sound about right
> to you? What are the essential languages you need/use
> in your work?
>
> 2. Job prospects for a newbie who wants to break into
> the field, what are they? I'm taking the plunge,
> going into debt to pay for all this, so I can focus on
> school full-time. After some training, I hope to pick
> up some paying gigs in the field while still in
> school. (I am an "older" student -- 33 -- and I have
> already had a 10 year career in
> journalism/policy/government.) I can't do anything
> yet, but hopefully I will be able to do something of
> value to a GIS firm after a semester or two. What are
> the prospects for paid work in and around NYC for
> someone like me? I am planning to attend the AAG
> meeting in LA during Spring break to scout out
> employers, etc. Any other meetings you think are
> valuable?
>
> I appreciate any input you might provide. Derek Link
>
> www.dereklink.com
>
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