Inaugural 'magic map'

Being hailed as the fastest turn around of a non military satellite image ever - CNN shows the Washington DC mall with the crowd on a satellite image the same day as the inauguration. 

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/01/20/king.satellite.mall.cnn

How to get ArcGIS

60 day evaluation - FREE - order from ESRI

• http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcview/eval/evalcd-faqs.html

One year evaluation version comes with this book for $33

• http://geospatialtechnology.blogspot.com/2008/09/get-one-year-eval-of-93-for-around-33.html

Various student versions 

• Students are eligible to purchase educational/research software licenses from ESRI upon our receipt of official documentation proving one of the following: (a) current enrollment in at least 6 units, (b) current membership in a graduate program, or (c) current enrollment in a GIS Certificate program. Acceptable documentation includes either a class schedule indicating the school's name, student's name, current term, and (a) number of credits / (b) graduate status / (c) GIS certificate program; or a letter from an advisor or department head, on school letterhead.  Using a schedule as verification, students may purchase anytime between two weeks before the start of the current term and two weeks before the end of the current term.  Graduate students may purchase anytime they are enrolled as long as they send in a letter instead of a class schedule.

  ArcView 3.3, ArcView 8.3, ArcView 9.2, ArcView 9.3 permanent license is available to educational users meeting the above requirements at $250 per license. Their extensions are also available at $150 each.  An alternative to the permanent license is a one-year time out license at $100. The ArcView one-year time out license includes Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, Geostatistical Analyst and Network Analyst; it does not include data disks or hard-copy documentation.  Students proving enrollment in just one GIS class worth at least 3 units can qualify for the time-out license.

  Please note that students are licensed to use this software for educational research purposes only. Internships and work performed for not-for-profit entities are NOT covered under the terms of this license. 

  Additionally, students can receive a 40% discount on Virtual Campus courses. For further information on the courses that are offered, please visit http://campus.esri.com. 

  Students may fax or e-mail your proof of status to 909-307-3049 Attn: Educational Sales orsevich@esri.com or jgenther@esri.com or jshaer@esri.com .  Please make sure a callback phone number and e-mail address are included!

  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need more information.

  Regards, 

  Sandra Lee Evich

  ESRI Education Telesales Representative

  (800) 447-9778 ext. 1720

  Fax: (909) 307-3049

  sevich@esri.com

Google map showing Balsam Computer Technology Center at A-B Tech

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Thoughts on your career in GIS: Do you want to be a GIS Professional or a Professional using GIS?

It seems to me, the GIS professional has split into 2 tracks and maybe more. When considering what you may do with your life and with GIS in your job, consider this.

In the workplace, there are GIS Professionals and there are Professionals who use GIS.

GIS Professionals are those people who work with GIS all day, every day (for the most part). They have job titles like GIS Technician, GIS Analyst or GIS Programmer. These type jobs are computer intensive and involve creating and maintaining datasets, updating of data, analysis, database design and implementation, integration of GIS with other information systems and more. People in these jobs will need a background in computer science as much as GIS so should consider other classes like programming and database design. Most people start as a technician and are promoted through the ranks to higher level GIS positions.

Professionals who use GIS are people who get a degree in something like Environmental Science, Forestry or Planning and will get a job in one of those fields but will most likely get the job (over someone else) because they can demonstrate a knowledge and proficiency in Geospatial Technologies. These are jobs like Environmental Technician for a consulting firm or Planner for a county or city.

There is a considerable amount of overlap and often someone might get a job with a consulting firm because of their GIS knowledge and paired with a scientist. Other jobs like E-911 Technician might not sound like a GIS job but many 911 Technicians spend a considerable amount of time updating the county street centerline GIS layer. Whatever you do, experience is key if you can volunteer at a conservation organization or consulting firm because there is no replacement for real-world experience. I may have some ideas on places you can volunteer and maybe even get a little money possibly.

Spring 2009 GIS classes start next week

Here's what we got ...

GIS 111 WD1 - Introduction to GIS - 8:00-11:50 am Friday mornings

GIS 111 WN1 - Introduction to GIS - 6:00-9:50pm Thursday nights

GIS 111 LO1 - Introduction to GIS -online section (only for self directed students that like online classes)

GIS 121 WD1 - Georeferencing and Mapping - 8:00-9:50am M/W

GIS 215 WN1 - GIS Data Models - 6:00-9:50pm Tuesday nights

** GIS 111 is a prerequesite for the other classes.

call or email to get signed up.