June 16, 2011

The World of GIS

In a conversation with one of my professors last semester, I was advised that I might be interested in taking the GIS workshop this summer. As a visual type person and a lover of maps I was excited to learning this software. Besides, I've heard that GIS is being used in many different contexts and that it is a skill that is in demand. So, sign me up.

What is GIS you might ask? Well, GIS or Geographic Information Systems is a system that captures, stores, and manages geographically referenced data. It is used in many contexts such as city planning, cartography, remote sensing, environmental management, natural resources, and even search engines. The possibilities are limitless. In the age of Google maps we take the role of accurate maps and geospatial data for granted, but so many industries are in need of professionals who are comfortable navigating their way through huge sets of information and displaying it in a way that "makes sense." For many, that's in a map in some form or another.

If you are interested in database or systems administration and data analysis this might be something you might want to look into. ESRI is a great starting place for more info on opportunities:
http://www.esri.com/what-is-gis/index.html.

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