7 replies to this topic

[How bout DEM dawgs]

Hello, I'm quasi new to GIS and I'm currently a student.
I find I'm devouring the labs and left wanting more.
Can anyone recommend what I can do on my free time
to gain more experience with the software. While in lab I have
specific goals, but at home I just sort of aimlessly tinker
with a student version of 9.2+ extensions. Whose got a
project for me? Thanks for reading.

[Andrew]

Well i'm currently working with ArcHydro, and I often thought to myself since "why couldn't I have done real world stuff like this while I was a uni?" we got given boring mundane scenarios and projects. I think the step you're taking is good and get some exposure to all you can while you can.
How about getting stuck into something like ArcHydro?? You already have the software and you can download ArcHydro from the ESRI support site, and the states has all the data you need to get up and running avaliable for free.
David Maidment has some good pracs on his University of Texas website David's site here. This will give you exposure to a different specialised extension, while doing some network anaylsis, learning how to apply a schema to a data set, and if you are willing to go far enough even introducing you to the exciting realm of time series data!!

Best of luck
Andrew

[frax]

How about asking some local NGO's on what they could need assistance with?

[Hans van der Maarel]

I know the feeling, I'm always working 'better' when I have a clear goal set by an outside client.

I'm working on a concept that will hopefully help people in your situation get projects to work on 'for the experience'. Can't tell you much about it at the moment, but I'm trying to make this a reality sometime soon.

[Kevin McManigal]

Greetings!

Well you might already know about all the ESRI tutorials, but there is enough here to keep ya busy learning for a while.

http://webhelp.esri....cName=Tutorials

Cheers

[mike]

How about asking some local NGO's on what they could need assistance with?

i agree, nothing beats practical experience like working on some real world projects. when i was a student, i volunteered some of my time and what I learned in my GIS courses to work with the World Wildlife Fund. Perhaps you can find something in your area (or not... this IS the digital era) and apply your skills.

[BioGeoMan]

I agree with frax, look around your community and find a non-profit or other local group that may need a GIS/Cartographic-related product. Usually natural resource or community planning groups need GIS work, but cannot afford the staff to support it (e.g. land trusts, watershed councils, open space collaborations, "friends" of _______).

Just make sure you follow through

[How bout DEM dawgs]

Wow, some great advice here! Thanks to all for replying. Andrew, I must say,
my interest is piqued--ArcHydro looks to be quite a challenge. I'm on my way
to ESRI to look around. By the way, that UT link might yield. Moreover, I hear
the Horns' GISc department is the home of champions. Thanks again everyone.

How Bout DEM Dawgs