Friday, April 24, 2009

Education in GIS

There are many way to educate oneself about Geographic Information Systems, from online classes to online training seminars. GIS courses are also becoming much more common in college curriculums. As the demand from well trained workers has grown, many college have begun to offer degrees in both business and forestry fields. There are also more and more software specific training courses as the technology used in Geographic Information systems becomes more specialized and powerful.
The GIS Certification Institute was created in 2004 as another way to meet the growing demand for GIS professionals. A GIS certificate not only shows that someone has education and professional GIS experience, but also requires them to abide by higher guidelines in their behavior. After proving themselves by earring a GIS certificate, the professional has many opportunities presented to them, and are able to show the value wherever they go.
From seeking a degree from a traditional school, or taking online courses or seminars, anyone interested GIS can greatly benefits from learning more about the field. As the technology behind this field becomes more complex, professionals will be required to have these degrees and certifications in order to get and keep their jobs.

Friday, April 17, 2009

The field of Geographic Information Systems is a rapidly expanding field with new possibilities and opportunities constantly being discovered. As organizations of all disciplines from commercial, to government, and even educational, are realizing the potential of GIS, the demand for qualified workers is constantly growing. As this demand grows, specialists with the knowledge and abilities to integrate and operate GIS hardware and programs are becoming very valuable. Currently, the demand for quality people needed to fill these new positions is exceeding the supply, and job opportunities exist in nearly every type of industry.
GIS systems are powerful problem solving tools that can be used for mapping and cartography, forestry, remote sensing, geospatial analysis and many other uses. Although these systems are commonly thought of as mapping tools, they are also being used to analyze and manage human activities. These systems can helpful in the planning and decision making processes of any organization. GIS systems allow users to organize and analyze data efficiently and effectively, and with the right knowledge can be extremely productive.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Geographic Information Systems

Geographic Information Systems is a powerful computer based system whose field is quickly growing. Using GIS makes it possible to analyze and map geographically referenced information through the use of database and visualization technologies. A GIS system has the ability to take spatial information (data referenced to geographic locations) as well as attribute data (tied to a geographical feature) and transform it into meaningful information that is easier to manage and work with, and share. The analyzed data can be interpreted and visualized in many different ways. Although GIS was initially used for mapping purposes, it is now increasing being used as a model to aid problem solving. A system consists of three parts working together: database view, map view, and a model view.
GIS can be integrated into any enterprise network; however, hardware, software, data, and knowledgeable people are all necessary components of a working geographic information system. A central workstation runs the software necessary for the system. While there are different options for GIS software packages, many are design to meet specific purposes, and therefore have can have many different capabilities. Some geographic information systems are use web software that process and store data online. Geographic data is divided into two groups. Vector data is using points and lines, and raster data such as aerial imagery. Attribute data is also important to add description and meaning to spatial features. As with any technology, workers must have the knowledge and training to essential to get the most out of the system.
New uses for these systems are constantly being discovered. As the field grows, people with a working knowledge of GIS will be in constant demand. This is certainly a field with many possibilities and opportunities that an IT or IS major should be aware of.

Geographic Information Systems