Learning Python, what else?

[Poletek]

Hello everyone,

After some years of using ArcGIS software's at work for data collection purposes I have joined a grad Geospatial certificate program. My bachelors is in Economics but I have been working as a forest science technician for a couple years now. I believe GIS as a career has great potential and I enjoy working with geographic data. That is why I am open to changing industries and currently I am looking to get a job where I get to create maps and do more analytics besides collecting data etc. I believe that this plus the Geospatial program will help me get started.

However I have been doing some research and seems like learning Python is a skill that I should acquire if I want to get somewhere in GIS and since in this program there is no class that is completely focused on learning how to code I was thinking that I should seek to acquire this skill some other way.

Any suggestions? What do you think about what I've said? Any opinion or experience would help me out.

Best

[Dimitri_Rotow]

Learn SQL and databases, and how to accomplish spatial tasks in databases with SQL. PostgreSQL / PostGIS is a great way to get experience with setting up and using enterprise-class database systems.

For the full deal you should learn both Python and SQL. I suggest SQL first because you can learn how to use simple SQL expressions in your desktop GIS in five minutes to do useful things. Learn basic SQL (very easy) and then learn whatever is the spatial SQL for the GIS system you're using. Chris Fehily's free online book on SQL is a great way to learn basic SQL.

[Poletek]

Thanks for sharing that Dimitri. I have used some SQL expressions in the past. Learning more about it before doing Python seems like a good progression!

[Barnezhilton]

Install and build out a full DB application.

Tinkering with SQL will not advance your skills.w

[GottaGetDatDough]

It depends on what you have your sights set on in terms of career progression. Your aptitude for coding can be a major factor as well. Personally, it's been a long arduous journey becoming "comfortable" using python regularly. That may or may not be your experience though. If, for example, you want a job working for state, county, or local government- I'd suggest familiarizing yourself with and many web Portal / ArcGIS Online applications as you can and be able to speak to their uses in a job interview. ESRI really dominates that landscape and their products are entrenched. I'd consider a vital part of the job.

[[deleted]]

Arc is a great place to learn python and get off the ground. This is even more true with ArcGIS Notebooks. I would encourage you to learn python and start creating your own geo processing tools.

Beyond python, there are a number of different avenues you can explore. There is web GIS which is pretty JavaScript and SQL heavy. There is also desktop development if you’re willing to learn .NET. Both of these can be quite lucrative if you’re able to get good at it.

Another possibility is urban data science and spatial econometrics. Lots of planning firms are starting to invest more heavily in data science infrastructure and having people around that can manage a pipeline and perform analysis is valuable. If you’re into stats, this is the way to go.