It seems that every thread has the same advice of "just study computer science" somewhere in it, which I understand the value of, having done some coding classes myself. But I also know that I don't want my primary job to be coding oriented, rather I want to be making cool maps using GIS, designing cities with urban planning, or something related.

My GIS focused bachelor's has taught me some basic coding skills but I really want a role where I primarily get to create and analyze maps. How can I make a good living if I don't want to be another one of the millions of comp sci students competing for the high-paying coding jobs? What specific careers in GIS provide this? I'm open to jobs in industry, government, or even the entrepreneurial path (I have a keen interest in real estate investing, particularly campgrounds and RV parks).

I'm on track to graduate this year with a bachelor's in GIS, or I could stay an additional year and double major in economics. Would getting a master's make more sense than staying for the double major? I have lost interest in economics and I don't want to work in that field anymore. What master's programs have the best ROI, or should I try to get a job straight out of college and have my employer pay for the master's?

​

– A fellow map nerd :)

The Department of Energy Pantex Plant is looking for a GIS specialist for the Environmental Department. Duties would include maintenance and updates of the software, support of other organizations within the plant, and maintenance of current data and programs.

Salary range depending on qualifications is $90,000 to $120,000 plus benefits. Would require relocation to Amarillo.

https://career-hcm03.ns2cloud.com/career?career%5fns=job%5flisting&company=PANPRD&navBarLevel=JOB%5fSEARCH&rcm%5fsite%5flocale=en%5fUS&career_job_req_id=15307&selected_lang=en_US&jobAlertController_jobAlertId=&jobAlertController_jobAlertName=&browserTimeZone=America/Chicago&_s.crb=a0BnzZWYwhWsKZ0xTksXiArJkCRjz66w4Z8xkHW1kUc%3d

HI all! I am a college student who has an assignment to complete on the Great London Fires using ModelBuilder in ArcPro. Unfortunately, I have run into some trouble with the tool. Using ModelBuilder, we are supposed to use the "Select" tool to select the extent of the fire on Sept. 2., then we are to use "Select by Location" and use the intersect function to intersect the extent of the fire with churches within the extent. After running those to create new layers, we are supposed to go to the point layer of the churches, go to "selection" and click "Make feature from selected layers". However, this isn't an option - it's greyed out. Normally, I would just ask my professor, but she has to take care of sick children and there is no one else who would know, and this is an issue friends in the class last year reported having I tried looking at ESRI, but the solutions they provided didn't help, and apparently access to ESRI's Tech Support Desk isn't allowed by our school administration. If anyone has any ideas for how to get it to work, I am all ears.

TL;DR: If you had to get into ArcGIS again, how would you approach it? Are certificates worth it?

I just started a job as a GIS Analyst in a consultancy. During my studies, I gained plenty of experience with QGIS and Python (Geopandas) and a bit of machine learning. Now I will be working with ArcGIS for the first time. Since ArcGIS offers a wide range of services, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed about where to start. Where would you begin if you had to start all over again?

Since I have no ArcGIS experience on my CV, I think it might be worthwhile to earn a certification. Are there any particular ones you would recommend?

From what I understand, our company has ArcGIS licenses, so I can hopefully experiment with it a bit. Do you know of any blogs with interesting projects and explanations of how they were set up?

I’m currently helping students with a final project which involves story mapping with a least a couple maps they’ve created in mapviewer.

Today I ran a workshop with them and found that data layers which normally should have been easy to find, nothing was coming up in searches. Later I read that ArcGIS online was experiencing problems. Would this have impacted those searches?

Hi team
I'm wondering if anyone knows the possibilities regarding changing polygon/data granularity based on zoom level (zoomed out its state level, zoomed in postcode etc)
Ideally in Looker Studio or Tableau as those are what my company currently uses, though I know they aren't really GIS tools. But if you have suggestions for tools that I can create and distribute interactive maps around without breaking the bank I'm happy to explore all options.

Cheers

Hey y'all, I am trying to create a rose plot for data in ArcPro but I can't find a chart to do this. I know in ArcMap the polar chart feature would've done this but it isn't in ArcPro. I have also looked into wind roses as an option but have not had any luck. The data is flow directions so things like wind speed are not applicable. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated, thanks :)

https://preview.redd.it/dy5zgc3haq0e1.png?width=241&format=png&auto=webp&s=a0da90e9e2395981dd79572708ac6e170b8fc568

In ArcPro, I am trying to convert a mosaic's units of measurements. I am trying to affect the mosaic dataset above, currently set in meters. I would like to have this be converted to feet automatically when I bring it out from its file location. When i run the Unit Conversion raster function, I am able to create a new layer with the correct measurements in feet. This doesn't affect the original file however. Is there a way to automate this raster function occurring upon adding the mosaic to a project? I know in arcmap there was a function system in the properties, however when i save the Unit Conversion function to a processing template i get this result instead.

https://preview.redd.it/q7r2og09bq0e1.png?width=319&format=png&auto=webp&s=2fdca8906278dbe30478a51fd201fc8f0448acff

Would anyone happen to know what I am doing wrong?

I'm curious to know what others have strived for after earning a Bachelors degree and entering the workforce. What licenses, certifications, and graduate degrees have you pursued? There are many licenses, degrees, and certifications out there such as MS, MBA, MPA, GISP, PMP, LSIT, EIT, AWS, etc. The list is extensive.

To make the discussion a little more diversified, I will give three categories.

1. What will likely give you the biggest increase in income a few years down the road?
2. Which one is the most transferable if you wish to move on to a different company/industry?
3. Which one is for interest/fun, but can still be used for work?

I'll start. This is just my opinion. I'd like to see what others have to say. I need a new goal to strive for, as well as look for certifications that I may not know exist.

1. Master's of Science - Data Science
2. Project Management Professional (PMP)
3. FAA Part 107

Does anyone have a fix for s123 connect not opening after installation, just a "not responding" page after attempting the first time opening? I am on Windows 11, have required 64bit, have uninstalled and reinstalled from MS store and ESRI site, and ran as admin. Not sure where to go from here.

I’m majoring in GIS rn and was wondering if a minor in physics or poli Sci or intelligence would be better for a higher paying job in the field.

I'm feeling like my lack of coding ability is holding me back in my GIS-heavy job. A lot of my colleagues have r expertise and have said it has a lot of mapping capabilities. I primarily use Esri products so run into python pretty regularly, and am wondering which one would be more useful for me professionally. Right now I primarily create (i.e. collect in the field, digitize rasters into polygon feature classes, etc), manage, and distribute (hosted feature layers, web maps and apps, etc) GIS data in my current position, but I also want to think ahead to what would generally be the most useful for other potential GIS positions. I don't do much with non-spatial datasets currently, and don't have much of an interest in changing that.

Should I learn r or Python?

Could someone recommend a tutorial or R code to make a texture classification map (categorical variable) using machine learning? I have some data that I would like to interpolate to predict that variable (texture) from terrain covariates and some indices.

Hi all - need some help with creating a Railroad Network Dataset (ArcGIS Pro) for service planning - to determine a suitable route.

I have Shapefiles of the rail network. How do I incorporate elevation/ slope ? Is there any other data that I need to successfully create this network.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Currently looking at online opportunities to get a GIS certificate. Harper is nearby me which means I can drive up for possible networking opportunities, but mainly just want to ask if the online classes/portion is worth it? Thanks!

I have a friend who is wicked smart and has a ridiculous love for maps, cartography, understanding orientation etc. He could be a professional trip planner as every weekend he has an excursion or trip (lives in the inter mountain region and often canyoneering, backpacking, etc) and will still use paper map in tandem with digital to assess everything. He’s also very gifted in the drawing which i think helps his special understanding. He’s been doing data work for years and recently has fallen into a depression slump. I’ve encouraged him to pursue something in the mapping world but i realize i have no idea what that means when i tell him that. Wondering how one could get into this field and what qualifications one would need. He has his undergrad degree from a liberal arts college but it’s in economics. I don’t think he’d be interested in going back to school for certifications etc bc of tuition. Are there jobs in the cartography/GSI world that would be a good fit for someone like him to pursue?

Hi all!

I received a spreadsheet of attributes from which I need to create points. This is something I do a lot, but in the table I received from an outside source the Lat Long are just listed in a string of numbers and I don't know how to convert them to something the software will recognize. Or maybe that's not my problem at all and I need to find a different projection - but I don't think so.

https://preview.redd.it/nogp3wjvip0e1.png?width=155&format=png&auto=webp&s=a06d54328af5fa7698cf4cb5cfc7d4d9ece02155

The first time I tried this, it did seem that I used the wrong projection. The points did plot. I zoomed to layer and they were off the edge of the globe somewhere, but I could see them. So I tried again w/different projections, some standard ones.

Now, I Created Points from Table and the layer shows up in my catalogue/ Drawing Order, but nothing displays in my map. When I zoom to layer, the detail area doesn't change at all. I stay in the same place, but nothing displays. It doesn't matter where I am in the map. I've maneuvered around the geography a bit, and every time I stop somewhere and Zoom to Layer of these points, nothing happens. I stay wherever I was, as if that's where the layer should display, but nothing displays. Does that make sense?

So I think that part of my problem is that my Lat Long entries are not in a useable format. The top entry, for example, needs to be something like 39 79'10.44 and -105 15'86.11. Doesn't it? I thought maybe the software would know how to convert those, but it doesn't seem like it. And I'm not sure how to create a formula that will re-format those values in a new column in Excel so I can import it into Pro, or how to convert the values in ArcPro.

Does anyone know the answer? Thanks, all!!

Just got back from an interview for a Tech role for a county org. Qualifications requirements were basic and entry level. I figured I have a solid understanding of GIS being that I have 5+ years of GEOINT analysis from the military and have used ArcGIS although in a limited capacity. I know I can grasp GIS in the civilian sector quickly especially because I have a genuine interest and solid understanding. I also have a background as a 911 dispatcher and know the direct implications of outdated GIS data. Holy crap was it a cold and lifeless interview. 10 technical questions and that was it. No smiles, no handshakes, no reviewing resume or anything. I feel so defeated, because I really didn’t know how to answer the questions, especially without context. They even stated they couldn’t rephrase questions I just had to look at a paper. Worst part, the salary is in the 40s and I won’t even know my “scoring” for a few weeks.

The GIS & Research Division at Anne Arundel Office of Planning and Zoning is hiring a GIS Technician I. Entry level, full-Time Permanent, hybrid work position (3 days remote/2 days in Annapolis), full benefits including a pension.

Position Description:

Under direction of the GIS Program Manager for the Research and GIS Section, the GIS Technician I performs professional, entry-level Geographic Information System work in developing and maintaining GIS databases and applications. An employee in this class is responsible for digitizing from reference materials, database attribution, analysis of the spatial data, and product generation. The work involves: updating and maintaining countywide datasets along with assisting in the development of procedures for maintaining GIS databases; developing static and web-based map products; and developing, testing, and prototyping GIS applications. An employee in this class may serve as an individual contributor with day-to-day responsibility for administration of one or more GIS datasets including easements, development activity, parcels, and/or zoning. An employee in this class may use either CAD software or GIS software or both to review development submittals. An employee in this class determines information needed and methods to be used, and applies a variety of techniques to complete assignments.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from high school, supplemented by college-level courses in geography, cartography, planning, engineering, computer science, or related disciplines; experience in GIS application software, automated drafting techniques, equipment plotting, digitizing, and data input; and a valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle operator's license.

Salary: $47,503.00 - $85,336.00 Annually

Edited to add a link to the job posting.

Before you crucify me, I am asking because someone moved into my department and I'm looking for resources to get them trained on the BASICS of Arcmap. We use Arcmap because I work at an electric utility and migrating to Pro isn't an option at the moment.

It appears that Esri has removed all of the Arcmap training videos unless I missed something. Is my best option YouTube?

I’m constructing a model that uses the Iterate Feature Classes iterator to perform a bulk layer to kml process on a schedule. So the process goes Iterate Feature Classes/Make Feature Layer/Layer to KML. It works fine using the temporary feature layers to create the kml from the shapefiles based on the %Name%. The problem is that the layer to kml piece fails after a few successful runs stating that the workspace is not the correct type and the value is not a file. The workspace is set to the folder containing the shapefiles I want to convert. If I respecify the output location it will begin to work again until I save and close the model and try to run it through the geoprocessing pane. Let me know your thoughts. This is ArcGIS Pro 3.3.0

I’d love to mix my previous IT experience along with GIS. Currently taking the time to learn python then SQL, but would love to still dabble with admin tasks as well and want to rebuild some of that knowledge.

Do any of you have home labs wit that you have built to tinker with new technologies in your spare time?

Project Context

I was tasked with creating a map-based visualization for three large geographic coordinate databases (points and lines) on an interactive map. These databases contain geospatial information (Geo Point and Geo Shape types with LineString coordinates) and are available in various formats: large CSV files, JSON exports, and an API. The objective is to visualize all these data points on a single map, allowing users to toggle between layers and interact fluidly with each layer. Ideally, tooltips will display details when hovering over each line or point.

My approach was to find a SaaS mapping solution to avoid relying on heavy software like QGIS, which requires powerful computers to handle large data volumes and ensure a smooth user experience—something our end users don’t have access to. Ideally, I’m looking for a free or affordable SaaS option that can import large files of points and lines (the CSV file is about 1.5 GB and contains 3,750,000 rows).

Challenges Faced

Here are the main challenges I've encountered:

• Data Volume: The 1.5 GB CSV exceeds the capacity of many online mapping tools. Several SaaS solutions I’ve tried can’t import such a large file, freeze up, or require a paid subscription before even attempting to handle it.
• Limited Testing: Some SaaS platforms restrict free trials and don’t allow users to test with large data volumes, forcing me to pay upfront only to find that the service doesn’t meet our needs.
• Cost of Viable Solutions: A few services can load the data and create a decent map, but the price is often too high for what we need, as our primary goal is simply to visualize the data on a map without advanced geospatial analysis features.
• Local Solutions Are Not Viable: I considered using software like QGIS or ArcGIS, but these options require more computing power than our users have access to. For instance, QGIS can handle large datasets, but the user’s experience suffers on less powerful machines, resulting in poor map performance.
• Issues with Power BI: My latest attempt was to use Power BI with different mapping plugins, such as ArcGIS for Power BI and Icon Map, to visualize the data. I spent a lot of time reformatting the data to ensure Power BI recognized it correctly, but again, the query limit and data overload caused the software to crash when I tried to load the LineString data. Power BI struggled to handle the lines without freezing or crashing.

Solutions Attempted

Below is a list of SaaS tools and solutions I’ve tried, along with the issues encountered:

• ArcGIS Online: Testing is restricted without a paid account, and I couldn’t use my 1.5 GB CSV file without first linking a credit card.
• CARTO: Works well and has the features I need but is too expensive.
• Google My Maps: Handles data well, but cannot import the 1.5 GB CSV file.
• Kepler.gl: Free and works well with smaller files, but the 1.5 GB CSV crashes the tool.
• Mapbox: Requires a credit card link before testing, so I couldn’t fully try it.
• Datawrapper: The free version does not support importing a 1.5 GB CSV file.
• Tableau: Works but is too expensive for our needs.
• QGIS Cloud: Does not support the 1.5 GB CSV file.

Last Attempt: Power BI with Mapping Plugins

My latest approach involved working within Power BI using the ArcGIS for Power BI and Icon Map plugins. The idea was to load the data into Power BI, hoping it would be easier to manage multiple layers and display tooltips for each data point and line.

• ArcGIS for Power BI: Despite multiple attempts, the plugin struggled to recognize the columns containing Geo Shape data. The LineString format posed challenges, and even after adapting the data, the display was limited.
• Icon Map: This plugin was somewhat more flexible with LineString data, but it quickly became overwhelmed with the large data volumes. The map rendering was extremely slow, and the query limit led to frequent crashes.

Seeking Advice

I’m now at a point where I would like to ask for guidance. If you were in this situation, with three heavy datasets that need to be displayed on a smooth, interactive map with hover-based tooltips for each line/point, and keeping costs low, what would you do?

I'm a post graduate student and for a research project, I need a raster data of elevation, climate change, temperature, rainfall of a particular area. I googled and even asked CHATGPT but even after trying everything I am not getting the required data. Can anyone guide me? My study area is in India, Andhra Pradesh.

Edit: Thanks for the links, but I tried there as well no raster data is available, if anyone can get the raster data for Andhra Pradesh, India. I will be really grateful to you😭

Can’t get to our site this morning, so I tried the main site and it doesn’t load either: https://www.arcgis.com/home/index.html

The dashboard says everything is just fine, though, lol: https://status.arcgis.com

I need help just checking if you can access the arcgis pro trial registration? mine shows up “temporarily unavailable” saying its under maintenance but it has been 3 days now. someone told me it was supposed to be done by now since it’s only an overnight maintenance

I recently downloaded the ESRI ArcGIS Companion app that connects to either ArcGIS Online or to ArcGIS Enterprise. Does anyone know if ESRI is working on a fix for the app layout on iPhones. (Mine is a iPhone 15 Plus). The top menu seems to be jumbled with the time, wifi, cellular and battery icons. The menu buttons don’t work correctly a lot of the time.

I am trying to georeference an old US Army Map Service map of the Gulf Region of Papua New Guinea. I'd like it to be as accurate as possible because I am trying to analyze coastline changes.

I used QGIS to georeference the scan by placing GCPs on the four most extreme grid line intersections and manually inputting the co-ordinates per the map. The map has co-ordinates in both degrees/minutes (WGS72???) and in metres (UTM zone 55s, international spheroid). I have tried placing GCPs on the grid lines of both systems, and both times I get the same result - the georeferenced map comes in at almost the right scale and location, but is clearly rotated slightly clockwise. I am using a Bing XYZ layer as a reference.

The thing is, when I check the co-ordinates in the QGIS canvas, they correspond perfectly - it's just that the map itself is off. Is this is a projection issue on my end? The map dates from the 1960s - so I am suspicious somewhere along the way I introduced a system that is too recent.

Images: https://imgur.com/a/oLfswzl