Gis?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Michael240

I read earlier that there are companies looking for GIS Volunteers, if you know of any looking please let me know. Thanks

Holy thread revival batman :lol:

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Holy thread revival batman :lol:

GIS a job?

[Meta menardi]

I know this thread is a revival, but presumably whichever of Burke or Hare was the resurrectionist is interested, and I can only think that it is a current job comment. Johnny, for mapinfo try loading the Directory path files for your maps into Word or some such and using Search and Replace repeatedly to redirect your program, it worked for me and saved hours (actually prevented my employer from dumping all the stuff and starting from scratch).

Digitising in Arcmap is a completly different experience to Mapinfo, If you have a lot to do, dump Mapinfo. The sort of magic finger follows lines! It is so much simpler. I do know what you mean about twitchy finger, I find my Canon G12 difficult to use as the half pressure is not as distinct as my beloved Nikon 4500.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Michael240

I read earlier that there are companies looking for GIS Volunteers, if you know of any looking please let me know. Thanks

that was my missus what said that that was (except she wasnt my missus at the time which really showws the age of this thread)

Originally Posted by almostnormal

best way to get some experience is to find a conservation organisation that needs a GIS volunteer, and believe me there will be lots of those, because its generally disliked quite a lot, as one of those tedious little things that has to be done.

check out RSPB, wildlife trusts, and any council PRoW/definitive map team (they all use cams or mapinfo and despise the midless tedium pretty much without exception) etc - that said most of them will want you to have some basic knowledge of the software before hand.

assuming you have that you best bet would be your local volunteer centre who will have a register of volunteer opportunities in your area

[poschiavanus]

Interesting thread to come back from the dead!

Yes, pros will use ArcInfo (ESRI) and to a lesser extent MapInfo. However there are two excellent open-source free GIS packages, which are more appropriate for use by most small scale wildlife organisations. Not only will they work with ArcInfo shape files and various MapInfo formats, but because they don't cost anything other than user learning curve they can be put on everyone's desk. Ideal for doing volunteer work with GIS.

Both are built on a superb open-source library of GIS functions called OpenGeo.

The two packages are:

• Quantum GIS. Far and away the easiest to use. The one I use most of the time.
  
• GRASS. Does everything imaginable but has a steep learning curve. I do know of a number of small GIS consultancies who offer training in GRASS.

As for Ordnance Survey vector data, the OS OpenData VectorMap District set is not too bad at all: providing decent vector products for woodland (albeit inaccurate in places) and waterbodies. Look at this example produced by the editor of magazine. Roads and railways are also highly accurate. Vector detail can be merged with the raster set called OS StreetView. In some areas (mainly England and around larger towns and cities in Scotland & Wales) OpenStreetMap vector data will provide considerably more detail (footpaths, other landuse, facilities etc.) and will be accurate to within 5 metres or better.

If you are producing thematic maps then I thoroughly recommend ColourBrewer for choosing a visually attractive scheme.