How can GIS professional networks improve your spatial data analysis skills?

Don't underestimate the power of social networks to be inspired by GIS professionals. Some of the best work and discussion topics I have seen, has been on X and LinkedIn. Social media is an excellent tool to keep abreast of geospatial innovation. I would also add that within medium to large organisations, you should look for advocates within your own company. Data Analyst, Engineers and Scientists have broadly similar roles to GIS professionals in working with Spatial Data. Engaging with your analyst community will help you not only work more collaboratively with other teams but actually learn and share new skills which will benefit your best practice.

A GIS professional network plays a crucial role in enhancing our spatial data analysis skills. Through such a network, we can engage in knowledge sharing, exchanging ideas, best practices, and insights related to spatial data analysis techniques and tools. Collaborating with fellow professionals on projects provides practical experience and exposes us to different approaches to spatial data analysis. Additionally, it offers access to valuable resources. Furthermore, we can receive valuable feedback and mentorship from experienced individuals. Moreover, a professional network can open doors to job opportunities and career advancement in the field, allowing us to gain more experience and expertise in spatial data analysis.

The most useful GIS networks and communities are on social media, specifically Linkedin and X. Following fellow professionals who work with GIS, data analysis and visualization can help with inspiration and motivation to try new tools and apps. Other than social media, portals like Medium or Geoawesomeness provide useful information and options for networking and collaboration.

Gis professional network can help like below 1. Provide access to experienced mentor and peer for guidance and knowledge sharing 2. Offering opportunity for collaboration in projects and discuss to gain insights 3. Keep you updated about latest GIS tools, techniques and trends through network event and resources

I strongly believe in the power of social network communities in the field of GIS and support build careers and develop skills. These networks especially LinkedIn offer direct connection with heroes of GIS in various domains and gaining exposure to the latest developments and best practices in the geospatial industry. In particular, I've taken an initiative to create a community for the Arab world society focused on cartography to connect Arab cartographers, whether they are professionals or enthusiasts. This community aims to serve as a hub for sharing ideas, experiences, and business opportunities, fostering collaboration, and helping individuals in the Arab world advance their cartographic careers.

I have seen great benefits to my career development from participating in GIS professional networks and communities. Some of the benefits I have seen include: * Learning new ideas, different perspectives, best practices, new technologies, and events from like-minded GIS professionals and others * Building relationships and professional connections, and meeting interesting people * Improving communication and public speaking skills (building your confidence) * Getting/giving career advice, support, and finding jobs * Raising a professional profile and growing a personal brand by sharing knowledge, practices, and achievements

Joining a GIS community comes with different benefits to an individual. Assistance: One gets access to help when undertaking a project or stuck on the way executing a project. Help is made available from people with similar journeys in GIS and experts. Ground for Learning: People within GIS communities share similar background in GIS. One gets to learn from experts in aspects of analyses and visualization of data in different map formats.

Joining GIS professional networks and communities is helpful both for you AND the community. Everyone brings a different skill set and people learn from each other. These are the main advantages of joining GIS professional networks and communities: → meeting new people - this is THE most important. Without people, there would be no networks and communities → learning new stuff: be it a new tool, feature, function, best practice, technique, method, procedure,... → getting new clients (contractor), getting job offers from other companies (employee), hiring new employees (owner/manager) → getting involved in online and in person events which ends up in even more networking → making yourself visible in the GIS world

Joining GIS professional networks and communities can bring a range of benefits. Here are a few reasons why me should consider joining: 1. Networking: Being part of a professional network allows me to connect with other GIS professionals, exchange ideas, and build relationships. This networking can lead to potential job opportunities, collaborations, and knowledge sharing. 2. Learning and professional development. 3. Problem-solving and collaboration. 4. Career advancement 5. Professional recognition and credibility. Remember, the key to benefiting from these networks is active engagement. Participate in discussions, attend events, and contribute to the community whenever possible.

You'll be able to network and give your resume an edge. However, it should not be used as a placeholder. You should focus on which types of organizations you want to be a part of based on your career path and interests. These organizations can even help you with specific certifications that you might be after.

The easiest way to join GIS professional networks and communities is to subscribe to relevant GIS newsletters and start using a social media account. The best platforms for this are LinkedIn and X. The 1st step is to follow accounts that share knowledge you are interested in. The 2nd step is to start writing thoughtful comments under relevant posts. The 3d step is to start posting your own useful posts. These can showcase your work, share your experience, knowledge and useful resources, like data sources, learning materials, courses, events, etc. By reading GIS newsletters, you'll gain knowledge about the newest stuff and you can always hit reply and start a conversation with the author of the newsletter.

If you already work in GIS, you already have a GIS network and community. It's a small community of like-minded individuals with a knack for everything geospatial. If you're looking to get into a network, I would look for a local conference and just say hi to people and ask questions. I think we're all pretty nice and love talking about GIS.

Linkedin offers a great option called as search tool and it helps us a lot. When we type 'GIS", things are easy for us. We can choose a lot from the results and lot of information is there. It is very easy on Linkedin to search GIS groups and lot of space agencies are maintaining groups on this platform. All events are being shared in the relevant groups and we need to search for better one. Joining more than one group related to same domain is always good as we get lot of information and we can brush our skills and enhance our knowledge base. GIS and remote sensing experts and analysts are always in need of data that helps them in their jobs. It is essential to derive insights from these groups. Groups are good.

To join GIS professional networks and communities, you have several accessible pathways. Start by signing up on dedicated online platforms like Esri Community or GeoNet, where you can create a profile, post questions, and engage with fellow GIS enthusiasts. Additionally, embrace the power of social media by following GIS-related accounts and hashtags on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to GIS blogs and newsletters to stay updated with the latest industry insights. Attend GIS conferences, webinars, and seminars hosted by organizations such as Esri, and seek out local or regional GIS associations and meetups in your area.

It is fortunate that through social media communities are made available for info with similar interests to join. One can join GIS communities by searching on two recommendations which are LinkedIn and X platforms. It’s just a click away and you’re in. Others recommend filling a form to check authenticity and how to cope with the Code and Conducts of that community. Once you’ve been granted access, the other part of the lies on the individual to network and build one’s connection with a focus for growth.

There are so many benefits to contributing and engaging with the GIS professional networks and communities. Engage with other professionals through social media, online platforms, or blog posts to create a network of people who are familiar with you and your work. If you have a problem, it's easier to get help from the network you've created by sharing your question on social media or an online platform, or asking a specific group of people you know. Challenging ideas and contributing your expertise and knowledge to the communities by engaging in conversations is a great way to continue to grow the community and ensure the community is always learning and moving forward.

There are various ways you can contribute and make a positive impact. Some of these contributions ideas as below: ??Sharing your knowledge and expertise. ?? Sharing geospatial data. ?? Providing mentorship and guidance. ?? Collaborating on GIS projects. ?? Organizing GIS-related events. ?? Contributing to open-source GIS software. ?? Creating educational resources. ?? Problem-solving and technical assistance. ?? Networking and building connections. ?? Sharing research findings. ??Organize competitions for students and professionals. The most important aspect to consider while making any of the above to genuinely care about the community's goals and fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual support.

You can contribute to GIS communities in many ways. Some of them are: > writing tutorials or step-by-step blogposts > making educational YouTube videos > curating existing useful content, be it blogposts, videos, newsletters > linking to GIS courses > sharing GIS job offers (not just from your company) > giving advice > actively engaging in conversations > offering mentorship > sharing GIS data sources > asking questions > you name it, only sky is the limit!

We can write articles, our thoughts, upload maps, videos and many to showcase our skills to the world. Many people interact with your posts and offer valuable comments. If we post a good work, we get great comments and someone will also give important directions in the form of reviews. Sharing our work is always easy on Linkedin. The role of GIS engineers and analysts can be portrayed in the form of animations, videos, maps, etc and this platform creates a valuable space for many. I hope that we can share lot of information to the public and can get information from them. This will enhance our boundaries and stop us from diverting to other non-essential realms.

You can start obtaining certifications that show your improvement in spatial data and geospatial analysis. The Esri certifications can be a great way of showing your aptitude in GIS. The GISP certification might take time due to other requirements, but you can take the test at specific times, and when you pass it, you can focus on the other requirements.

As it relates to GIS professional networks, one way to measure your skill improvement is to contribute advice and options to the community. If what you share is regularly being positively received, this can be interpreted as being proficient in your spatial knowledge and helpful to your network.

When joining GIS communities and networks, always think how you can be helpful for the community. Because: the more you give, the more you get! Don't be shy and ask questions, answer other people's questions, write relevant comments, like and share.

Because your time is valuable, you must carefully decide with whom you should connect and network! Because you may have recently discovered different GIS communities where you are not getting the best value for your goals, you should first focus on your goal from network and which specialisation in GIS you need to expand in order to choose the right community and network to receive peer reviews for your work, insightful discussion, and stay informed with updates and best practises from heroes in your specialisation.

Consider joining GIS networks, attending conferences and workshops related to biodiversity and conservation, and actively participating in online forums and communities focused on the intersection of GIS and biodiversity. Networking with experts and peers in the field can help you enhance your spatial data analysis skills and contribute effectively to biodiversity conservation efforts.

A GIS professional network provides a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration with other professionals in the field. By connecting with experts and peers, you can learn from their experiences, gain insights into new techniques and tools, and stay updated with the latest advancements in GIS. Additionally, a professional network can offer opportunities for training, workshops, and conferences focused on spatial analysis. These events can help you enhance your skills, learn new methodologies, and expand your knowledge base. Lastly it can open doors to potential job opportunities, collaborations, and mentorship. Building relationships within the industry can provide valuable guidance and support as you progress in your career.

Just because someone has a degree in G.I.S or Master in G.I.S and someone talent and associate degree in Drafting Design and the experience. Doesn't mean they be treated bad and unethical just because don not have the degree. Treat each better.