Dear all,
Welcome to the blog for week one! Posting a comment and responding to one another's comments will give you 1% of the module marks per week. To gain the 1% you must post your comments by the Friday of each week. For week one you will have until Friday 15th to post a comment as the blog is up quite late.
The campus based students will be discussing the same issue with the distance learners.
This week (for 1%) I simply want you to introduce yourselves.
Cover the following issues:
1. Distance learner or campus student
2. Name
3. GIS Experience (particularly database experience)
4. Current work / study
5. Interests
6. Hopes for after the GIS course.
I will start the ball rolling!
My name is Paul McKenzie and I have been working/studying GIS for 13 years and teaching for 8 years. I currently teach on the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in GIS. I love running but haven't done much for a while! I also like films, Johnny Cash and church activities (a weird mix I know)!
I look forward to reading your comments.
Paul
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deletepolar bears, working for winemark and a love of alcohol consumption. Sounds like you are living the dream :)
DeleteWell to start, my name is Liam Miller and I'm on campus student. I have completed my Undergraduate Geography degree here at the University of Ulster before continuing onto this MSc. Currently I have 2 years GIS experience although nothing related to databases or programming. I'm currently employed by the University of Ulster for some consultancy work relating to Widening Access and Participation. My hobbies include playing football and socialising with friends (usually over a few drinks). After the course my first plan is to apply (and hopefully be successful) to graduate GIS jobs anywhere within the UK and proceed from there.
ReplyDeleteLiam
Hi my name is Lisa Molloy, I am a campus student. I completed my Undergraduate Environmental Science Degree at the University of Ulster, Coleraine. The only GIS experience I have is two modules that were part of my undergraduate degree. I currently work in a Cafe in Europa Bus Station, Belfast. My hobbies include travelling, reading and rugby. After I complete my masters I hope to get accepted into a PhD.
ReplyDeleteAah Lisa! Lowell here. Not at AFBI anymore? Good to see you on here.
DeleteHi All
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mike Holmes and I am a FT distance learner based in Belfast. I studied Ecological Science (Environmental Science) at the University of Edinburgh before returning hope and getting some experience within the GIS sector. Unfortunately I have limited knowledge of databases so this module is one i have been greatly looking forward to.
I used to be a keen hockey player but it has been put on hold due to the time constraints of studying FT while working.
Really hope to get into renewable energy after graduating particularly since I did a fair bit of wind farm modelling when studying in Edinburgh but because GIS is such a massive discipline I hope to be able to have widened my career prospects greatly on graduation. Who knows what is in store?! Good Luck everyone!!
Mike
Hey what years were you studying at Edinburgh? I was there 2005-2009 doing Geography but did a few Ecology modules too.
DeleteAh brilliant! Such a great city! I was there 2008-2012. I miss it so much. Meadows and Marchmont cant be beaten! Heading over in Jan with the GF canny wait to see old chums ;)
DeleteWhere you Drummond street or kings?
Hi, my name is Finbar Gillen and I am a graduate of Environmental Planning from Queens University Belfast. I am travelling to Coleraine from my home in a place called Ederney in County Fermanagh.
ReplyDeleteI have literally no GIS experience. I chose the course as I was advised by my personal tutor at Queens to consider it as an option. I also have a keen interest in Geography and I achieved a B grade at A level in the subject.
Currently I am working three days a week in a joinery firm in Fermanagh, due to the course being two days a week. I have a keen interest in most sports but particularly soccer and gaelic football. I play gaelic for my local club and we won Fermanagh Division 1 league title this year.
I hope to get some kind of job related to the course after I have completed the MSc. If I do not get one straight after completion I may consider going abroad for a year.
Finbar
Hi Finbar, that's so interesting you did the same course as me at QUB! How did you find it? I found it very interesting and worthwhile indeed!
DeleteHi everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tom Corcoran and I am a FT student based in Sligo. I studied Environmental Science here at UU Coleraine and enjoyed the course so much that I decided to return to study GIS. I have also gained some practical working experience between degrees designing blue flag beach and greencoast maps for Galway County Council in the south. Unfortunately I have not gained any database experience until now. After I complete the masters I would like to further develop my GIS experience and gain some solid work experience within Ireland or the UK. Good luck to everyone!
Hi my name is Vanessa Brush and I am a FT campus student from Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone. I finished my undergraduate degree in Geography at here at UUC last year and the only experience i have in GIS was 2 modules for my degree and my dissertation which was remote sensing/GIS based and as for databases I have not got a clue so hopefully this module will help. As for work I work in a meat factory (Dunbia) at the weekends testing meat, checking labels and the like and I love playing hockey but as of this year am unable due to work. I hope to get some sort of GIS job at the end of this either in the UK or abroad - particularly New Zealand as thats where I spent my gap year.
ReplyDeleteAnyway that's me so good luck everyone!!!!
Hello my name is Ciaran and I'm a FT DL student based in Dublin. My primary degree is a BSc Geomatics from DIT completed in 2010. GIS modules were a large component of that degree so I have some experience of databases from that course - terms from lecture 1 such as 'relational' and 'object-orientated' sounded alarm bells in the darker, less visited regions of my brain. I also use an Oracle database system for inventory management in work but I only interact with the front end of that software. I work for the Defence Forces and serve in Dublin as my unit's quartermaster, looking after weapons, ammunition, transport and infrastructure. At the minute I'm not sure if I'm studying around work or working around study but when I get a break from both I like to play some squash or go to the gym. I hope this course will open up some opportunities for me in work and I might look to continue my studies in the field some time in the future.
ReplyDeletebest of luck
Ciaran
Hi Ciaran,
DeleteMy husband is in his 3rd year in the Geomatic course in DIT and waiting for placement in January ( He's a good chance to go to Fugro in Aberdeen). How did you find the course yourself and did you enjoy your placement?
All the best on the course,
Aude.
Hello, my name is Ciaran Lenehan and I am a campus student from Portstewart. I have a BSc in Environmental Planning, an MSc in Construction and Project Management and an LLM in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, all from Queen's University Belfast. I have no experience of GIS but have a keen interest in mapping and computers. I am currently working for an online outdoor wear retailer. I am interested in sports and keeping fit and I play a bit of Gaelic football.
ReplyDeleteI would hope after completing this MSc that I get a job in the GIS field as I find it very interesting. A PhD would also appeal to me.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI am a distance learner currently living in Cardiff!! I completed my undergraduate in conservation in Bristol. I like surfing and being outside but have not had much of a chance to do either recently. I am currently working with as a digitiser for wales and west utilities which helps bring home the bacon.
Good luck everyone for the module.
Andrew
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DeleteYeah i love surfing i was actually brought up in the south west england by the sea so i have always surfed (probably not reflected in my ability). But wales is cool it has some really pretty beaches on the gower peninsular and in pembrokshire. I would strongly recomend a visit if you get the chance. Cradiff is a nice small city aswell, and because it is the capital it has a lot going on and if you like rugby you are in the right place. Saying that last time for the six nations watching england get thrashed in a welsh pub was a bit of an experience.
DeleteHello my name is Jonathan Sloan and I'm a distance learner from Bangor, Co. Down. I’ve worked in the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland and Land & Property Services for the last 22 years.
ReplyDeleteMy career has taken me from digitising our large scale map data, through the shop and sales areas where I first gained access to our digital data and ArcGIS 3.1. From there I moved on to testing and managing our eCommerce site and then it was on to working on GeoHubNI, the predecessor to www.spatialni.gov.uk.
During that time I became quite interested in open source GIS products such as Quantum GIS, UDig, Mapserver, Geoserver and PostGIS. I then got the opportunity to start using Oracle technologies including Oracle Spatial, Map viewer, Business Intelligence and Data Integrator and Application Express.
I’m currently in my second year of the Post Graduate Diploma / MSc in GIS.
My interests, when I get the time, are:
• Playing the guitar with more enthusiasm that skill.
• Looking after my kids (3 at 8,9 and 11).
• Reading, mostly sci fi – the more books in the series the better. Try the Vorkosigan Saga (14 books so far) but read anything by Alexander Dumas or Tolstoy if you like to get caught up in characters and rich landscapes.
• Listening to music – Spotify seems to think I like death metal? I do, but when the recommendation starts with ‘Their hardcore devil worshiping lyrics….’ I tend to draw the line. In my mellow moments I do enjoy Johnny Cash, Steve Earle, the Stones and I’m a recent convert to Bob Dylan.
• Pod casts are my most recent indulgence. I can recommend A Very Spatial Podcast and Directions Magazine. Got GeoInt is a bit ‘hit and miss’. On a less GIS related theme the Nerdist, The Incomparable and IRL Talk (previously Geek Friday) are all great.
My hopes are to get through this year. So far the course has provided a valuable insight into areas of GIS that I had not had a chance to explore. At the end of it all I’d really like to spend some time going back to look at open source software especially the games engines, exploring the possibilities for 3d and a slightly unrelated subject of managing data lifecycles, the next dimension after the 3 easy ones.
Hi Jonathon, do you know if there are any jobs going in your department or anything similar at the minute? Do you enjoy working within the GIS sector?
DeleteHi Ciaran, we're not looking for anyone at the moment, but if you are interested I would suggest joining up with Kennedy recruitment. We have a contract with them for temporary mapping and charting officers. We may be looking for staff next year for a short term project. Also have you been on the OSGB website? They were recently looking for database enhancement staff!! http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/about/careers/vacancies/index.html
DeleteRachel
Hello,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Aude, I am a PT distance learner from Dundalk. Originally from France, I have been living in Ireland for nearly 15 years. I am married and have a son, Turlough, who is nearly 3.
I come from an heritage background: got BA in history and Geography from NUI Maynooth, then worked on archaeological excavations, was field monuments advisor for Louth County Council, worked self-employed as an heritage consultant and a lecturer for DKIT.
I have completed so far a few module towards the MSC. I hope to gain insight into GIS softwares and its uses to either continue towards a career in heritage related subjects or either way to just gain employment in the vast field of GIS. My husband, also from an archaeological background, is studying for a degree in Geomatics in DIT, so we are quite a 'nerdy' household at present!!
My interests are : primarily looking after my son and doing toddler-related activities(!!!), going to the gym, hillwalking, cooking, reading and waiting for he 4th series of Games of Thrones!!
Wishing you all the best on the course
Well it seems we've more that just Geomatics in common as I am also from Dundalk, though living in Dublin this last 10 years or so. I did enjoy the Geomatics course especially the work placement which I did with the Discovery Programme. I spent six months split between working as surveyor on a dig site in Tulsk and processing hi-res imagery of the Tara area in the office. A friend of mine did his placement with furgro. Travelled the world for six months and then they gave him a grant towards his final year and had a job waiting for him on graduation. Are Paddy, Avril, Eugene and Kevin still lecturing there?
DeleteCiaran
Hi Aude, I also live in Dundalk and worked on archaeological excavations for a few years. I thinks our paths may have crossed at some stage, maybe CRDS?
DeleteHi All,
ReplyDeleteMy names Tim and I'm a distance learner. I have done a bit of playing round with GIS databeses I think. Don't think it will be of any help with this module. I work in the land base sector as a Arboriculture and landscape consultant. I have been able to frequently use GIS for this job.
Interests are mountain biking, travel and films. don't get to do much of them though as always to busy either with work or this degree.
By doing this course I hope to get a better understanding of GIS and utilize it more within my industry as well as giving me more career options.
Cheers all,
Tim
Hello, My name is Natalie and I am a distance learner. I currently live in Edinburgh (although am in Belfast writing this at the moment!) am originally from London, and am half French. I moved to Edinburgh 8 years ago to do my BSc Geography, took a year to earn some money, then did an MSc in Ecotourism, another couple of years working for the Scottish tourist board, and started doing MSc GIS in January 2013 part time, whilst still working. Then decided to leave the tourist board and take on MSc GIS full time. So am currently a full time distance learning student, which is pretty great!
ReplyDeleteI’ve gained most of my GIS experience through this MSc so far, although had used it a little bit in my undergrad degree. I’ve no experience of GIS databases, although have experience of databases more generally.
My interests include; travelling, cooking, reading, hiking/mountaineering, volunteering with the woodland trust (planting trees and people engagement), ornithology, and trying to keep fit!
After this GIS course I hope to get a job as a GIS technician, and then move on to Environmental Impact Assessment and consultancy work.
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ReplyDeleteHi everyone, I am on the distance learning course, my name is Jonny Hetherington. I have worked in GIS for 4 years but first came across the subject at UU doing environmental science.
ReplyDeleteI currently work for a GIS firm carrying out all sorts of analysis, depending on what is happening in the world. I spend most of my free time with my family and studying, the rest of it is divided between ruining my liver and greasing up weasels so that they are harder to catch.
My hopes for after the course are to continue on in the field, spending another couple of years in my current job before heading off into the new world to look for adventure and opportunity and freedom from institutionalised persecution of ginger beards.
"greasing up weasels" - sounds interesting. Is it true? Do people try and grab them or something? I suppose you must catch them to grease them up first. Do they not get annoyed having to run around full of grease? :))
DeleteJon, your job sound particularly interesting. Is there a course in greasing weasels?
DeleteHi guys, thanks for the interest, weasels as you know are not native to Ireland and as such have trouble adapting in the wild hunted as they are by gangs of surly squirrels and the occasional rambunctious pigeon
DeleteThe grease is one way to ensure they cannot be easily captured and also it makes their hair easier to style before releasing hem back into the wild. It is imperative to make sure you get the hair right the first time as recapturing the weasels after greasing is nearly impossible as David suggests. Thanks Alfredo, it can be interesting, however currently there are no courses on weasel greasery - that may change if interest persists so keep in touch and I will let you know if one comes up. Thanks guys.
Jonny
My name is Vincent O'Brien and i am from Garrison Co.Fermanagh. I am a campus student. I completed my undergraduate in Environmental Planning in Queens. I have no experience of GIS until now, however so far i have found it very interesting. I currently work the days i am not on campus doing gardening work such as hedge/tree cutting, lawn mowing and general gardening work. I am keen sportsman but the main sport i partake in is Gaelic, i play for my club Devenish as well as just finishing my last year of u21 for the county team. Following this course i would like to get a job relating to GIS as i find it interesting and would consider it a good career path.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone, my name is Lisa Doyle, I am a distance learner. I live in England and I am originally from Ireland. I currently work as a GIS Analyst for an engineering consultancy. I have a background in environmental science. I have about 4 years GIS experience, and I am doing course to complete my spatial skills and be an all rounder in all things spatial and GIS! Also, this course will help me progress up the career ladder. I am pretty active, I like playing union rubgy, climbing, hiking and photography.
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Jenny and I am on the FT distance learning PGDip GIS course. I live and work in Dundee, I work in the environment department and only get to use GIS for very basic things at work so I decided to take on the course to better my chances of getting a better job as a GIS analyst preferably in an environmental consultancy. My hobbies include going to gigs and theatre, to keep fit I like swimming, yoga and walking.
ReplyDeleteHi all, my names Nicholas and I am a distance learning student living in County Kildare and working in Dublin. I originally studied Geo Surveying in DIT Bolton Street graduating in 1997. This has now become Geomatics and I see a couple of other graduates on here already! I currently work for local government in transport design and I have been working with GIS in various disciplines over the last few years. I have been employed in areas such as local government, semi state utilities and environmental consultants. My roles have varied from data capture to analysis to design, I have had some limited exposure to GIS databases during this time.
ReplyDeleteI have 3 small boys at home so most of my spare time is spent exploring parks and forests, building lego and general entertainment! I do enjoy getting out on my motorbike whenever I get the chance tho!
My hopes are that this course will allow me to advance my career in the GIS industry.
Is Bolton Street in, er, Bolton? I did a HNC in Electronics there the best part of 20 years ago - it called Bolton Institute of HE, but when my brother went 3 years later it had already changed to Bolton Uni...
DeleteHey David no its actually in Dublin, Ireland! Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) which is located on Bolton Street!
DeleteHello lads and lasses, I'm David Edwards, and I'm a 44 year old with an IT degree from the Cambrian epoch. This was in desperate need of updating in view of a job I think I've managed to get in Hanoi, in Vietnam, as an IT Lecturer, which will be an upgrade from the English teaching I'm doing here at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAlways been interested in maps since having them pasted all over my walls as an 8 year old, so GIS fit the bill nicely. Just did a little PostGIS work for my university a couple of month back, which was basically figuring out where all the current students of RMIT have come from in Vietnam (so they can decide where to allocate their marketing budget). 5500 records, and a stack of data-cleansing later, I think they were happy. Wish this course had have been earlier then!!
Also doing what they call a Teaching and Learning Post Grad Certificate, since the Vietnam government needs this for me to start lecturing an academic subject. Plus I've got to learn a load of courses as the IT course kicks off here, starting with 3 in the first semester. A bit worried about biting off a little more than I can chew...
Good luck to all...
Hi David, you mentioned data cleansing of 5500 records which I bet was fun.. I've had the pleasure myself which I've found to be extremely time consuming.
DeleteI plan to write them a front end, which will only allow the admin staff to input known data types from drop down lists. They will be unable to save spelling mistakes, or ignore key fields. I hope to build this piece into my dissertation.
DeleteHi everyone my name is Nicola Duffin I am a full time Campus student. Looking at all the previous posts everybody seems to have really interesting backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteAbout me, well, I have a degree in Geosciences from The Open University, so I can relate to all the distance learners. I really enjoyed distance learning, I felt it made me want to work harder to grasp and understand the subject.
I have no GIS or data base background, so this is all new to me and I have really been enjoying the course so far.
At the moment I work as bar staff in The Cultra Inn, I enjoy the social aspect of the job. Hobbies, if I have any spare time I spend it with my nephew, he is my cinema buddy. I love to travel but unfortunately I haven't had the chance to get away for a long time. I am also on the committee of The Open University Geological Society.
Future plans I would like to gain employment in the GIS industry and hopefully have a chance to travel as part of the job.
Hi all, my name is Catherine and I'm from Dundalk Co. Louth. I'm a distance learner and am currently working in the head off a large bookmakers. My background is in commercial archaeology which I worked in for eight great years. My main role was site planning and digitizing, preparing plans for reports and publication, this is where I briefly came across GIS. My hope is that this GIS course will somehow take me back in the direction of archaeology or allow me to change career paths. I have little knowledge of databases.
ReplyDeleteMy hobbies include walking, reading and I love to ski whenever the rare opportunity arises to do so.
Hello my name is Thomas McDaid and I am a distance learning student. I have been working with GIS in various capacities for several years in Marine Navigation and Research. One aspect of GIS I enjoy would be geospatial standards. I am looking forward to using ‘open source’ databases in this course as I usually use COTS packages. Outside of work I enjoy Rugby and DIY. After the course I hope to apply my learning to marine research.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone,
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never I say. I'm Alfie (Alfredo)and like many of you I'm a distance learner. I'm an Officer in the Army and have been doing the "Geo" thing for the last 23 years, and yes I remember making maps by hand. I started as an Air survey Technician (HND Cartography) using analogue and analytical mapping techniques, nowadays we are called Geospatial Analyst and do analysis of the terrain from a Military perspective using GIS.
I have kind of been around the GIS from it birth and through much of its development. Despite this my strength is definitely in Remote Sensing where I used to teach Geo Soldiers 'Advanced Imagery Exploitation'. I have a BSc(Hon) in Geography & GIS but have had limited exposure to databases apart from the geospatial type. I currently work at the MoD in London.
I'm a keen Hockey player, and enjoy reading, running, and generally trying to keep fit. I also travel a fair amount and am trying to learn Arabic to perhaps one day work on GIS/Remote Sensing projects in some far off country.
Regards
Alfie
Hi, thought I'd nip this in just before the deadline ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm Stu and I'm a distance learner living in Nottingham. My BSc was in Geography at Portsmouth and my GIS experience is quite wide ranging.. I work as a aerial photographer largely doing large format imagery for the likes of Google, oblique photography, Lidar (I did the whole of belfast recently!) and thermal imagery. This has seen me fly around quite a lot of Europe and earlier in the year I spent 2 months taking photos in Argentina.
From a more GIS mapping point of view I've also worked on large projects for the MOD, AGIV (Belgian OS) and bits and bobs for the highways agency and environment agency.
When I'm not working I often enjoy walks in the peak district, going climbing and playing the guitar.
I'm hoping to use this course to start help my career point towards a research role within what I do.
Good Luck everyone!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI'm Claire and I'm a FT campus student. I'm from Belfast and did my undergrad degree at Queen's in Geography. Only experience I have of GIS is a module in 2nd year on climate change using ArcMap. Enjoying this course so far!
Other interests include TV/Films, and I'm pretty involved in my church.
All the best!
Hi everyone sorry for the delay, work been a bit crazy this week!!! I'm Rachel and I'm a distance learner. I have nearly ten years experience working for Ordnance Survey for Northern Ireland, I was originally recruited to be the database administrator for the Pointer system. Prior to starting work in OSNI, I worked for University College London as an Analyst Programmer. I spent three years at UCL working with Oracle Financials, developing forms and reports and eventually and end to end system for new staff.
ReplyDeleteI am currently the LPIS project manager at OSNI managing a team of staff responsible for updating the DARD field boundaries and features.
I am interested in all things sci-fi, movies, books, tv series. Currently reading the Wool trilogy. I have love travelling to new countries, meeting new people and trying new cuisines!!
Although I have a MSc in Computer Science I have no geography background - not even at GCSE, so I am doing this course to help cement the work experience I have gained at OSNI and to allow me to join ICES the professional body that we use in work.
Happy weekend!!
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never… My name is Lynn and I’m a full time campus student. I recently graduated from Queen’s with a degree in Geography and thought I’d embark on this MSc course to help me become more employable… I have limited previous GIS experience – only one module in my second year of undergrad. I enjoy travelling, something which has strengthened my love for geography and the natural environment. I also enjoy a good TV boxset… Juggling the MSc with work is proving to be quite challenging but I know it will be worth it in the end!
Past deadline (also crazy at work this week) but will put in for good measure!
ReplyDeleteI'm Lowell, a PT distance learner (originally a Coleraine campus student in Sep 2012 before getting a job then moving) now living in Bideford, N Devon. My background is in ornithology/ecology but I currently work as Biology Technician at Petroc college, Barnstaple.
I am in my second year of PT and so have good on-course experience with GIS. For the work I did on badger ecology while living in Northern Ireland I used MapInfo and prior to living there I used GIS Pro in ecological consultancy. I have no true database experience; since I'm in my second year of PT I have completed the 'upcoming' Spatial Data Management module for this course which touches on databases, and the software I use as a licensed bird-ringer, 'Integrated Population Monitoring Recorder' operates much like MS Access. I hope to take some new skills from this module across to using IPMR to its fullest. Ornithology and music are my two big passtimes, and a new hobby I can thoroughly recommend is taking a familiar countryside walk with no torch on a clear night. After the course is completed I hope to have great GIS skills that I can bring to a job in ecological consultancy or research.