certs and exams... recognition

Hey there... been asked a few times about GIS certifications and if there are any exams a GIS professional can sit to master the ESRI range of software. As in other software and hardware vendors like Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Linux or Solaris... certifications help not only in finding better jobs but also to equip technically oneself with the product thoroughly.

I know in the GIS industry there are a few certifications out there... but many of them are theory based and not specific to any software. Its kinda popular in the US, I think. Also many Built Environment or GIS graduates do not learn good software skills in Malaysian university but only get serious when they start working. In universities... graduates tend to focus on getting the assignments done fast and not really use the full functionality of the GIS software itself. So they lack programming and database skills. As for me... I can consider myself kinda lucky to have Dr Lee Lik Meng from USM Penang as my lecturer in my final 2 years. He showed me the path towards GIS when I was at a crossroad between Architecture and Interior Design. He guided me towards the ESRI products like ArcView and ArcInfo Workstation then. Also we got to work with a few other fellow students in real GIS projects in Penang. We got paid a bit... at least enough to spend on a few drinks and cigarretes. I had to study ArcView using ESRI Virtual Campus then in the university lab... there were no formal classes or lessons on GIS and internet connection was scarce. Many of the lab lessons we received in USM were using CAD based software like Microstation, AutoCAD and some obscure 3D software. GIS was in infancy then.

Anyone from USM remember this 3D software?? I think it was developed in Malaysia, right?? Share with us if you remember the name.

steve... the real dundee...

Either you love him or hate him. Steve has his own style... his own way with animals. Initially, it was a big turn off for me to see this Aussie bloke jumping up and down like a kid ... yearning attention and always being sensational. Also his style of presenting is as if we are stupid or something... but hey.. thats him. What's amazing about Steve is his LOVE for wildlife and animals. This... I must admit... is his greatest gift to us. He has such passion and care for these animals that he treats them like his own kids. May you rest in peace.. mate.

PLTS...

Hi there... nice to meet so many of you during the recent ESRI User Conference in Sheraton Subang. Glad to know some of you read this blog. Please also contribute by adding some comments...

Anyway... one the queries that I seem to get a lot recently... is the PLTS extension for ArcGIS. Probably because its something quite new in this country and JUPEM is currently using it. Okei... let me explain... PLTS actually enhances the functions of ArcMap and ArcCatalog applications for enterprise production agencies. Survey, Military, Aeronautical and Marine mapping are some of the agencies that has set standards, workflow, production, map series and symbols. These agencies produce maps to be printed in various scales. PLTS stands for Production Line Tool Set.

PLTS offers an efficient production, digitisation, map layouts and maintainance for cartographic databases in various map making agencies. You will have a lot of tools that help in the creation and editing of maps / plans specific to these production environments. Its a streamlined production process that follows a strict workflow ... and also has error correction methodology. Its main purpose is to increase quality and efficiency of the organisation and the production line. In earlier days, GIS was not at all used to make these plans and maps... they had so many other software that can do this work... mainly CAD, Graphic Software and Image Processing software. Now with PLTS and ArcGIS these agencies work in a single software environment. How cool is that ;-)

We will cover more of PLTS in the coming blogs.

Again... nice to meet so many of you... and hope to see more in the next user conference... prob in Singapore.