Spatial Analysis GIS Tutorials?

Question

Hello everyone,

I apologize if this is a common question, however I could truly use some help as I'm currently feeling simply very stressed out.

I recently acquired a data technician job for a land monitoring company, they looked over my resume and decided I would be a good fit (I've got a HBSc in environmental science and geography), I've taken a few GIS courses and truly enjoyed the experience https://vlc.onl/ so I decided to put my foot in the world of GIS job opportunities. However, I feel my experience is truly lacking in GIS (as it's been academic thus far only) and so I wanted to know is there a popular website for GIS spatial analysis tutorials with tutorial data? or what could be a good starting spot for me?

I've done a few google searches, however the tutorials are scattered throughout multiple websites and vary drastically in skill level, and quality of the tutorial.

I attempted to reach out to my previous GIS professor, but was ultimately ghosted after a few back and fourth pleasantries.

My biggest issue currently is I don't know where to start, and there is definitely a lot of information accessible to me which is both a blessing and a curse.

RonaldHaug · Answer

Hi jekaribne,

I like what Dan and Jennifer posted. I just checked out learn.arcgis.com and there are some really great offerings there. Wow!

I recently completed a mooc (massive open online course) class in spatial analysis for ArcGIS Pro at esri training. It was 6 weeks long with a new lesson every week. Homework took a few hours a week which is better than most of the GIS classes I've taken. I thought it was very good and recommend it to you. There is a new class offered in August 2024. You can register here:

https://www.esri.com/training/catalog/5d76dcf7e9ccda09bef61294/spatial-data-science-the-new-frontier-in-analytics/

Check it out! Did I mention it is free of charge?

I wonder if you are using the "spatial analysis" term loosely, because that is a subset of GIS, and involves things like least cost path analysis, network optimization, location siting, hotspot analysis, routing models, spatial interpolation, and machine learned identification.

Most of the people I work with lack basic mapmaking skills, and it shows in their products. What they need is a Cartography course. Such a course is relatively platform independent and teaches you a skillset which lasts a lifetime. I recommend the mooc in Cartography which is coming up in April 2024. Sign up for it here:

https://www.esri.com/training/catalog/596e584bb826875993ba4ebf/cartography/

After you complete a Cartography class your products will look sharp, tell a story, have a purpose, and be made for its intended audience.

JA7 · Answer

In addition to what Dan posted, I also like learn.arcgis.com.

I also highly recommend just getting in there and making up your own scenario and see if you can figure it out. This is what I did, and the act of puzzling through it made it stick better than just running through a tutorial. This also helped  me understand the Why behind the steps, which I feel can get lost in tutorials a lot.

I too have found myself in a GIS career without a GIS degree (or any formal GIS training), and also struggled a long time with feeling like an imposter. Just remember that they hired you for a reason. They saw something in you that made them go, 'yeah jekaribne's GOT THIS'. You just need to see that in yourself too. Good luck.

DanPatterson · Answer

Did you search here?

Esri Training Catalog | Find Courses on GIS and ArcGIS Topics

But you should really focus on the help topics in Pro, for example, the Spatial Analyst

Get started with Spatial Analyst in ArcGIS Pro—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

and more generally

Spatial analysis in ArcGIS Pro—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

ArcGIS Pro quick-start tutorials—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation