GIS5103 - GIS Programming - Module 11

 From the very start of this course, the very idea of coding and writing script was a bit intimidating. I had not taken a computer-related class since sixth grade, and though I enjoyed doing GIS work I did not think I would be able to grasp the finer tunings of its programs. However, after completing some three or four labs, I began to feel that working with Python was coming easier and easier. In a way, it was a little bit like learning another language: the more one uses the language, the better ones grammar and understanding becomes.

Overall, I really love the fact that I was able to dive into the “logic” of the tools used in ArcGis. Knowing common Python commands, it is now easier to understand tools 

which I had never used before. Knowing how many of them are constructed allows me to visualize how pre-made tools may be scripted, and how they may be modified into custom tools when needed. Having a better understanding of code and scripting, truly feels like there are very little limitations when using ArcMap.

One of the most useful exercises to me were the tool-creation modules at the end of the semester. From my personal experience, there are many people within the fields of archaeology or environmental science who are not classically trained GIS users, but use ArcGIS either way to perform simple tasks related to their work. Being able to create and modify script tools allows me to help these GIS users 

in a way that would be useful to 

them, but does not require them to 

spend a lot of time training.