How to Learn GIS: A Simple Roadmap

Do you want to learn GIS? GIS is quite wide and you’re not likely to find a single course that covers all aspects of GIS. However, this article will give you a roadmap for how you can go about learning GIS.

Choose your GIS path

Before beginning your journey to learn GIS, you need to decide your GIS ecosystem.

Will you be using proprietary tools or free and open-source tools?

Learn GIS with proprietary software

If you'll be using proprietary tools then ArcGIS is the right platform for you. ArcGIS is a family of GIS software created by a company called ESRI. Microsoft has a family of software called Office and Apple has a family of laptops called MacBook and a family of phones called iPhone.

Members of Microsoft Office family include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access etc. So also, members of Esri ArcGIS family include ArcGIS Pro (previously ArcMap), ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Field Maps (previously ArcGIS Collector), Survey123 etc.

You can get a 21-day trial ArcGIS license here or purchase a $100 personal use license for a year.

Typically, you need to start with the mother of them all; ArcGIS Pro. Afterwards, you may proceed to learn web mapping with ArcGIS online. Finally, you'll need to learn how to automate processes with Python using the ArcPy API.

ESRI has a comprehensive collection of learning materials for all levels and tracks. Once you feel confident in a track, you may apply for an ESRI certification exam.

Learn GIS with free and open-source software

If you’ll be using free and open-source software then you should start with QGIS. Although free, QGIS has everything you need to build a GIS career and business.

Afterwards, you should proceed to learn how to use GRASS, SAGA, OTB and SCP plugins to do remote sensing in QGIS.

Then you may learn how to build web maps with Leaflet js and OpenLayers.

If you’re not comfortable with JavaScript, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a plugin that can help you export your map from QGIS to Leaflet easily. While the QGIS2WEB plugin has lots of features, there’s still so much more you can do if you learn JavaScript.

You’ll also need to learn how to build w*s services with either mapserver or Geoserver. W*S includes a series of formats you can use to serve your maps. They include: web mapping service (WMS), web feature service (WFS) and more.

Finally, you’ll need to learn how to automate processes with python using the PyQGIS API.

These skills will be handy

Some knowledge of graphics design will be useful; Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are proprietary tools. GIMP and Inkscape are the respective open-source alternatives to the two above.

Want more?

After learning the above, if you still wish to learn more GIS then you may proceed to learn Google Earth Engine (GEE) for planet-scale geospatial analysis. Or you may learn Django and Geodjango for web GIS development.

In conclusion

While it's good to have a taste of all the above, you should choose one or two specialties.

As you can see, it's a long journey. So, prioritise consistency even if it means a slower pace.

I hope this helps.