BIM – can GIS & CAD make peace?

It's been the argument that keeps on giving...which data format do we do what with? Traditionally it's been pretty simple really. If you're drawing or designing something then a CAD tool is best. If you're mapping something or analysing location-based data then a GIS tool is the better tool. There is of course the old …

Sitting the Esri Desktop Professional Exam

I sat the Esri Desktop Professional exam today as part of a company wide initiative to get some of our GIS staff certified by the Esri User Conference in July. Back in 2000 I did my MCSD certification, which at the time, was not an easy thing to get done.  The market had expectations on …

Challenges of spatial proportions

It's a topic that I know divides people and it depends I suppose, on your path through the history of spatial technology. It also the about the ability to adapt and see change as a challenge and apply a level of pragmatism when required. What I'm going on about is the need for GIS Analysts/specialists/Technicians …

I need to REST but how?

It's been on my mind for a few weeks now when I got asked the question: which Esri REST API should I use?  FLEX or Silverlight? And more importantly, why would I use that one and what would I gain and/or be losing by choosing it. I tried to do some internet research and found …

Who holds the stakes anyway?

They always tell us to remember who our customers are don't they?  This may be easier if you are building a product to deliver to specific customer who may have ordered something.  But what about those 'customers' on a large project or internal to your organisation?  We tend to neglect paying the same amount of …

Don’t forget the (road) map

So we've had the 2010 ESRI UC and we've just had the 2011 ESRI UK Annual Conference this week here in London.  I've had the privilege of presenting at both of them and spent some time listening to the messages being sent out to the wider ESRI GIS community. Although old news, the consistent message is …