Data science is a rapidly expanding field with many applications, and with the increasing volume of geospatial data, GIS skills are becoming more common job requirements for data scientists.
Both GIS specialists and data scientists work with large data sets to make quantitative and causal discoveries. They process large amounts of data to answer questions efficiently and uncover geographical patterns and relationships.
If you are looking to take your skills in geospatial analysis and data sciences from recreational to professional, then this information is for you. Here are five tips for making the most of your skills.
1. Be Data-Bound.
One of the most important steps to your success is getting comfortable with data — so comfortable that you live and breathe it. This may seem obvious, but some new data scientists experience culture shock when first confronted with the sheer volume of data they are asked to manage.
Get used to writing and reading data from the get-go so that you are comfortable with it during the analysis process. The more familiar you are with data, the easier it will be to manipulate it, create reports, and make inferences from it.
Consider the case of two people who are interested in getting into data science. One person keeps a diary, while the other keeps a spreadsheet. Both people track similar things. However, their respective records are completely different. The diary records daily activities on paper, while the spreadsheet records the events and associated data. By using these two types of records, the spreadsheet person is setting themself up for greater success.
Be a spreadsheet person. For even more experience, consider creating powerful visualizations in the cloud with your data, bringing it to life.
2. Do Your Research.
When you are just getting started as a data scientist, it is important to learn as much as you can about the field so that you can expand your horizons and better understand the opportunities.
The best way to do this is to start looking in places where other professionals go. You will be surprised by how many options to learn data science are available online if you broaden your search.
There are many online databases, forums, and communities where you can share your ideas and ask and answer questions from fellow data scientists. You can also check out the code for open data projects.
3. Network, Network, Network.
When you are just getting started, it is important to build as many connections as possible. Make new friends, learn from others, and keep your eyes open for opportunities to help out fellow scientists.
When you are working on an advanced project with a large team, you will need to collaborate with other specialists, such as software engineers, statisticians, and others, so it is important to make sure that you are comfortable candidly discussing problems with a variety of specialists.
The best data scientists are the ones who are comfortable asking for help, and who are able to leverage their skills to their full potential. One of the best data science communities for practicing these skills is Kaggle. This community, focused on coding, has more than 3 million users, and offers competitions to help hone your skills.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment.
When it comes to data analysis, there is no such thing as “having it all.” Digital data analysts need to be willing …….