I can't stop laughing watching this video about ESRI's software.  It's hilarious!  And it's sooo true :)

I'm so sorry for not posting more about my PhD journey.  I've had a lot to write about, and have just been too busy to do it.

First, i've passed the Diagnostic Exam :)  That is your standard out of the box, one week to write 3 essay questions, then defend your answers in front of your committee exam.  Not the most fun thing to do in the middle of a semester.  I wrote a 10, and two 15 page papers to answer the exam questions.  I had to take a week of vacation from my full-time job to finish.  Ug.

Next up, sometime in the Fall of 2010 I will be taking the Preliminary or Qualifying exam.  I have to prepare a 10 page single spaced paper for it.  My adviser mentioned that a typical dissertation proposal is around 15 pages, so he wants 10 before the Quals, and actually he wants a first draft of the paper by the end of Spring 10 semester.  Good thing I'm only taking one class, java programming.

I'll try to write more in the coming months.  I'll be attending AAG again.

I seem to have a lot to say, so i'll be cranking out my personal blog in the next few weeks as well.  Not sure what URL i'll be using.  Follow my updates on twitter, and you'll find out.

Oh My....i havent posted to this blog in quite a while, and i have a comment i haven't addressed.  Bad Steve!

Well the Fall semester was another successful one.  My Remote Sensing class was extremely frustrating.  I don't know if i learned anything in there, and by the end i didn't care.  I was so frustrated with the direction the class was taking.  It was more Geology than Remote Sensing.  The syllabus changed at least five times, etc. etc. etc.  Oh well, it's over...i did my best, and i came out on top, grade wise.

My class in Urban Geo wasn't bad.  I like my prof a lot, and at the end of the semester found out he's leaving the university and heading to the UK to be closer to his wife, who is also a professor.  Sad to see him go, but understand why.

My dissertation is slowly starting to take shape.  After a meeting with my adviser, i know have a plan to get everything done by June 1, 2012.  My idea of getting things done by 9/30/11 was a pipe dream.  Not realistic. 

My plan for the next year or so:

1a.  Survive classes and working full-time.  You have no idea how difficult this is.

1.  First Draft of my Dissertation Proposal by 5/30/09
2.  Colloquium paper due 6/1/09
2.  Teach GEO506 - Intro to GIS Lab during the summer of '09
3.  Diagnostic Exams early '10.  I know my adviser will be shooting for me to take them in the Fall '09, but i work full time, and it's going to be difficult to finish with my schedule.  I should only be taking one class in Spring '10, so i should be able to make it work.

Once these are finished, and classes are finished.  I'll develop a new plan :)

Right now the immediate goals are developing a specific topic for the dissertation.  Mine is currently too broad.  It's an engineer project, not a dissertation.  Then just surviving life for the next 1.5 years.  I don't have time to work on my dissertation, and work....and have somewhat of a life.

I'll try to blog a little more during the semester.  I'm going to Las Vegas for AAG and presenting.  I wish they would let me know when, so i can sign up to volunteer at the conference and make my schedule.

Well i've started using ENVI in my Environmental Remote Sensing class.  I've been dreading the move after doing the entire Masters project with Erdas.  So far...i miss Erdas.

I can still do everything i need to do.  However, the interface for Erdas was so much nicer.  I still can't believe i have to use three (3) windows to zoom into a drawing with ENVI.  Why can't i just pan and zoom around an image!  Grrr...so far something that simple is the most frustrating thing about the program. 

I can see why Erdas is the preferred software of consultants and the commercial world.  It's much quicker to do anything.  Leave ENVI for the academics who have a lot of time, ha :)

I'm still learning where everything is, but i'm picking it up quickly.  I won't have any problems, just will need time to get used to the interface.

My Environmental Remote Sensing class will be pretty useful.  I've never done any hyper spectral before.  And Geologist do things differently than Geographers...so it'll be a learning experience.  I'm still an engineer, not a geographer or geologist, so i'm game to learn all the various methodologies. 

I'll discuss that class a little more later.  I have to study for a "quiz" tomorrow.

But i do want to rant about the Geology computer lab.  They are in the process of moving, so i'll give them some slack.  But their ENVI doesn't use Windows, but uses Linux machines, with Envi 4.3 or 4.4 Unix version.  Yes it works.  But come on...Windows is so much easier for the students to learn.  On my laptop i have ENVI 4.5.  I don't notice any differences, but you would think a research university would be up on their maintenance.

And finally, i will be attending AAG Las Vegas in March.  I've booked my room at Circus Circus, across the street from the conference.  Rooms were $100/night cheaper there.  I plan on presenting, and will blog about that closer to the October 16 abstract deadline.

A journey into the fields of GIS, Remote Sensing and programming