Buying ArcGIS as a Student

ESRI's ArcGIS 10 desktop GIS software is a core component of our teaching throughout the PGDip/MA landscape archaeology and GIS programme.  If you have a computer at home you'll want to get a copy of ArcGIS of your own that you can install on that machine.  Fortunately it is available to registered University of Birmingham students through the CHEST/EDUSERVE licence agreement a massive discount, only £60 for a copy that will last you throughout your study time (in fact ArcGIS 10 licences run for 365 days from first install, but can be renewed at the end of this period if you are studying part-time over more than one year - you can acquire updated licence codes on-line from the University by logging on to the relevant sales page).  Campus based students can purchase a copy from University software sales, UK based distance learning student will need to visit Birmingham to purchase their copy in person, or can contact ESRIUK direct (although this may not get you the full discount).  Non UK distance learners will need to contact ESRI in your own county of residence to negotiate purchase of a discounted student licence locally.

ArcGIS is a complex, multi-faceted product that takes a while to get to grips with, so I recommend you get your copy as soon as you are able and get it installed so that you are familiar at least with the look and feel of the software by the time we get to serious use in module 2.  You might want to take a look at the technical specification of your machine as well, you are going to need a recent multicore processor, 2-4GB of RAM, and Windows 7 to get things working, and a good graphics accelerator to allow ArcScene to work effectively.

If you have problems buying or installing ArcGIS contact me (Keith) directly, as among other things I am one of the University's ESRI technical representative, so should be able to help you out.

ESRI Virtual Campus

We will be using training materials provided by ESRI at various points in the course, particularly in the Introduction to GIS and GIS and Spatial Analysis modules (modules 2 and 4 respectively) to introduce some key ArcGIS skills.  ESRI material is delivered on-line in a web browser, much like our own lecture content, but via their virtual campus. There's a range of content, from simple transcript presentations to interactive tutorials, all backed up with self-assssement exercises and downloadable data to work with.

  

As the course progresses we will automatically register you on some virtual campus courses and send you log-on details.  In the meantime it would help if you created your own ESRI Global Account (needed to access ESRI materials) now.  It will also allow you to use ESRI's excellent on-line mapping and map sharing portal, ArcGIS.com (about which more later).  You can enroll on any virtual campus course during your time of study at Birmingham for free.  If you see a course you would like to take in addition to the ones we recommend simply email me (Keith) with the details and I will arrange access.  But don't get too ambitious, the courses are intensive and require significant study time to complete so we've tried to choose the most profitable ones for you.

So, in summary.  Create your ESRI Global Account now, have a look at what on-line ArcGIS training is available to you while you study with us and wait for your course activation codes for our recommended content to arrive by email.

Welcome

Welcome to my Landscape Archaeology, GIS and Virtual Environments teaching blog.  Over the next academic year I'll be using the blog to provide additional "unofficial" course content, point you towards interesting reading and web resources, share ideas and answer questions.

I'll cover content that I teach on the three modules: Introduction to GIS; GIS and Spatial Analysis and Virtual Landscapes.  Official teaching content can be found on the University's VLE WebCT.

If your interest stretches to heritage, visualization and computer game engines you might care to look at my other blog "Second Site"

For now, happy learning.

Keith