Hi, I would second Eric's suggestion for the use of (G)FOSS, but there are also tools available like QGIS or gvSIG, where you don't need to learn a programming language, and the learning curve may be a somewhat less steep.
A good starting point to learn more about GFOSS is the OSGeo website. -> http://www.osgeo.org/ best regards, Christian Eric Wolf schrieb: > I am not positive - but I'd bet that ESRI doesn't allow licenses to be > transfered. > > I addition to student licenses, there are trial licenses available. > Some books come with as much as a 6-month license, like _Getting to > Know ArcGIS_. > > But, since you have some specific ideas, you might find the FOSS (Free > and Open Source Software) route works even better. ArcGIS is a > wonderfully comprehensive system but it falls way-short in some areas. > Temporal modeling is one of those. If you want to play with dynamic > models for plate tectonics, you're probably best off diving deeply > into FOSS. Initially, the learning curve is much steeper but you'll > not run into short-comings with the tools they way you would with ArcGIS. > > I'd recommend investing the time in learning a programming language - > probably Python - and a couple good libraries - like GDAL/OGR and > NumPy. GDAL/OGR gives you the ability to use standard GIS data formats > and data structures. NumPy gives powerful mathematical operations. > Additionally, you'll want to learn to use a graphics library and a > user interface library. > > -Eric > > -=--=---=----=----=---=--=-=--=---=----=---=--=-=- > Eric B. Wolf 720-209-6818 > USGS Geographer > Center of Excellence in GIScience > PhD Student > CU-Boulder - Geography > > > > On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 8:09 PM, Margaret Tasset <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > One of the members suggested that I start my search for a used > PaleoGIS/ArcGIS computer or available licensed software on this > site. I have been studying plate tectonics as a hobby for nearly > 30 years and I would like to put some of my ideas to work on a > computer. I understand that there are some student licenses > available at a reduced cost but I'm 66 yrs old and on a fixed > income so my resources are limited and the idea of going back to > school just doesn't strike my fancy. I would appreciate any ideas > from the members about what or where to start looking. Any help > would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Harry > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it > on your BlackBerry or iPhone. > <http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009> > > _______________________________________________ > Geowanking mailing list > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Geowanking mailing list > [email protected] > http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org > _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org
