As a graduate student, this assignment required an additional step of selecting and answering interview style questions through an audio presentation. I chose to respond to Question 1, which focuses on overcoming challenges, and Question 5, which highlights my favorite project from my portfolio. These questions allowed me to demonstrate both my problem solving skills and my growth through hands on GIS work. The audio responses expand on my technical experience and learning process beyond what is shown on the maps alone.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O8wB-qRmvG6xrj7lrq70Qq-t5ZRvXVPi/view?usp=share_link
transcrpit: Hi, my name is Megan Galloway, and this audio presentation highlights a few experiences from my GIS portfolio along with some challenges I have faced throughout my coursework. These projects reflect both my technical growth and my problem solving skills as I’ve progressed through my GIS program.
One of the most challenging situations I faced was during my GIS programming course when I had to complete a lab that combined both ModelBuilder and Python scripting. I first built the workflow using ModelBuilder, which involved clipping soil layers, selecting attributes, and erasing features to isolate only the areas I needed for analysis. After that, I had to recreate part of the process using Python and ArcPy. At first, nothing was working the way it should. I kept getting errors that my data could not be found even though I knew the files were in the correct folders. My script would sometimes run but not create any outputs, which was really frustrating.
Instead of panicking, I slowed everything down and started troubleshooting step by step. I double checked my workspace paths, verified my geodatabase locations, and added print statements throughout my script to see exactly where the process was breaking. After a lot of trial and error, I realized that one small mistake in my file path was causing the entire process to fail. Once I fixed that, everything finally ran correctly. My model executed properly, my script generated the correct outputs, and the final results matched my expectations.
That experience taught me how important patience and attention to detail are in GIS, especially when working with automation and scripting. It also helped build my confidence because I proved to myself that I could work through complex technical problems on my own without giving up.
My favorite map example in my portfolio is my LiDAR vegetation and terrain analysis project. This was the first time I ever worked with LiDAR data, and it completely changed the way I understood elevation and surface modeling. In that project, I created a Digital Elevation Model, a canopy density raster, and a vegetation height surface. I also applied hillshade and contour tools to help visualize the terrain more clearly.
What made this project my favorite is how visually meaningful it was. Seeing the difference between the bare earth surface and the vegetation layer made everything click for me. Instead of just working with numbers and tables, I was able to actually see how the landscape formed and how vegetation height varied across the terrain. It felt like real world GIS work instead of just another class assignment.
This project also challenged me technically. I had to work with raster classification methods, apply correct symbology, and design a clean layout that clearly communicated the results. It took time to get everything right, but once it was finished, I was really proud of how professional it looked. This project showed me how powerful GIS can be for environmental and terrain analysis, and it is the one that best represents my growth and skills so far.
Overall, my portfolio represents the progress I have made throughout my GIS education and shows how my skills have developed in both technical and analytical areas. Each project helped me grow in different ways, and together they reflect my readiness to apply GIS in a professional setting. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my presentation.