When Drishti Gandhi began looking into UMBC’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) master’s program, she already had a background in geography. What she didn’t have was experience with coding or many of the technical tools used in the GIS industry. And admittedly, that made her a little nervous.
Fast forward two semesters, and she’s writing code, analyzing real-world datasets, working with satellite imagery, and even building her own website with the help of artificial intelligence.
Quite a change for someone who once wondered whether she could handle the technical side of GIS!
We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Drishti on UMBC Mic’d Up about her experience in the program, the projects she’s been working on, and how her understanding of GIS has changed along the way. We also got into an interesting conversation about AI in the classroom and how learning to use it responsibly has helped her accomplish things she never imagined she could do.
If you’re curious about GIS or considering graduate school but aren’t sure you have the technical background, I think you’ll find Drishti’s experience particularly interesting.
Watch or Listen to the Episode
Here’s an edited version of our conversation.
Finding the Right GIS Program
Dennise: What motivated you to choose UMBC’s GIS master’s program? What was it about the program that appealed to you?
Drishti: My husband is a UMBC alumnus, so we already had confidence in the university. But I also wanted to do my own research. I connected with people on LinkedIn, read student reviews, and spent time looking through the courses.
Before this, I already had a geography background, but I didn’t have the technical skills. I wanted to bridge that gap.
What I liked about UMBC was the range of courses. The program covers the entire GIS workflow, including GIS project management, programming in R and Python, spatial statistics, crowdsourced and open data, and a capstone project.
It really reflects the kind of work happening in the GIS industry.
Discovering That GIS Is About Much More Than Maps
Dennise: You’ve always had an interest in geography. What is it about the field that fascinates you?
Drishti: I love that you can take huge amounts of data and put everything together on one map. You can map almost anything!
And what’s really interesting is how that information can help solve real-world problems and inform decisions and policies.
Dennise: How has being in the program changed the way you think about GIS?
Drishti: That’s probably been the biggest change for me.
Earlier, I thought GIS was just about making maps. Now, when I look at a map, I have so many questions.
Where did the data come from? How was it collected? What definition of place was used? Has the data been cleaned?
Professor Ron Wilson has really emphasized the importance of thinking analytically about every decision we make.
The maps we create and the decisions we make can affect people in the real world. So it’s not enough to know which tool to use or how to follow a tutorial. You have to understand why you’re making those decisions.
From Being Afraid of Coding to Analyzing Baltimore Data
Dennise: Can you tell me about a project that’s been especially meaningful to you?
Drishti: I remember, I came into the program without a technical background. I had never done coding before, and honestly, I was scared of that part of the program.
But the courses are designed so that you gradually learn the skills and build confidence.
For one particular project, I analyzed Baltimore’s 311 service requests along with median household income data from the American Community Survey.
I wanted to explore the spatial relationship between neighborhood income levels and the distribution of 311 calls.
So, I worked with the data in RStudio and completed the analysis myself. I never imagined I would be able to do something like that!
Dennise: I think that’s going to be reassuring for people who are interested in GIS but are hesitant because they don’t have a technical background. It sounds like the program really helps you develop those skills as you go.
Drishti: Definitely. And I can’t say enough about the professors. They’re so approachable and patient. They’re always willing to help, and they’re genuinely passionate about teaching.
That makes such a difference in the learning experience.
Learning to Use AI Without Losing the Critical Thinking
Dennise: I’ve had some interesting conversations with Professor Ron Wilson on this podcast about artificial intelligence and how he’s incorporating it into his teaching.
I’m curious about your experience. How has AI become part of what you’re learning?
Drishti: Initially, I was skeptical about AI. Using it almost felt like cheating.
But Professor Wilson really changed how I think about it. He’s taught us how to use AI ethically and how it can help us stretch our capabilities.
For example, I never imagined I could build my own website. But now I’m building a portfolio website with the help of AI.
I’ve learned the basics of coding, so when I get stuck, I can ask AI to help me troubleshoot or suggest another approach.
But the important part is that we understand what we’re doing. We’re not just copying whatever AI gives us.
We have to critically analyze the responses and understand the decisions we’re making.
AI has helped me realize that I can do so much more than I thought I could.
Dennise: That’s what I find so interesting about AI as a learning tool. It can help you work through things that might otherwise take hours, but you still need the knowledge and judgment to evaluate what it’s giving you.
And I think learning that balance is going to be important as students move into the workforce.
Getting a Taste of the GIS Industry While Still in School
Dennise: Where do you see yourself professionally after graduation?
Drishti: Right now, I see myself starting a career as a GIS analyst.
The program has introduced me to so many different tools and technologies, including AI, machine learning, programming, and web GIS.
I recently attended a professional conference, and I was a little nervous going in.
I’d only completed two semesters. I thought, “I’m just a student. Will I even understand what these experienced professionals are talking about?”
But I was able to follow the presentations and understand the technologies they were discussing.
I could connect what I was hearing to the courses I’d taken and the projects I’d completed.
That was such a confidence boost for me.
Dennise: That’s a great example of why applied learning matters. You’re not just hearing about these things in class. You’re actually doing the work, so when you encounter it in a professional setting, it’s already familiar.
Drishti: Exactly. And something I really appreciate is that our assignments reflect the work our professors are doing in their own professional careers.
They bring actual datasets and examples from their jobs into the classroom.
We’re not simply handed data that’s ready to analyze. We have to find it, download it, clean it, and process it ourselves.
We work with messy data, just like professionals do.
Using Satellite Imagery to Study Environmental Change
Dennise: Are there particular areas of GIS that you’re especially interested in pursuing?
Drishti: I’m really interested in environmental management and conservation.
I took a remote sensing course with Professors Riemer and Campbell, who brought years of experience from NASA.
We learned how to download and process satellite imagery, and one of my projects involved studying Poyang Lake in China.
I analyzed satellite imagery spanning approximately 30 years to see how the landscape had changed over time.
That was fascinating to me.
Again, I came into this program without a technical background, and now I’m able to do this kind of analysis.
When I look at companies working with satellite imagery and LiDAR for environmental conservation, I can see how the skills I’m learning connect to that work.
And I feel confident that I can pursue opportunities in that field.
A Different Perspective on What’s Possible
One of the things I enjoyed most about talking with Drishti was hearing how her confidence has grown in such a short time.
She came into the program knowing geography was something she loved, but unsure about the technical side of GIS. Two semesters later, she’s talking about coding, satellite imagery, data analysis, and AI with an enthusiasm that’s hard to miss.
I also appreciated her point about learning to ask better questions. Understanding where data comes from and how it’s used is just as important as knowing how to create a map. And when that information is being used to make decisions that affect communities, those questions really matter.
Thanks to Drishti for joining me on UMBC Mic’d Up and sharing her experience!
If you’d like to learn more about what UMBC’s GIS program has to offer, visit the Geographic Information Systems graduate program page.