Self-Paced Course · 14-Day Program

Stop drowning in tools.
Start building.

The Modern GIS Accelerator takes you from ArcGIS-dependent to independently building with open-source geospatial tools in 14 days. Portfolio projects. AI-native development. No fluff.

20 Video lessons
4 Portfolio projects
62 Total content pieces
12 hrs Of instruction
Sound familiar?

You know GIS. But the industry moved—and nobody gave you a map.

We surveyed 981 GIS professionals. Here’s what they told us is holding them back:

🧭

“I don’t know which tools to learn”

New frameworks, formats, and platforms launch every month. You’re paralyzed by options and exhausted by hype. You need someone to tell you what actually matters.

25% cited “picking the right tools” as their #1 challenge
🔒

“I’m stuck in the ArcGIS world”

Your entire career has been built on proprietary tools. You know there’s a modern stack out there, but you don’t know where to start—or if your experience still counts.

31% are mid-career analysts ready to modernize
🤖

“AI is changing everything and I’m behind”

You see AI transforming how people build software, but you don’t know how to apply it to GIS workflows. You need a framework, not just another ChatGPT demo.

42% said AI/ML integration is their top challenge
📁

“I have no portfolio to show”

You’ve done years of GIS work, but nothing lives at a public URL. When you apply for modern roles, you have nothing to point to that proves you can build.

37% are students/early career building employable skills
⏱️

“I don’t have 6 months to learn this”

University certificates take semesters. Bootcamps take months. You need to level up now—while working your current job—and can’t afford to wait.

11% are career pivoters who need to ramp fast
☁️

“Cloud-native geospatial is a black box”

You keep hearing about GeoParquet, PMTiles, and the lakehouse pattern. But nobody has explained what any of it means in terms you can act on.

12% said cloud-native geospatial is their biggest gap

14 days from now, everything changes.

Day 0 — Before

Dependent on ArcGIS Pro for everything
Can’t write a SQL query or Python script
No command line experience
Maps live on your laptop, nowhere else
“Cloud-native” is a buzzword you nod at
AI feels like a toy, not a tool
No public portfolio or GitHub presence

Day 14 — After

QGIS configured as your open-source hub
Writing spatial SQL and GeoPandas pipelines
Automating workflows with shell scripts + GDAL
A live web map deployed to a public URL
Querying billions of records with DuckDB from S3
Using AI to build 3x faster with verified output
4 portfolio projects on GitHub, ready to share

4 portfolio projects you’ll build with AI

Every part of the course ends with a deployed, documented project. These aren’t hypotheticals—they’re real work at real URLs.

Automated Data Pipeline

A shell script that downloads public geospatial data, converts across formats with GDAL, and organizes outputs—pushed to GitHub with an annotated README.

BashGDAL/OGRGeoParquetGit
→ Public GitHub repo

NYC Spatial Analysis

A complete urban analysis delivered twice: five progressive SQL queries and a Python notebook with choropleth visualizations and GeoParquet export.

PostGISGeoPandasMatplotlibDuckDB
→ .sql file + Jupyter notebook + case study README

Live Interactive Web Map

Your Part 2 analysis results converted to PMTiles and displayed on an interactive web map with clickable popups, a legend, and styled layers.

MapLibre GL JSPMTilestippecanoeGitHub Pages
→ Live web map at a public URL

Capstone Project

A full end-to-end project of your choosing: data ingestion, spatial analysis, web visualization, and a README written as a professional case study.

DuckDBOverture MapsSQL + PythonMapLibre
→ The anchor of your portfolio

What’s inside

4 parts. 20 lessons. 8 mini-lectures. 4 ESRI Bridge lessons. All focused on the 20% that gets you 80% of the capability.

Part 1
Days 1–3

Your Open-Source Foundation

Replace proprietary dependency with a connected toolkit you control. QGIS setup, command line + GDAL mastery, shell scripting, and the AI operating model.

Modern GIS Stack MapQGIS as Your HubCLI + Shell ScriptingAI-Assisted GISESRI Bridge: QGIS vs ArcGIS Pro
Part 2
Days 4–8

The Two Languages That Matter

SQL and Python from zero to building real analyses. PostGIS via Docker, spatial queries, GeoPandas pipelines, and the integration pattern that connects them.

Spatial SQL from ZeroPostGIS + DockerSQL Analysis BuildPython + GeoPandasPython Analysis BuildSQL + Python IntegrationESRI Bridge: ArcPy vs GeoPandas
Part 3
Days 9–11

Building for the Web

Ship your analysis as a live web map. Cloud-native formats, MapLibre GL JS + PMTiles, GitHub Pages deployment, and optional Streamlit apps.

How Web Maps WorkCloud-Native FormatsMapLibre + PMTiles BuildDeploy to GitHub PagesStreamlit for GISESRI Bridge: AGOL vs Open Web
Part 4
Days 12–14

Scaling with the Cloud & Capstone

Cloud architecture that makes sense, DuckDB querying Overture Maps from S3, the platform landscape, and your capstone project.

Cloud ArchitectureDuckDB + OverturePlatform LandscapeCapstone BuildPolish + DeployESRI Bridge: ESRI in the Cloud
20 video lessons · 8 mini-lectures · 4 ESRI bridges · 4 quizzes · 12+ resources · 4 portfolio projects

AI isn’t a module. It’s the method.

Your relationship with AI evolves as your foundation deepens. By Day 14, you’re building 3x faster because you know enough to direct AI effectively.

Part 1

AI as Translator

Describe a GIS task in plain English. AI generates the CLI command. You execute and verify the output.

Part 2

AI as Tutor

Write your SQL and Python first. AI reviews your code, explains differences, and helps you spot-check spatial output.

Part 3

AI as Builder

You make the design decisions. AI generates MapLibre boilerplate, popup templates, and CSS. You read and modify.

Part 4

AI as Co-Developer

You architect the full pipeline. AI generates code across SQL, Python, and JavaScript. You verify and ship.

The math on your career

Role Avg Salary Δ vs Analyst
GIS Analyst (where most start) $70,000
Geospatial Developer $92,000 +$22K
Spatial Data Engineer $97,000 +$27K
Geospatial Engineer $104,000 +$34K
Geospatial Data Scientist $123,000 +$53K
Pays for itself in 10 days

A $27K salary increase means the $699 course investment is recovered in your first 10 days at the new rate. Everything after that is return.

From GIS professionals like you

“I’m 46, changing careers, enrolled in a GIS program through UCSD which is very much based in ArcGIS Pro. Since discovering your content it seems like everything has moved away from setups like ArcGIS and it’s overwhelming to figure out where to start.”

— Career changer, UCSD GIS student

“I’ve been working in the field for almost 15 years, but in the last five I’ve got lost. I did an MA in GIS to update myself, but I couldn’t synchronize with new tech. I need guidance to really catch up.”

— 15-year GIS veteran

“I have a desktop GIS background and that still feels relevant, but I don’t know where to begin to make the transition to where geospatial data and analysis are headed. Is my ArcGIS Pro experience moot?”

— Desktop GIS professional

“I want to learn spatial SQL. I have zero knowledge of SQL. Should I learn it first and then focus on spatial SQL?”

— GIS analyst, zero SQL experience

“I recently graduated and want to add more tools to my tool belt. More in the automation or imagery analysis sense. I feel I’m getting better with ArcGIS Pro but want more.”

— Recent graduate, early career

“New technologies are popping up every few weeks; keeping up with them is a challenge. Summaries, interactive learning methods, practice with data, and setup guides might help.”

— GIS professional, career pivot

“What’s the difference between this and Spatial Lab?”

The Accelerator is the course. Spatial Lab is the community that includes the course plus ongoing support. Here’s how they compare:

Modern GIS Accelerator

The self-paced course
  • Complete 14-day curriculum (20 lessons)
  • 8 mini-lectures + 4 ESRI Bridge lessons
  • 4 guided portfolio projects with AI
  • All cheat sheets, templates, and swipe files
  • 4 quizzes and self-assessments
  • Lifetime access to course materials
  • Self-paced — start anytime, go at your speed
$699 or 4 payments of $175
One-time payment. No subscription.

Spatial Lab

The community membership
  • Everything in the Accelerator (included)
  • Live group calls and Q&A sessions
  • Private community of GIS professionals
  • Direct feedback on your portfolio projects
  • Career guidance and job search support
  • Additional courses and workshops as released
  • Ongoing access for as long as you’re a member

Start building today

$699
One-time payment · Lifetime access
  • 20 video lessons with hands-on exercises (~37 hours)
  • 8 mini-lectures on essential concepts
  • 4 ESRI Bridge lessons connecting to your current tools
  • 4 guided portfolio projects with AI integration
  • 12+ resources: cheat sheets, templates, prompt libraries
  • 4 quizzes and self-assessment rubrics
  • Capstone project templates and README frameworks
  • LinkedIn post templates for sharing your work
  • Lifetime access — learn once, reference forever
Enroll for $699
One-time payment. Lifetime access. Or 4 monthly payments of $175.

Common questions

I’ve never written code. Can I do this?
Yes. Part 2 teaches SQL and Python from absolute zero. The course is designed for GIS professionals who work with spatial data but haven’t coded before. The AI-native approach means you’re not writing everything from scratch—you’re learning enough to direct AI effectively and verify the output.
Do I need to cancel my ArcGIS license?
No. The ESRI Bridge lessons in each part show you how to use both stacks together. The goal isn’t to abandon ESRI—it’s to stop being dependent on it. Many students continue using ArcGIS Pro at work while building with open-source tools for their portfolio and personal projects.
Is 14 days realistic if I’m working full-time?
The course is designed for 2–3 hours per day. If that’s too aggressive, many students extend to 3–4 weeks at a lighter pace without losing momentum. The key is consistent daily engagement. You have lifetime access, so there’s no deadline.
What software do I need?
Everything in this course is free and open source. You need a laptop (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and an internet connection. QGIS, Python, PostGIS (via Docker), DuckDB, MapLibre—all free. The course walks you through installing every tool.
What’s the difference between this and Spatial Lab?
The Accelerator is the self-paced course with all the lessons, exercises, and portfolio projects. Spatial Lab is a membership community that includes the Accelerator plus live calls, direct feedback on your work, career guidance, and an ongoing community of GIS professionals. If you want the course only, get the Accelerator. If you want accountability and human support, look at Spatial Lab.
How is this different from a university GIS certificate?
University certificates take 6–12 months, cost $6,000–$17,000, and usually teach ArcGIS-only workflows. This course teaches the modern open-source stack in 14 days for a fraction of the cost, with deployed portfolio projects instead of academic exercises. It’s built for practitioners who need to ship, not students who need credits.
What AI tools do I need?
Any major AI assistant works: Claude, ChatGPT, or GitHub Copilot. The course provides a prompt library and teaches you the “Describe → Generate → Verify → Modify” workflow for using AI in geospatial tasks. No paid AI subscription is required—free tiers are sufficient.

Your ArcGIS skills got you here. Open source gets you where you’re going.

14 days. 4 portfolio projects. One modern stack. Start today.

Enroll Now — $699