Workstation 101 and How to Find Consulting Work

Sacrey, Deborah King

Auburn Energy

The life of the consultant has changed dramatically in the last 10 years.  PC Workstations have become more affordable and the geological and geophysical software packages developed for use on a PC are very competitive with their UNIX counterparts.

This presentation will compare hardware and software costs for PC versus UNIX workstations, and demonstrate how a geoscientist wanting to get into the consulting world can set up and grow their business.

Starting out on your own is not an easy thing to do.  If you plan on doing any geological mapping or seismic interpretation, probably a computer workstation of some sort will be necessary.  Therefore, the following issues will be important points to consider: 1) buying a “canned” machine, or building a clone; 2) buying software;   3) maintenance issues, PC vs Unix; 4) advantages of using PC’s for seismic interpretation; 5) speed of machines and capacities – Myths and Truths; 6) seismic interpretation packages on the market are easier to learn, more intuitive, and have the same functionality as the Unix versions; 7) selecting plotters and printers; 8)  costs of typical equipment for a geophysical/geological workstation.  One could easily build a state-of-the-art geophysical workstation for around $6000.

To find consulting work,  become an “Expert” in your software package; become familiar with the small independents in town; NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK; join additional Organizations/Social Clubs; if you are not risk-aversive, build your workstation, and “THEY WILL COME;” volunteer time in your organizations; put together “presentations” and hit the speaker’s circuit; when you do work for a client, do the best job you can – and charge fairly; and finally – do good deeds for other people along the way!