WHAT DOES A GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) SPECIALIST DO?
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS work with GIS computer programs that enable the user to use ready-made maps or create maps that can be combined with geographically-referenced data. GIS software has the capacity to relate different types of data such as socioeconomic demographics, potential forest fire areas, location of sewer lines, heavy utility use, traffic analysis zones, and environmental assessment to geographic locations.
GIS Specialists perform the following tasks:
· Meet with users to develop system or project requirements
· Create or retrieve stored maps
· Create maps and graphs, using computer and geographic information system software and related equipment
· Design database and coordinate physical changes to database, applying additional knowledge of spatial feature representations
· Enter new map data either through use of a digitizer or direct manual input of coordinate information using the principles of cartography including coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales
· Move, copy, delete and append files, drawings and maps to output reports in hard copy or electronic transfer
· Determine how to analyze spatial relationships, including adjacency, containment, and proximity
· Operate all peripherals associated with a GIS, including printers, plotters, scanners and digitizers
· Perform routine maintenance on plotters, such as changing pens, toner cartridges, and loading paper trays
· Present information to users and answer questions
WHAT SKILLS ARE
IMPORTANT?
GIS Specialists possess the following skills, knowledge, and abilities:
· Computers and Electronics – Knowledge of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming
· Geography – Knowledge of various methods for describing the location and distribution of land, sea, and air masses including their physical locations, relationships, and characteristics
· Information Gathering – Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information
· Information Ordering – The ability to correctly follow a given rule or set of rules in order to arrange things or actions in a certain order
· Mathematics – Using mathematics to solve problems
· Systems Evaluation – Looking at many indicators of system performance, taking into account their accuracy
WHAT’S THE WORK
ENVIRONMENT?
GIS Specialists usually work in clean, well-lit and well-ventilated offices. They generally work at a desk in a cubicle of their own equipped with computers and automated mapping equipment. The work often involves long hours in front of a computer screen using a keyboard.
Union membership depends upon the
employment setting. Many government and
utility company employees belong to unions.
WHAT’S THE JOB
OUTLOOK?
The following information is from
the occupational group, Data Base Administrators, in the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market
Information Division. GIS Specialists
are part of the Data Base Administrator group:
|
Estimated
number of workers in 1996: |
3,940 |
|
Estimated
number of workers in 2006: |
7,900 |
|
Projected
Growth 1996-2006: |
100.5% |
|
Estimated
openings due to separations by 2006: |
1,180 |
Trends
Most GIS is now done on personal computers since their speed and storage have increased. Their relative low cost and ease of use have helped push mainstream GIS vendors to develop simpler, user-oriented GIS software.
Local governments face great challenges in providing transportation, health, welfare, education, and utility services to an ever-growing population. Since most of the decisions they make are related to location, geographic information is one of the most important and valuable factors in the areas of planning, public safety, urban renewal, and economic development issues facing local governments.
Business also finds GIS an indispensable tool for marketing, location, and distribution decisions.
Use and interest in GIS continues to intensify, but may not lead to large increases in employment of GIS Specialists per se. Rather, it may lead to the addition of GIS duties to established occupations such as drafters, cartographers, and research analysts.
WHAT DOES THE JOB PAY?
Wages for Geographic Information
Systems Specialists are included in the 1998 Occupational Employment & Wage
Data Survey Results for Data Base Administrator which averages $16.60 an hour
at the entry level. The average wage in
this group is $26.45 an hour or $55,100 annually. At the 75th percentile, experienced workers in this
class earn $36.88 per hour.
GIS Specialists generally work a
40-hour week, five days a week.
Those GIS Specialists who work
for governmental agencies and utilities enjoy a full range of benefits,
including health, vision and dental care, paid vacation, and sick leave. Benefits from other employers will vary.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR
THE JOB?
Education and Training
Those who wish to acquire GIS skills should pursue a GIS certificate program or obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in geography emphasizing GIS. There are a number of colleges and universities in California with certificate programs in GIS, including Columbia College in Sonora, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. Distance learning courses in GIS are also available over the Internet.
Licensing and Certification
Professional certification is
available through the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote
Sensing association as a Certified Mapping Scientist, GIS/LIS.
It is
important for GIS Specialists to keep up with new technology and practices in
the field through extension courses and professional association seminars.
HOW DO I FIND THE JOB?
The majority of GIS Specialists work for government agencies or utility companies. A number of GIS Specialists work as consultants and technicians to businesses that help private firms and public entities select the best hardware and software for their geographic information needs.
Direct application to employers
remains one of the most effective job search methods. Private firms are listed in the Yellow Pages under Computer
Graphics & Digital Imaging, Map Dealers & Services, and Marketing
Research & Analysis. California job
openings can be found at CalJOBS at http://www.caljobs.ca.gov or
at America’s Job Bank at: http://www.ajb.dni.us Internet sites that specialize in GIS job
opportunities are listed below under the heading, “Other Sources of
Information.” For more
information, see your local employment and training provider and visit the
Employment Development Department Labor Market Information web page at: http://www.calmis.ca.gov.
WHERE CAN THIS JOB LEAD?
GIS Specialists in larger
organizations may advance to supervisory and manager positions. Others may choose to become self-employed as
GIS consultants.
OTHER
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Cartography and
Geographic Information Society (CaGIS)
5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20814-2144
(301) 493-0200 Fax (301) 493-8245
http://www.survmap.org/cagis/index.html
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
(ASPRS)
The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society
5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 210
Bethesda, MD 20814-2160
http://www.asprs.org/
1710 Sixteenth Street. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
The GIS Jobs Clearinghouse
GISjobs.com
|
RELATED
OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES |
|
|
Computer
Programmers |
No. 81 |
|
Surveying
Occupations |
No. 106 |
|
Drafting
Occupations |
No. 338 |
|
Cartographers |
No. 517 |
|
Computer
Systems Analysts |
No. 541 |
|
OCCUPATIONAL
CODE REFERENCES |
|
|
O*NET (Occupational Information Network) |
|
|
Geographic
Information system Specialists |
25103B |
|
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics)
System |
|
|
Data
Base Administrators |
25103 |
|
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed. Rev. 1) |
|
|
Drafter,
Cartographic |
018.261-010 |
|
Photogrammetrist |
018.261-026 |
|
Stereo-Plotter Operator |
018.281-010 |