How to become Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician in 2024

Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician Assist scientists or related professionals in building, maintaining, modifying, or using geographic information systems (GIS) databases. May also perform some custom application development or provide user support.

Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician is Also Know as

In different settings, Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician is titled as

  • Geographic Information System Analyst (GIS Analyst)
  • Geographic Information Systems Administrator (GIS Administrator)
  • Geographic Information Systems Analyst (GIS Analyst)
  • Geographic Information Systems Coordinator (GIS Coordinator)
  • GIS Specialist (Geographic Information Systems Specialist)
  • GIS Technician (Geographic Information Systems Technician)
  • Resource Analyst

Education and Training of Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician is categorized in Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Experience Required for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education Required for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Degrees Related to Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

Training Required for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Related Ocuupations

Some Ocuupations related to Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician in different industries are

What Do Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician do?

  • Produce data layers, maps, tables, or reports, using spatial analysis procedures or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, equipment, or systems.
  • Design or prepare graphic representations of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, using GIS hardware or software applications.
  • Maintain or modify existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases.
  • Provide technical expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to clients or users.
  • Perform computer programming, data analysis, or software development for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications, including the maintenance of existing systems or research and development for future enhancements.
  • Enter data into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases, using techniques such as coordinate geometry, keyboard entry of tabular data, manual digitizing of maps, scanning or automatic conversion to vectors, or conversion of other sources of digital data.
  • Review existing or incoming data for currency, accuracy, usefulness, quality, or completeness of documentation.
  • Perform geospatial data building, modeling, or analysis, using advanced spatial analysis, data manipulation, or cartography software.
  • Design or coordinate the development of integrated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) spatial or non-spatial databases.
  • Perform integrated or computerized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses to address scientific problems.
  • Select cartographic elements needed for effective presentation of information.
  • Provide technical support to users or clients regarding the maintenance, development, or operation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases, equipment, or applications.
  • Collect, compile, or integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, such as remote sensing or cartographic data for inclusion in map manuscripts.
  • Interpret aerial or ortho photographs.
  • Meet with clients to discuss topics such as technical specifications, customized solutions, or operational problems.
  • Document, design, code, or test Geographic Information Systems (GIS) models, internet mapping solutions, or other applications.
  • Create, analyze, report, convert, or transfer data, using specialized applications program software.
  • Confer with users to analyze, configure, or troubleshoot applications.
  • Design, program, or model Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications or procedures.
  • Develop specialized computer software routines, internet-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases, or business applications to customize geographic information.
  • Make recommendations regarding upgrades, considering implications of new or revised Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, equipment, or applications.
  • Assist users in formulating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) requirements or understanding the implications of alternatives.
  • Create visual representations of geospatial data, using complex procedures such as analytical modeling, three-dimensional renderings, or plot creation.
  • Transfer or rescale information from original photographs onto maps or other photographs.
  • Prepare training materials for, or make presentations to, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) users.
  • Apply three-dimensional (3D) or four-dimensional (4D) technologies to geospatial data to allow for new or different analyses or applications.
  • Conduct research, data analysis, systems design, or support for software such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Global Positioning Systems (GPS) mapping software.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, equipment, or systems.
  • Recommend procedures, equipment, or software upgrades to increase data accessibility or ease of use.

Qualities of Good Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

  • Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
  • Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
  • Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
  • Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
  • Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
  • Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
  • Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
  • Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
  • Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
  • Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
  • Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
  • Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
  • Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
  • Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
  • Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
  • Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
  • Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
  • Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Tools Used by Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

  • Computer data input scanners
  • Computer laser printers
  • Computer servers
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital cameras
  • Digitizers
  • Global positioning system GPS receivers
  • Laptop computers
  • Large-format plotters
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Light detection and ranging LIDAR systems
  • Mainframe computers
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopying equipment
  • Plotters
  • Portable data collectors
  • Synthetic aperture radar SAR

Technology Skills required for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technician

  • ADO.NET
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe ActionScript
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Agronomic modeling software
  • Amazon Web Services AWS software
  • Apple iOS
  • ArcGIS Web AppBuilder
  • Atlassian JIRA
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk Land Desktop
  • Autodesk MapGuide
  • Autodesk Topobase
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • Bootstrap
  • C
  • C#
  • C++
  • Cascading style sheets CSS
  • CDA International Manifold System
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
  • Coordinate geometry COGO software
  • dBASE
  • Docker
  • Drupal
  • Email software
  • Enterprise application integration EAI software
  • ESRI ArcEditor
  • ESRI ArcGIS ArcPy
  • ESRI ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • ESRI ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
  • ESRI ArcGIS Survey 123
  • ESRI ArcIMS
  • ESRI ArcInfo
  • ESRI ArcPad
  • ESRI ArcSDE
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Ext JS
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Git
  • GitHub
  • Global positioning system GPS software
  • Go
  • Google Angular
  • Google Earth Pro
  • Google Workspace software
  • Hydrological modeling software
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • IBM WebSphere
  • ITT Visual Information Solutions ENVI
  • JavaScript
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSON
  • Jenkins CI
  • Job control language JCL
  • jQuery
  • Kubernetes
  • LAMP Stack
  • Landmark Graphics GeoGraphix
  • Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
  • Linux
  • List processing language LISP
  • Management information systems MIS
  • Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft ASP.NET
  • Microsoft Azure DevOps Services
  • Microsoft Azure software
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft OneNote
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
  • Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Microsoft Word
  • National Land Cover Database NLCD
  • Node.js
  • Operating system software
  • Oracle Java
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
  • Oracle PL/SQL
  • Perl
  • PHP
  • PostgreSQL
  • Python
  • QGIS
  • R
  • React
  • Relational database management software
  • Relational database management system RDMS
  • RESTful API
  • RockWare ArcMap
  • SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
  • SAP software
  • SAS
  • ServiceNow
  • Shell script
  • Software development tools
  • Software libraries
  • Soil Survey Geographic SSURGO
  • State Soil Geographic STATSGO Database
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Sun Microsystems Java
  • Tableau
  • Teradata Database
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Transact-SQL
  • Trimble Pathfinder Office
  • TypeScript
  • Unified modeling language UML
  • UNIX
  • Web application software
  • Web browser software