GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
Work with related software and programs to create and maintain data and/or maps that can be combined with geographically referenced data. GIS software has the capacity to relate different types of data such as socioeconomic, demographic, administrative or political boundaries, land use, land cover, environmental, infrastructure, and transportation networks. All maps are then published to the internet securely.
Responsibilities include the following tasks:
- Assist to create maps and graphs, using GIS software and related equipment.
- Meet with users to define data needs, project requirements, required outputs, or to develop applications.
- Conduct Research to locate and obtain existing databases.
- Gather, analyze, and integrate spatial data from staff and determine how best the information can be displayed using GIS.
- Compile geographic data from a variety of sources including censuses, field observation, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
- Analyze spatial data for geographic statistics to incorporate into documents and reports.
- Design and update database, applying additional knowledge of spatial feature representations.
- Enter new map data through use of a digitizer or by direct input of coordinate information using the principles of cartography including coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
- Analyze geographic relationships among varying types of data.
- Prepare metadata and other documentation.
- Operate and maintain GIS system hardware, software, plotter, digitizer, color printer, and video camera.
- Move, copy, delete, and add files, drawings, and maps to output reports in hard copy or electronic transfer.
- Present information to users and answer questions.
- Retrieve stored maps.
The following skills, knowledge, and abilities are required for the GIS projects undertaken:
- Geography – Knowledge of various methods for describing the location and distribution of land, sea, and air masses including their physical locations, relationships, and characteristics.
- Communication, Written, Oral, and Cartographic – The ability to convey GIS/spatial information to non-GIS/technical people.
- Analytical Skills – The ability to solve problems using the GIS suite of tools.
- Mathematics – Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Information Gathering – Knowing how to find information and identify essential information, and validate the 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.
- Computer Science – Using and developing computer programs to solve problems.
- Systems Evaluation – Looking at many indicators of system performance, taking into account their accuracy.