A look at critical skills and issues in the use of GIS on

 What is GIS?  When and where can it be applied?  Why is it important?  Most importantly, can I get a job with this?  Also important: What do I need to do to keep a job?

 Geographic Information Systems is one common term. ◦ This is a reference to the people, computer hardware, software and technologies that advance computer-based cartography, dynamics of an area and information exchange with an underlying geographic component.  Geographic Information Sciences is another possible term ◦ This is a reference to the theoretical and applied knowledge behind the creation of modern, data-driven maps.  The difference? ◦ The Systems GIS is an technology-driven, data-driven pragmatic framework for solving problems. ◦ The Sciences GIS is a broader, more holistic view that includes theoretical studies and delves more deeply into the question: “Why do we study the globe?”

 Pure Cartography – updating maps as the world’s events change them  Macro-scale Landforms and Environments: Studying the natural and man-made changes to the globe  Network geographies: Understanding how and why goods and people move on roads, bridges, air and rail.  Meso- and Micro-scale Development geographies: Change in geography over time due to man-made actions, including environmental and economic changes  Disaster and Sudden Change Geographies: Violent upheavals in landforms creating instant new geographic reality

 The creation of maps that name locations, events, natural phenomena or man-made alterations to terrain  The goal is descriptive, in their words to help people learn what is there  It is very important for Atlases, travel guides and any map where the most important information is understanding what is there  While there are few pure cartographers left, understanding the basics of good mapping remains important.

 The study of large-scale landform development  These landforms impact populations, environments, lifestyles and can require large scale efforts  These are often long term developments, such as pollution, economic development, nation-state changes or shifts in political alliance that cause resource shift  However, war and natural disasters can also change large scale change, and quickly

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Studies Efficiency of Motion Gives us a visual understanding of capacity and flow direction May add an element of time geography

 This focuses on human beings and their reactions to the geospatial realities of their world  It is dependent not just on understanding how the geographies look and what data there are, but people’s reaction to that data and understanding of it  This can focus on social geographies, urban geographies and brownfield redevelopment

 Several small events (man-made or natural) that cause long-lasting impact and much greater than one individual event  May not be seen until after the major catastrophic event occurs.  May have unforeseen socio-economic issues, such as environmental justice concerns

 Disasters  Wars  Results of long term human impact that reach a tipping point and create sudden, drastic change

What it actually is: A Coal Fire that has been burning since 1962… and will until the year 2500!

NOTE: Some buildings left intact WHY? Political Pressure Unsafe to demolish Lack of funds

 YES!  The demand for GIS jobs and related fields is expected to grow by 10,000 over the next years.  However, there’s a really important development: ◦ Since 2002, many other nations with superior geography curricula now have GIS educations ◦ Your competition may come from India, Russia, Japan or Finand ◦ You must develop skills and keep being on top of your career

 Require critical thinking ◦ In ay critical event, especially one with potential large- scale environmental damage, there is constant change. You have to see through the “white noise” and act on what is most vital  Require a good knowledge base of GIS ◦ Learn how to use GIS in an intelligent and actionable manner  Requires environmental perception or knowledge ◦ Either know the area or have the skills to learn it

 Prioritize! The most important question in an emergency is “When?” not “What?” or “How?”  Next most important question: “Who?” ◦ Know your resources, know your departments, know who to make contact with and who to deliver your information to  Get the right data out quickly. Analytics are not immediately important, but accuracy is

Find A Problem Find An Area to study Propose a Hypothesis Study the Data Confirm the Hypothesis or suggest other research if Hypothesis fails Check your method of measurement and your error Be willing to not just have good data, but see that data solve a problem

 KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!!!  Maps and Analysis tell a story ◦ It must be relevant ◦ It must be timely ◦ It must be understandable ◦ It must be able to solve a problem  Have good presentation skills ◦ Practice your presentation  Be clear and concise in your written communications  You don’t need to speak English as a First Language to succeed, but you must speak accurately and intelligently

 Critical skill in today’s market  Join your GIS Association, local or state  If you have national or international aspirations, join an organization like AAG  Attend local and major national conferences  Learn how successful people work with others and share information, even if they compete  Always be willing to spend time with your colleagues and work together to solve problems

 Find a passion within GIS and learn it  Don’t forget basic cartography and skills  Be capable of working in a stressful environment with a calm demeanor  See problems and be ahead of the curve  Utilize your skills pro-actively  Be able to analyze  Be able to deliver a good presentation  Be able to network

 Rich Quodomine    Twitter: RDQ_Geography  Co-Author “Practicing Geography”  Contributor to Directions Magazine  On LinkedIn  Can help with Internships