Expert says GIS careers require preparation
By Adriana F. De Leon
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
Originally published: 4/19/07 at 5:03 PM CSTLast update: 4/19/07 at 5:02 PM CST
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People interested in working in geographic information systems must understand that everything learned today will be useless in the future because technology constantly changes, the geographic information systems manager for the city of San Antonio said April 12.
Dale "Woody" Woodruff, who works for the city's planning and community development department, spoke to students in CRTG 1125, Concepts and Careers in Geographic Information Systems.
"If you want to enter into this field, you need to be prepared and continually learn," he said. "Software changes, hardware changes and the way you handle data and the way you link data and the way you access data all changes."
GIS is software for capturing, storing, checking, analyzing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth's surface.
This software produces maps, graphs, tables and images.
When Woodruff started in this field, he described GIS as a set of paper map files.
"I started in mapping and photogrammetry," he said.
Photogrammetry is the science of making reliable measurements of physical objects to create accurate maps, he said.
When he worked in this position he produced map grids manually by writing them. Now software can perform the job faster and more easily, he said.
People who are interested in working in this field need multiple skills.
Individuals searching for a specific job in the field should try to learn more about how the job is performed, Woodruff said.
If an individual has more than one skill, this makes the individual a valuable worker, Woodruff said.
"This makes you more versatile, more valuable," he said.
The jobs in the GIS field include a GIS technician, analyst, supervisor, coordinator, specialist, manager, aerial photographer and land use planner.
Usually people start as a GIS technician and eventually progress, he said.
A GIS technician creates and maintains maps electronically by using GIS software.
Dale "Woody" Woodruff, who works for the city's planning and community development department, spoke to students in CRTG 1125, Concepts and Careers in Geographic Information Systems.
"If you want to enter into this field, you need to be prepared and continually learn," he said. "Software changes, hardware changes and the way you handle data and the way you link data and the way you access data all changes."
GIS is software for capturing, storing, checking, analyzing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth's surface.
This software produces maps, graphs, tables and images.
When Woodruff started in this field, he described GIS as a set of paper map files.
"I started in mapping and photogrammetry," he said.
Photogrammetry is the science of making reliable measurements of physical objects to create accurate maps, he said.
When he worked in this position he produced map grids manually by writing them. Now software can perform the job faster and more easily, he said.
People who are interested in working in this field need multiple skills.
Individuals searching for a specific job in the field should try to learn more about how the job is performed, Woodruff said.
If an individual has more than one skill, this makes the individual a valuable worker, Woodruff said.
"This makes you more versatile, more valuable," he said.
The jobs in the GIS field include a GIS technician, analyst, supervisor, coordinator, specialist, manager, aerial photographer and land use planner.
Usually people start as a GIS technician and eventually progress, he said.
A GIS technician creates and maintains maps electronically by using GIS software.
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Warren Roberts
posted 4/24/07 @ 2:15 AM CST
certainly the field is changing however not all will be needed to relearn .. as in the article .. you need to be aware of zoning .. you need to be familiar with conventions in fire, law enforcement and so forth. (Continued…)
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