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Human Resources in Geospatial Industry

Shaik Kareem Basha
Senior GIS Developer,
Qatar Petroleum, Doha, Qatar
basha_qa@yahoo.com


There has been a paradigm shift in the kind of human resources requirements in the geospatial industry.

To analyze the factors that have led to this shift, we need to understand, what is geospatial industry? And how it has evolved? Answers to these questions will give us the factors which are responsible for human resource requirements shift. GIS did not emerge full-grown, but evolved as computer hardware and software became more capable and available. When we analyze the geospatial industry and components involved in its evolution process we will realize that following are the factors responsible for human resource requirements shift.

DEVELOPMENTS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Hardware: Fast and relatively inexpensive desktop computers, with high-quality graphics monitors, connected to reliable networks, are becoming fairly common in our business. For a few thousand dollars, one can now buy large-format color plotters. Thus one of the primary informationbearing vehicles of our business the map can now be created "on demand', easily quickly and accurately using technology.

Software:GIS software is much easier to use than ever before. The fact that it runs on PCs and Macs makes it available to everyone.

Data:Until recently GIS technology was handicapped by high cost and long delays building geographic databases. In the past few years there have been major improvements in the availability, accuracy, and cost of spatial data.

Internet:According to industry sources, one popular website delivered more than 80 million maps and directions in a single month! One of the biggest benefits the internet delivers is the ease with which content can reach the end user. A sure indicator of this trend is that, every one of the GIS software providers has web-enabling tools available, today!

INTEGRATION OF GIS AND IT

Another signific ography or Geology related background may find him/her a mismatch without information technology (IT) because today GIS Technology is dependent on IT for storing, analyzing, building applications for presenting the GIS data to clients. One can often teach a non-spatial person the essentials of spatial information, but it can often be frustrating to have geographers learning programming and databases. GIS Professional with pure IT background without GIS/GeoInformatics knowledge is also a mismatch. So people with strong IT background with GIS/GeoInformatics knowledge and skills will be an ideal match of the day.

CONVERGENCE OF TECHNOLOGIES

GIS combines a variety of disparate technologies. At its core, GIS merges digital mapping with database technology so that attributes of features or zones on a map are stored in a database. In this decade, a number of technologies have converged to make Geographic Information Systems (GIS) effective tools for leveraging information with a geographic content.

All above factors influenced the human resource requirements of today. More competencies are required today than a couple of years back.

CURRENT INDUSTRY NEEDS

With the increased use of computers in geospatial technology careers, the current Industry needs are shifting. A high level of skilled employees provides a strong competitive advantage to the geospatial industry. Firms now seek recruits with post-graduate specialization. The types of professionals and technicians required are as diverse as the industry itself. Software specialists with a geoinformatics background are in demand.

Organizations in all disciplines need professionals skilled in integrating GIS with their core business. In spite of the technological strengths, there is greater emphasis on developing management and business domain skills, education and training has to be more multi-disciplinary and application oriented. We can broadly classify the current Industry needs into following headings:
  • Education in geospatial sciences/Computer Science/IT
  • Technical Skills
  • Soft Skills
  • Project Management Skills
  • Tips for Career Growth of a GIS Professional
Education in geospatial sciences

Bachelor Degree in Engineering/ Computer Science with Master Degree in GIS/Geoinformatics or Bachelor Degree in GIS/Geoinformatics with Master Degree in Computer Science is good combination for career growth. The Bachelor's degree is considered the entry-level requirement for the profession. Professionals who earn Master's degrees can be expected to assume positions of more responsibility. They might be assigned special projects or expected to design and implement new procedures and systems. Ph.D. qualification is usually for professionals who are planning a career in college teaching or research. The required skills may be enlisted as follows:

Technical Skills
  • Understanding of Fundamental GIS Concepts
    Feature Classes, Rasters, Surfaces, Topology, Imagery, Mapping, Geoprocessing, Relational Databases, Coordinate Systems, GIS Data Modeling
  • Portfolio of GIS Work
    Maps, Analytical Models, Applications and Programs, Geoprocessing Macros and scripts, Experience with Data Compilation and Data Management
  • Computing Skills
RDBMS, Applications Programming (VB, .NET, Java, C++), Web Programming, Enterprise Computing, Good analytical and problem solving skills.

Soft Skills: Learn the basics of effective verbal communications and presentations. One may be offered an interview because of one’s resume but the best communicator in the interview will get the job.

Project Management Skills:GIS projects are expensive in terms of both time and money. To complete GIS project within scope, time, budget project management skills are necessary. Project Management skills are essential for GIS Project Manager.

There is a gap in human resource requirements of today and available GIS professionals with competencies desired. Academic institutions syllabus is not fulfilling the current requirements of industry. These gaps need to be filled keeping the above factors and current industry needs in view.

GIS career can be exciting and have a tremendously positive impact on the world. GIS professionals have an opportunity to make a real difference in the world.

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