Delivering on GIS:

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Delivering on GIS

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

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To be covered

• 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?

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So what is GIS in the working world?

• 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?

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When and Where can GIS be applied to the
real-world?

• Pure Cartography updating maps as the worlds
  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

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Pure cartography

• 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.

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Pure Cartography
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Macro and Meso-scale landform studies

• 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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Love Canal
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Hurricane Irene
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An example of an emergency map
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Invasive Species
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Invasive Mapping

• http//imapinvasives.org/nyimi/map/

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Network Geography

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

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Network Geography my world
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Micro and Meso-scale GIS

• 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
  peoples reaction to that data and understanding
  of it
• This can focus on social geographies, urban
  geographies and brownfield redevelopment

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Cumulative Impacts

• 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

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Urban Desertification
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Sudden Change Geographies

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

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Centralia, PA
What it actually is
A Coal Fire that has been burning since 1962 and
will until the year 2500!
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Centralia Demolition

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

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So, can you get a job?

• YES!
• The demand for GIS jobs and related fields is
  expected to grow by 10,000 over the next 8-10
  years.
• However, theres 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

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Some skills to work by

• 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

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What skills you need

• 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

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Analytics

• 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

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So, how do you present your analysis?

• 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 dont need to speak English as a First
  Language to succeed, but you must speak
  accurately and intelligently

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Networking

• Critical skill in todays 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

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Conclusions

• Find a passion within GIS and learn it
• Dont 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

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Thank You!

• Rich Quodomine
• 1 518 542 8799
• Rich.Quodomine_at_dot.ny.gov
• Twitter RDQ_Geography
• Co-Author Practicing Geography
• Contributor to Directions Magazine
• On LinkedIn
• Can help with Internships