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John Kelmelis - Naturally Mapping Geography
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| "It was natural for me to work with maps," says John Kelmelis, the Senior Advisor for science and applications at the National Mapping Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, "I've been using maps for as long as I can remember, even before I was a boy scout many years ago." Kelmelis describes his journey to geography as a natural evolution. "I didn't get a degree in geography until I was in my forties and that was my doctorate," says Kelmelis, "It was a long time to get to geography, but I have been doing geography for a long time." "I've always had eclectic interests in not only the physical environment, but also the social environment, and how they linked and worked together," says Kelmelis, "I've always been interested in the cartographic side of geography as well." After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in earth science, Kelmelis tried to find a job to fulfill all his interests. He worked as a land surveyor, a draftsman, a construction worker, and as the administrator of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act for the state of Connecticut. Kelmelis finally found a place to explore all his interests as a cartographer. First at the Defense Mapping Agency and then for the U.S. Geological survey where he has remained for the past 20 years. "When I went to work with the Geological Survey," says Kelmelis, "I worked in everything." Production mapping, running the United States Antarctic Mapping Program, integrating large cartographic systems, managing cartographic production, coordinating the U.S.G.S. Global Change Research Program, and managing a research branch that looked at developing new understandings of the earth's surface and the processes that effect it were among the many projects and programs that Kelmelis has been involved in. "Today, we're looking at the relationship between physical and cultural geography," Kelmelis continues, "We are looking at human impacts on the land's surface." Part of Kelmelis' program maps global land cover over a periodic basis. So, every couple of weeks using satellite data U.S.G.S. can update land cover information. Then, the new information is compared to the information already gathered in order to see land cover changes. With the surface of the earth constantly changing, Kelmelis is learning something new every day. "I don't ever expect to stop learning," says Kelmelis, "I am continually learning and expanding my knowledge as I move throughout my career." Kelmelis encourages students to cultivate their natural curiosity about the world. "Discover how the world works socially and physically, and keep asking questions," says Kelmelis, "Observe how things relate to one another, question common sense, and get as broad a background as possible." "Getting a good foundation in tools, quantitative analysis, GIS, remote sensing, cartography, good communication skills are also important," he continues. "But above all -- be flexible," says Kelmelis, "The job you get may not be your ideal job but it may open a lot of doors for you." "You must also be committed to lifelong learning," adds Kelmelis, "The world is changing too fast to think that your education is ever done." "I think geography encompasses everything at least here at the survey - from geography to understanding the processes, to looking at quantitative methods, and advancing tools, to making research results available to decision makers in the most understandable way possible." "For instance, we are developing urban dynamic maps, which morph the growth of urban and land covers over the history of hundreds of years," says Kelmelis, "We use maps, field notes, air photos, and current satellite data." "By analyzing why those land cover changes have taken place and what they influence, we will have valuable information for future land managers." Kelmelis may have taken the road less traveled to geography but life has a way of naturally leading us to places that we were always meant to find. |