GEOSPATIAL WORKFORCE COMPETENCY
Question 9: In the Gaudet
et al (2003) Geospatial Workforce Competency Model, the following 12 roles are
defined. Based upon your knowledge and experience, please identify the roles
for which there are or will be shortages of skilled workers in the geospatial
technology industry during the next 10 years.
|
ROLE |
FREQ |
Percent |
|
Application
Development |
39 |
12.87 |
|
Data
Analysis |
33 |
10.89 |
|
Project
Management |
33 |
10.89 |
|
Data
Management |
32 |
10.56 |
|
Visualization |
32 |
10.56 |
|
Systems
Analysis |
30 |
9.90 |
|
Systems
Management |
26 |
8.58 |
|
Training |
21 |
6.93 |
|
Coordination |
17 |
5.61 |
|
Management |
17 |
5.61 |
|
Data
Acquisition |
13 |
4.29 |
|
Marketing |
10 |
3.30 |
In this question, the
respondents are asked to enter other roles.
These include (roles listed as is):
|
Cross-discipline
Specialists |
|
Data
Conversion |
|
Database
Administration |
|
geo
software engineering |
|
Geographic
Information Specialist (broader than data analysis) |
|
GIS
Education |
|
GIS
related software engineering and systems integration |
|
GIScientists |
|
Leadership |
|
Mathmatics (Statistics) and technical writing |
|
Photogrammetry |
|
Rights
Management |
|
Security |
|
software
architecture & development |
|
spatial
programming |
|
Systems
integration |
|
technical
writing |
|
Training
in each field not just generic training |
|
use of
Standards |
Question 10: In your opinion, do the following
technical competencies adequately cover the full spectrum of geospatial
technical competencies in your organizations?
|
RESPONSE |
FREQ |
% |
|
NO |
45 |
64.29 |
|
YES |
24 |
34.29 |
|
NO RESP |
1 |
1.43 |
Question 11: If your answer to the previous question is "NO", please suggest additional technical competencies that are needed for work in the geospatial technology industry.
Comments and added competencies are as follows (direct quotes, as is):
·
"Geology" and "Environmental
Applications" are application areas, not technical competencies. "Topography" should be edited to
read "Topology." Include
Internet techologies to deliver and analyze spatial
data.
·
"Topology" and "Topography" are
two distinct definitions. Both are listed in the survey with
"Topology" expanded upon in the "definitions of the above 13
technical competencies". I would agree with the "Topology"
definition while adding it to the list and keep "Topography" on the
list but give it its own definition. A definition might read,
""Topography represents the geo-physical make up of the land, including
but not limited to the surface contours, soil types, water features, man-made
features, vegetation, etc."" I would also include a technical
competency for attribute content. There does not seem to be too many standards
for capturing and validating attribute content, especially with respect to
street naming conventions, postal address information, etc. especially as E-911
systems are being designed and implemented for homeland security and replacing
more traditional US Postal standards. This has a significant impact on One
Call/Damage prevention, ticket management for utilities and coordinating and
communicating emergency response.
·
An understanding of surveying - including geodetic
is critical. Most GIS professionals
don't have adequate understanding on underlying data capture technology in
order to identify if proper data is used, and used properly. A complete understanding of GPS needs to be
included. GPS is the key to successful
GIS and it is poorly understood by most GIS professionals. Engineering -
fundamental engineering thought and process is usually required for the most
successful developers. This includes the
rigorous mathematics and physics for an understanding of sensors, computations,
transformations, projections, etc. Most
current GIS cirriculum is very weak on the fundamentals.
·
As the GIS software systems become more integrated
with standard IT, the generic ""Computer Programming""
competency is inadequate. The systems being developed today require serious
software engineering skills, including agile methodologies, service oriented
architectures, automated testing (unit & acceptance), refactoring,
use of team-based tools (source control systems, automated builds etc), and
in-depth knowledge of the programming language in use (Java, .NET)
·
Commerce applications, etc -- knowledge of
applications within subject areas.
·
Computational Geometry, Artificial Intelligence
·
Critical thinking/problem solving, Mathematics
·
Data acquisition (Real-time and Non-Real-time); Data
Visualization Techniques & Methods; Mapping (unless adequately included in
cartography); & Data Conversion/Digitization
·
Database (SQL) knowledge
·
Database administration/development, Work flow
analysis
·
Discipline-specific categories should be eliminated
or greatly expanded to include urban, health, and so forth. In what way is
geology not environmental?
·
Enterprise Information Data Management utilizing
geospatial data Enterprise Project Management focused on Information Work Flows
with a geospatial component
·
Ethics
·
financial management
·
Focus on more global analysis of spacial
data related to Business needs.
·
Geodetic science, surveying, cartography
·
Geospatial analysis
·
Geospatial data relationship to network relationship
in support of infrastructure data bases
·
geospatial standards and implementation
·
GIS Consulting (needs assessments, application
design, etc.) Geospatial Vision/Leadership
·
GIS Database Design , GIS Web Services
·
GIS Database Management, GIS Systems Integration
·
Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
·
Government Applications, Health and Safety
Applications, Utiltiy Applications, Planning
Applications
·
GPS, Cadastral/city,country,
state government management and planning, It seems if geology has its separate
application you definitely need to include something related to goverment (think of FEMA and Hurricane Katrina)
·
I can't articulate it well, but there is definitely
a competency for the integration and interface of domain knowledge with the
technology. You list geology,
topography, and environmental, but there are a TON of other domain specific
people out there that need geospatial tools and techniques.
·
Linear Networking (creating, maintaining, and
analyzing/using a network for transportation/utility applications)
·
Mathematical & Quantitative Skills (ability to
actually develop & apply matematical procedures
in support of analysis and environmental modeling at least through the level of
intergal calculus)
·
Measurement science and statistical analysis
·
multi-dimentional
representation and modeling (including temporal), data fusion, data mining
·
Natural Resources Management
·
Not sure the above represent the best list of
technical competencies but they are adequate
·
Perhaps some category that deals with location based
services, sensor networks (as they are not necessarily "remote"), and
security and authentication.
·
Presentation Skills, Mathmatics,
Ability to incorporate systmes into GIS (i.e. life
cycles, human action and risk)
·
Project Management Skills (need human relations, GIS
technical, negotiating skills to work with diverse large groups of people
and/or agencies)
·
Project Management skills, General Personnel
Management skills, Public Relations (inter- and intra-organizational) skills
·
Public Speaking and Marketing, Education
·
Regional competency, meaning region/area geographic
analysis methodology, Natural Resource Assessments, Vegetation classification,
specifically wetland characterization
·
See the ten knowledge areas specified in the UCGIS
GI S&T Body of Knowledge
(http://www.ucgis.org/priorities/education/modelcurriculaproject.asp) Add to those technical writing and oral
communication
·
Social/demographics/policy applications, Spatial
data analysis/statistics, Research, Project management, Training,
Communications, Information technology/systems management
·
Some general IT skills, especially Database
Management, Web Services; Computer Languages Java, .NET, PHP, Python, XML
·
Surveying, Geography, Geometry
·
Systems analyst skills for geospatial technologies
·
The term "Spatial Information Processing"
should be changed to "Geospatial Analysis" to describe what the
definition actually states.
·
There are many related technology industries that
are critical to geospatial technical competencies, e.g. relational database
management, information technology (including sensors) in general. The problem
I see in GIS is lack of industry (application) specific domain expertise to
make it more successful.
·
There are numerous location (ie
spatial) technologies not included...like GPS, precision, real time, indoor location
systems (wi-fi or ultrawideband,
etc.)
·
There is a new field emerging that uses geospatial
technologies in atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Therefore, I suggest that
Geology Applications is too
narrow. Earth Systems Applications might be better.
·
Understanding Spatial Analysis Techniques