White Paper: Feedback for Defining the Geospatial/Geographic Technologies Industry

Instructions

Please answer the following questions below as they relate to you by checking the applicable response or writing your answer, as noted.


BASIC INFORMATION

1.

Which of the following types of organization do you belong to?

(Select all that apply.)

Private or Public Company

Non-profit Organization

Federal Government

State Government

County or Local Government

Educator (4-year Plus)

Educator (Community College)

Other (please specify):


2.

What is your 5-digit ZIP code? (If international, please write in your country name.)


DEFINING THE GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY

In order to assess current and future geospatial workforce demand issues, we are attempting to establish a consensus definition of the geospatial/geographic technologies industry. Below are four commonly-used definitions.

3.

Please select the definition below with which you most agree.

The geospatial technology industry is an information technology field of practice that acquires, manages, interprets, integrates, displays, analyzes, or otherwise uses data focusing on the geographic, temporal, and spatial context. It also includes the development and life-cycle management of information technology tools to support the above.
The geospatial technology industry is concerned with the design, development, implementation and use of geographic information systems technologies. GIS technologies include a wide array of technologies, such as GIS software, global positioning systems (GPS), location-based services (LBS), mobile GIS, remote sensing, and Web GIS.
The broad domain of geographic information science & technology (GIS&T) represents a body of knowledge that focuses in an analytic fashion upon various aspects of spatial and spatio-temporal information and therefore constitutes, in some of its aspects, a science. In other aspects, where the focus is largely upon the utilization of GIScience to attain solutions to real-world problems, it has more of an engineering flavor with attention being given to both the creation and use of complex tools that embody the concepts of GIScience. The focus of GIS&T education is concepts and methods for geographic problem solving in a computation environment.
The geospatial industry engages, at a variety of spatial scales, in the acquisition, integration, analysis, visualization, management and distribution of data having an explicit spatial and temporal context. A critical component of the industry involves the design, construction and testing of both hardware and software tools to support these activities. Because of the highly technical nature of the industry it is essential to include in any definition those organizations and individuals in the higher education community who are engaged in relevant instructional activities.


4.

What changes, if any, would you suggest to improve the definition you have just chosen in the previous question?


GEOSPATIAL MARKET SEGMENTATION

There are many ways to segment the geospatial technology industry. They all have merits and disadvantages. Keeping in mind that the purpose of this project is to assess geospatial workforce needs in the United States, please choose one of the following market segmentation methods that are appropriate and then provide a recommendation for improvement.

5.

Select one of the following methods that you think best categorizes the geospatial technology industry.

Division by technology categories: GIS; Photogrammetry; Geographic Management Systems (i.e., real-time interactive GPS/GIS operations management systems, dispatch, electronic battlefield, AVL, work order systems, GPS-RFID logistics systems, etc.); Remote Sensing; others.
Division by user application groups: Utility; Telecommunication; Health Care; Agriculture; etc.
Division by sectors: Private sector; Public sector; Education sector; Non-Profit sector; etc.

6.

How would you improve the categorization you have just chosen in the previous question?


GEOSPATIAL WORKFORCE NEEDS (SOC)

Currently the primary official mechanism for compiling employment statistics is the use of the Standard Occupation Code (SOC) system established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Very few codes (e.g. 17-1021: Cartographer & Photogrammetrists; 17-1022: Surveyors; 17-3031: Surveying & Mapping Technicians) are directly related to geospatial technologies employment.

7.

In your opinion, should BLS update or add new SOCs to reflect the emergence of new or additional geospatial technology professions/jobs?

Yes

No


8.

Please list up to three job categories you would suggest be considered for addition for the BLS SOC and for the geospatial or geographic technology industry.


GEOSPATIAL WORKFORCE COMPETENCY

To date, the most comprehensive work related to geospatial workforce competencies has been conducted by the University of Southern Mississippi. Gaudet et al. (2003) identified 12 roles and 39 competencies. "Competency" is defined as the knowledge, skills, and abilities an individual needs to do their job; "role" is not a job description, rather it is a grouping of competencies targeted to meet specific expectations of a job or function.

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.

(Select all that apply.)

Application Development

Coordination

Data Acquisition

Data Analysis

Data Management

Management

Marketing

Project Management

Systems Analysis

Systems Management

Training

Visualization

Other (specify):


10.

In your opinion, do the following technical competencies adequately cover the full spectrum of geospatial technical competencies in your organizations?
Ability to Assess Relationships Among Geospatial Technologies Cartography
Computer Programming Skills Environmental Applications
Geology Applications Geospatial Data Processing Tools
GIS Theory and Applications Photogrammetry
Remote Sensing Theory and Applications Spatial Information Processing
Technical Writing Technological Literacy
Topolohy  

Click here for the definitions of the above 13 technical competencies (source: Gaudet et al. 2003).

Yes

No


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.


MEETING THE GEOSPATIAL WORKFORCE NEED

12.

Identify up to three (3) academic disciplines which will be most important for preparing the geospatial workforce during the next 10 years.

(Please check your selections.)

Geography

Urban Studies

Planning

Engineering

Computer Science

Forestry

Photogrammetry

Geology

Environmental Science

Physics

Agriculture

Other (specify):


13.

The following educational/training mechanisms have been identified as successful strategies for long-term sustainability of the geospatial technology workforce. Please identify the three (3) most important training/educational programs to the sucess of your organization.

(Please check your selections.)

Apprenticeship

Two-year college (associate degree)

Four-year university (bachelor degree)

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

On-the-job training

Vendor-specific (on-site/off-site) training

On-line short-term courses

Professional certification


14.

Please list any additional educational/training mechanisms you feel are important in preparing individuals to enter the geospatial technology industry workforce and the success of your organization.


OPTIONAL PERSONAL INFORMATION

Please provide any of the additional information below, if you like. This information will be useful for our analysis and will be kept strictly confidential.

15.

FIRST NAME

16.

LAST NAME

17.

TITLE/POSITION

18.

BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME

19.

STREET ADDRESS

20.

CITY

21.

STATE (Please use 2 digit Abbrev.)

22.

ZIP

23.

CONTACT TEL NO.

24.

EMAIL ADDRESS



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