People interested in working in geographic information systems must understand that everything learned today will be useless in the future because technology constantly changes, the geographic information systems manager for the city of San Antonio said April 12.
Dale "Woody" Woodruff, who works for the city's planning and community development department, spoke to students in CRTG 1125, Concepts and Careers in Geographic Information Systems.
"If you want to enter into this field, you need to be prepared and continually learn," he said. "Software changes, hardware changes and the way you handle data and the way you link data and the way you access data all changes."
GIS is software for capturing, storing, checking, analyzing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth's surface.
This software produces maps, graphs, tables and images.
When Woodruff started in this field, he described GIS as a set of paper map files.
"I started in mapping and photogrammetry," he said.
Photogrammetry is the science of making reliable measurements of physical objects to create accurate maps, he said.
When he worked in this position he produced map grids manually by writing them. Now software can perform the job faster and more easily, he said.
People who are interested in working in this field need multiple skills.
Individuals searching for a specific job in the field should try to learn more about how the job is performed, Woodruff said.
If an individual has more than one skill, this makes the individual a valuable worker, Woodruff said.
"This makes you more versatile, more valuable," he said.
The jobs in the GIS field include a GIS technician, analyst, supervisor, coordinator, specialist, manager, aerial photographer and land use planner.
Usually people start as a GIS technician and eventually progress, he said.
A GIS technician creates and maintains maps electronically by using GIS software.
Woodruff also demonstrated an example of a land use map, and at the bottom of the map it contained classifications.
"The different types of classifications are very important," he said.
Classifications are entities arranged in groups that have the same symbol and are shown on the map to identify it as a group.
"In order to be a land use planner you have to know all the land use classifications. You have to know what it means. You have to be able to determine the different densities of all the classifications and apply it," Woodruff said.
The land use planner also must be aware of zoning.
Zoning establishes government regulations that permit land uses within geographic areas under the government's jurisdiction, he said.
GIS software will continue to upgrade and the users will expand, he said.
GIS system users have expanded across a broad range of disciplines that include environmental science, engineering and health department, Woodruff said.
Other users will include "mom, pop and kids," Woodruff said.
An example of how family will use GIS is by accessing Google Earth, free software that allows anyone to see the world in 3-D from a computer, he said.
The user can view countries, states, cities, streets, local business shops and geographic information.
The chemistry, earth science and astronomy department offers a two-year program in GIS that results in an Associate in Applied Science. Students then can pursue a bachelor's degree.
Students also can enroll in a one-year certificate program.
For more information, call 733-2704.
Be the first to comment on this article!