GIS ANALYSTS IN THE WORKPLACE: PUTTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TO WORK
Judith A. Buchino, Ph.D.; AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Chantilly, VA; [email protected]
A survey was conducted to evaluate educational experience as it transfers to workplace reality. The survey participants are those individuals involved in doing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) work at an environmental consulting firm. This company has provided high quality water resources engineering and environmental consulting services to clients since inception. Client sectors served include local, State, and Federal governments and private clients. There is currently a dedicated group of GIS analysts who are supplemented by additional staff that has training in GIS, but are typically involved in other job responsibilities. This project will characterize the make up of the staff, how many actually have degrees in Geography, how their academic training enhances their work efforts. It will also investigate what additional fields are related to GIS work and how these improve basic understanding of projects and increase efficiency in the work place. This survey will assess, compare and contrast the educational experience of GIS workers as it relates to their occupational experience. This survey could be expanded to study the members of a GIS list serve, or be done on a company wide basis to provide a detailed profile and overview of the talented workforce. |
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