Geographic information systems (GIS) have been closely connected with city planning, surveying, and automobile navigation for many years. While these systems can tell you the best location for a city park, where your property lines are, and where your best friend’s new house is, GIS technology has far broader applications, many of which may surprise you. A large and diverse group of industries regularly rely on GIS, including:
Much More Than Maps
Let’s take a moment to define geographic information systems before delving into how they’re used, how they work, and what they can tell us about our world. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, GIS is defined as “a computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information,” and “uses data that is attached to a unique location.” Data is a wide-ranging term, which helps explain how GIS can be applied so broadly to provide many different kinds of valuable information. For example, GIS can:
How GIS Works
How does GIS provide such varied and important information to us? GIS works through a combination of specialized software and hardware systems that collect and analyze data from various sources positioned on the ground, above the earth’s atmosphere, and everywhere in between. These sources include:
What GIS Data Ultimately Does for Us
Today’s world is data-driven, and GIS plays a large part in that. The data that geographic information systems provide empowers people and organizations to make sound decisions that take future growth and potential roadblocks into account. The long-term perspective GIS provides can help us anticipate and address variables—from predicting the amount of space available for new construction to ensuring adequate access to natural resources. GIS offers far more immediate benefits as well, telling us in quantifiable terms which geographical areas are problematic and in need of some constructive change. Whether identifying existing problems or ones that may lie ahead, the use of GIS adds up to a smart investment for nearly any locality, business, or government agency.
Our GIS and Geospatial Certificate Can Provide a Career Boost
The University of Texas Permian Basin has served the GIS and geospatial industries for more than 20 years. This exceptional bond has empowered UT Permian Basin to stay current with the technologies and methods used in these fields. Equipped with an insider’s perspective, we’ve developed a robust curriculum for our graduate-level GIS and Geospatial Certificate.
By participating in this online graduate certificate program, you’ll build valuable skills that will enable you to thrive in a career in fields such as environmental sciences, social analytics, public health, and business management. Every course in this certificate program is taught by acclaimed faculty who also lead campus-based classes at UT Permian Basin.
The Quick, Convenient Way to Add a Graduate Credential to Your Resume
Designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, our 12-credit GIS and Geospatial Certificate is comprised of four courses, each lasting just eight weeks. This provides a speedy way to expand your professional skills and add a new credential to your resume. Our program is presented in an asynchronous, 100% online format that allows for unequaled flexibility. View course lectures and complete assignments on your own schedule from any location with internet access—whether in Texas or Thailand. That convenience means you can still manage your work and family responsibilities while earning your certificate.
See what our online graduate GIS and Geospatial Certificate can do for your resume and career!
Sources:
https://www.modestogov.com/1889/Benefits-of-GIS
Imagine standing on an open stretch of land 200 years ago, tasked with deciding where to build a town, lay a railroad, or divert a river. Your only tools? A compass, some paper maps, and your best judgment.
Today, thanks to advances in geospatial technology, those high-stakes decisions are faster and backed by precise data. Whether it’s tracking climate change, optimizing supply chains, or planning urban infrastructure, geospatial tools help us understand the world around us and build in it with incredible accuracy.
But what are some of the jobs that make this work possible? In this article, we’re exploring seven of the top careers in geospatial technology, helping you determine which one might align with your interests.
Market research analysts provide organizations with data on how their marketing efforts are performing or may perform in the future. GIS helps marketers pinpoint where potential customers are by ZIP code or a variety of criteria, enabling them to target those prospects more cost-effectively.
The BLS reports an excellent job outlook for market research analysts, with employment rates expanding by 8% through 2033, a rate that’s faster than the average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.
Urban and regional planners are responsible for expanding and revitalizing communities by ensuring land is used properly to meet the needs of those communities. According to the BLS, these individuals use GIS software to “integrate data, such as for population density, with digital maps” as part of their professional duties.
The BLS reports that the job outlook for urban and regional planners through 2033 is healthy, with an anticipated growth rate of 4% and a median annual salary of $83,720.
Environmental scientists and specialists study how human activity affects the environment and use data to help solve problems like:
With tools like GPS, satellite imagery, and remote sensors, they can track things like where wildfires are spreading or how far an oil spill has reached. Their work helps government agencies and companies make informed decisions to protect wildlife and natural resources.
The BLS states that the median annual salary for these roles is about $80,060, with a growth rate of 7% through 2033.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians help carry out the plans that environmental engineers design, such as restoring areas affected by floods or preparing for future natural disasters.
Some of their responsibilities might include:
Their hands-on work helps predict how a disaster might impact the environment and ensures that cleanup and prevention efforts are based on solid data.
Wondering how much you can earn in roles like these? According to the BLS, the median 2024 pay for these careers is $58,890 per year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an epidemiologist “investigates the causes of diseases, how diseases are spread, and how diseases can be prevented or controlled.” Due to the nature of their work, these public health professionals are sometimes referred to as “disease detectives.”
Their work may include the use of GIS-derived data showing where rates of a disease are highest, allowing them to focus their investigative efforts on those areas. Notably, GIS was used to monitor the spread of COVID-19.
BLS data shows the job outlook for epidemiologists to be positive, with a projected growth rate of 19% through 2033, with a median annual salary of $83,890.
Geoscientists examine the past and present structure of the earth and predict how future changes to it may impact our lives. Some specialize in tracking volcanic activity or earthquake risks, while others assess the stability of land for construction or locate natural resources like groundwater, oil, or minerals.
On average, geoscientists earn an annual salary of $99,240.
The University of Texas Permian Basin has a close relationship with the GIS and geospatial industries, having served them for more than two decades. This unique association has enabled us to keep abreast of all the latest technologies and practices in these fields.
We’ve taken that knowledge and transformed it into the curriculum for our 12-credit GIS and Geospatial Certificate. Through this online graduate certificate program, you’ll develop up-to-date, practical skills that can help you excel in a career in a diverse range of fields including:
All courses are taught by the same accomplished faculty who teach on campus at UT Permian Basin.
Not sure if we’re the right university to help you give your career a boost? Here are some reasons why UT Permian Basin could be the perfect fit for you:
Position yourself for greater career success with a 100% online GIS and Geospatial Certificate from UT Permian Basin.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/using-geographic-information-in-marketing
https://gisgeography.com/gis-salary-expectations-gis-career/
https://www.gisjobs.com/index.php
https://www.edflo.com/blog/the-growing-field-of-geographic-information-systems
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Before GPS came built into our phones and cars, many of us relied on printed directions from MapQuest. You’d enter your destination, print out a list of step-by-step instructions, and hope you didn’t miss a turn—because if you did, rerouting wasn’t an option.
If you happened to miss an exit or take a wrong turn, you had to rely on your own (sometimes questionable) sense of direction to get back on track. But even MapQuest was just a moment in time in the broader evolution of geospatial technology.
Today, we’re diving into the roots and remarkable growth of geospatial technologies—exploring everything from ancient navigation tools to satellites, drones, and AI.
If you’ve ever used GPS to get around, you’re not alone—93% of people have. That everyday convenience is just one example of geospatial technology in action. But its uses go far beyond road trips.
Geospatial technology refers to the tools and methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret data about the Earth’s surface. This includes information from satellites, drones, remote sensors, and mapping systems, used in everything from city planning to climate research.
As high-speed data networks and computing power have advanced, so has the complexity and precision of geospatial tools. Today, these technologies support global efforts in fields like environmental conservation, military intelligence, disease tracking, and infrastructure development.
Let’s take a brief look at geospatial-related tools and technologies of centuries past.
Cartography, or mapmaking, dates back to the B.C. era. Early maps were often based on explorers’ accounts and typically depicted the world as a flat disc, showing only the continents now known as Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Americas, Australia, and Antarctica had yet to be discovered.
The magnetic compass was developed in China around the time of the transition from the B.C. era to the A.D. era. It enabled more accurate navigation, especially at sea, and became essential for global exploration.
Atlases, or collections of maps, were first published in the 16th century. They helped standardize geographic knowledge and made it more accessible to scholars and explorers alike.
The first fully functional telescope is believed to have been invented in 1608. It allowed astronomers and navigators to observe distant objects, improving both celestial mapping and navigation accuracy.
The sextant, invented in the mid 1700s, is a tool used to measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial object like the sun or stars. It helped sailors figure out their exact position at sea and was a major breakthrough in navigation long before GPS existed.
The development of photography in the 19th century paved the way for more detailed and precise ways of gathering geospatial information.
As early as the 1860s, balloons, kites, and even birds were fitted with cameras, enabling people to capture views of cities and topographical features from the air. Planes were used for this purpose beginning in the early 1900s.
The first manmade satellite was launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957. Satellites have since been used for military surveillance, cartography, and communications.
If you’ve ever seen a person standing on the side of the road, wearing a bright safety vest, looking through an instrument on a tripod, that may not have been a camera or a telescope they were using.
The total station has been around since 1971 and is used to measure distance and vertical and horizontal angles. It’s commonly used in civil engineering, construction, and surveying and can assist in making maps, identifying property lines, and determining precisely where a new road or building should be located.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), GPS is “a satellite-based navigation system that helps people find their precise location on Earth.” GPS technology as we know it today began as a DOD project in 1973. It was initially reserved for military use, but in 2000 it became available to anyone with the necessary equipment after President Clinton issued an executive order.
The contemporary total station integrates technological advances such as robotics, GPS, and remote-control capabilities. Data from these total stations can be downloaded and used with software to render vivid 3D images.
Unmanned, remote-controlled aircraft, sometimes called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), have been used for military purposes and surveying/mapmaking for many years. 2006 marked the first use of drones for other commercial and personal purposes, such as delivery and photography.
As with many industries, artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionized the GIS and geospatial sectors. Identifying topographic features in satellite images is just one of many current AI applications, and its future potential in the geospatial field is tremendous.
The University of Texas Permian Basin has served the GIS and geospatial industries for more than 20 years. Our close association has given UT Permian Basin an up-to-date, insider’s perspective of the industry that we’ve drawn upon in creating the curriculum for our online GIS and Geospatial Certificate.
This 12-credit graduate certificate program helps you develop practical skills that can benefit individuals in the oil and gas industry, the geospatial industry, and environmentally oriented careers. In just four courses, you’ll explore the technology, practices, and principles at work in the geospatial industry today.
Delivered through asynchronous, 100% online courses, our graduate program provides you with exceptional convenience and flexibility. You can complete coursework on your own schedule, practically anywhere, enabling you to learn around any job or family responsibilities you might have. Each course lasts eight weeks and is taught by the same acclaimed educators who teach the courses at the UT Permian Basin campus.
Explore today’s GIS and geospatial technology and trends as you gain a career-enhancing credential in our online GIS and Geospatial Certificate program!
Sources:
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-history-of-cartography-1435696
https://www.gislounge.com/mapping-through-the-ages
https://www.aaas.org/programs/scientific-responsibility-human-rights-law/overview-geospatial-project
https://eos.com/blog/geospatial-technology
https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/geospatial-technology-and-the-future-of-the-city
Other articles you may be interested in:
Flu season is here again, with all its aches, pains, and fevers. But scientists have a powerful tool to fight back. The GPS technology used to plot your rush-hour route home? It also powers GIS (Geosciences Information System) tools that help public health officials pinpoint infectious disease outbreaks, limit their spread, and spot gaps in…
Picture a city where green spaces flourish aboveground, self-driving cars travel underground, pedestrian walkways wind through tree canopies, and waste management operates autonomously. Around the world, cities like Singapore, Oslo, and Charlotte are moving beyond this vision and making smart, sustainable urban design a reality. At the heart of these developments? Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In…
“The application of GIS is limited only by the imagination of those who use it.” – Jack Dangermond, president of Esri Geographic information systems (GIS) have become indispensable for analyzing and visualizing spatial data. While many of us associate GIS primarily with mapping and GPS (global positioning system), its applications extend far beyond these familiar uses. For instance,…
