GIS (geographic information systems) and geospatial technologies are increasing in sophistication, and as they do, they’re being used in an ever-broadening range of industries. Instruments that were first used for communications, surveying, and mapmaking now have many more applications. You might be surprised at some of the professional roles benefitting from GIS and geospatial technologies and practices today. Let’s take a look at some of them and the career potential they offer:

  • Market Research Analysts
    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 in a more cost-effective manner. The BLS reports an excellent job outlook for market research analysts, with employment rates expanding a whopping 18% through 2020, a rate much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.
  • Urban and Regional Planners
    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 2029 is healthy, with an anticipated growth rate of 11%—much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.
  • Environmental Scientists and Specialists
    Environmental scientists and specialists use their expertise in the natural sciences to safeguard both the health of human beings and the environment in which they live. These professionals may implement GPS and data collection systems to track and analyze issues that impact the environment, such as forest fires, industrial deforestation, and oil spills. The BLS states that the job outlook for people in these professions is promising, with an expected growth rate of 8%— much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.—through 2029.
  • Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
    Environmental engineering technologists and technicians execute plans created by environmental engineers. Their work is dependent on using data collected from GIS equipment to predict environmental impacts following natural disasters. A BLS job outlook report states that employment in this field will grow at a rate of 7%, or faster than the average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S., through 2029.
  • Epidemiologists
    Epidemiologists, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “search for the cause of disease, identify people who are at risk, determine how to control or stop the spread or prevent it from happening again.” 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 5% through 2029, faster than the average employment growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.
  • Geoscientists
    Geoscientists examine the past and present structure of the earth and predict how future changes to it may impact the lives of the human beings and animals who inhabit it. People in this profession use data gathered using GPS technology to create geologic maps and charts. The BLS reports that the job outlook for this profession is strong, with an estimated growth rate of 5% through 2029. That’s faster than the average employment growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.
  • Geological and Hydrologic Technicians
    Geological and hydrologic technicians assist engineers and scientists in identifying, harnessing, and overseeing the use of various natural resources. Their duties may include using GIS to generate reports and maps that pinpoint potential locations for obtaining these resources. According to the BLS, the job outlook for these professionals is good, with an estimated employment growth rate of 5% through 2029—a rate faster than the average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.

New Credentials for a GIS/Geospatial Career

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 business management, environmental sciences, public health, and social analytics. All courses are taught by the same accomplished faculty who teach on campus at UT Permian Basin.

Compact, Convenient Online Program

Made up of just four eight-week courses, our GIS and Geospatial Certificate offers a quick way to add respected professional credentials to your resume. The program is delivered in an asynchronous, 100% online format that enables you to complete your coursework at your own pace, from almost anywhere in the world. You’ll find this flexibility invaluable when you need to tend to professional or personal responsibilities.

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://digitalmediajobs.com/careers/online-market-research-analyst-job-description-and-qualifications/
https://www.wboc.com/story/43618251/gis-market-with-industry-growth-analysis-2021-latest-trends-and-challenges-application-segment-and-geographical-landscape-forecast-to-2024-with
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/03/22/2196649/0/en/The-Global-GIS-Market-is-expected-to-grow-by-1-68-bn-during-2021-2025-progressing-at-a-CAGR-of-16-during-the-forecast-period.html
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usd-1-68-billion-growth-in-the-gis-market-in-the-utility-industry-is-set-to-accelerate-at-a-cagr-of-over-16-through-2021-2025technavio-301261328.html
https://www.urisa.org/main/gis-as-your-career/
https://gisgeography.com/gis-salary-expectations-gis-career/
https://www.directionsmag.com/article/8795
https://www.gisjobs.com/index.php
https://www.edflo.com/blog/the-growing-field-of-geographic-information-systems/

In the past, a road trip often required a front seat “navigator” to fold over a bulky, multipaneled map to determine the optimum route. By the 1990s, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology was being incorporated into car dashboards in limited locations. It was later offered as stand-alone units that attached to a car’s dashboard, before giving way to cell phone apps that didn’t require users to purchase a dedicated device.  

GPS-based road travel is the application of geospatial technology that many of us are most familiar with, but the reach of geospatial technology is far broader. As with most technology, high-speed information networks have hastened advancements, and this technology has become more complex than you may realize.  

Geospatial technologies deliver valuable data to mapmakers, surveyors, and those working in many areas of science, research universities, and commercial enterprises. These technologies can pinpoint everything from troop buildups to weather phenomena and disease in specific geographic areas around the world. The evolution of geospatial technology is likely to continue indefinitely. But where did this technology begin, and where is it going? 

Early Era 
Let’s take a brief look at geospatial-related tools and technologies of centuries past. 

Hand-Drawn Map 
We may not think of maps as technology, but they were about all that was available in ancient times. Cartography, or mapmaking, dates back to the B.C. era. The early cartographers drew maps based on explorers’ observations. Often, these maps depicted the world as a flat disc and included only the continents now known as Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Americas, Australia, and Antarctica were neither known nor explored at the time.  

Compass 
The magnetic compass was developed in China around the time of the transition from the B.C. era to the A.D. era. 

Atlas
Atlases, or collections of maps, were first published in the 16th century. 

Telescope 
The first fully functional telescope is believed to have been invented in 1608. 

Sextant 
According to Brittanica.com, the sextant is an “instrument for determining the angle between the horizon and a celestial body … used in celestial navigation to determine latitude and longitude.” It was invented in 1757 and was used primarily by sailors to navigate during overseas voyages. The sextant is still occasionally used today. 

Modern Era and Beyond 
The development of photography in the 19th century paved the way for more detailed and precise ways of gathering geospatial information. 

Aerial Photography  
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. 

Satellites 
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. 

Total Station
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.  

GPS
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.  

21st Century Total Station 
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. 

Drones 
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. 

Artificial Intelligence 
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. 

Future Applications
Geospatial technology will hasten the collection and analysis of an immense load of data that will enable us to plan and manage cities more effectively. This will yield a more educated populace as well, as ordinary people will have access to detailed interactive maps that provide far more information than directions to a local store.  

Explore Geospatial Technology and Practices 
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.

The Convenient Way to Earn Career-Enhancing Credentials  
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://geospatialtech.com/
https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/geospatial-technology-and-the-future-of-the-city/
https://ndrive.com/brief-history-gps-car-navigation/#:~:text=In%201990%2C%20Mazda%20introduced%20the,built%20into%20the%20actual%20car