The geospatial career choice most often stems from college degrees in Geography, Environmental studies or Civil Engineering. For the more geo-aware, it may be a deliberately chosen trajectory through University and community engagements. However, confusion and lack of awareness is often a barrier to the pursuit of a profession in this space.
This article aims to shed more light on a discipline that is increasingly embracing new technologies within the spatial fold.
As application areas of GIS increase, a seamless merging of knowledge base, the sciences and the technologies, is called for. A blend of degrees and certifications in various subjects has become the norm.
This means, one can study Marine Science or Information Technology, and migrate laterally to a ‘location-driven’ industry.
For an idea of how to pursue a profession in the geospatial landscape while incorporating field of interest, here is a list of disciplines one may choose to study. This is the fountainhead of a ‘spatially driven’ career roadmap.
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Disciplines that lead up the GIS path
The Geospatial Learning Trajectory
Although specializations and subject expertise has become the order of the day, the GIS roadmap offers a wonderful opportunity of learning on the fly.
You can choose to add-on to your studies and skill sets while continuing to work, volunteer or engage in crowdsourced mapping.
Geospatial Career Scope
- Community engagements
- Disaster management / First responder initiatives
- Government departments / Local councils
- Industry – Utilities (Water, Power), Defense, Intelligence, Consultancy, Oil and Gas, Social Sciences, Health, Public safety, Geology, Environment, Space / Satellite, Geo Analytics, Location Intelligence, Marine Sciences, Urban planning, etc
- Organizations like NASA, URISA, GIS Corps
- Research
- Analytics firms (leveraging location intelligence)
- Mapping portals
- Non profits
- Education and training
- Start-ups
- Software development
- Self designed career paths
- Consulting / Management Consulting
