Remote Sensing and GIS Specialist

Job Details

Sector(s)

Project Development

Median Pay

$83,680 per year

$40.23 per hour

Job Type

Entry- to Mid-Level

Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience Requirements

Bachelor's Degree

Position Title

Remote Sensing and GIS Specialist

Alternate Titles

Data science specialist, data visualization specialist, and geoscientist

Job Description

A remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) specialist is responsible for building and maintaining GIS databases. They use software programs to collect, analyze, model, and present geographic or spatial data in maps, charts, or other informative visualizations.

Education and Training Description

Remote sensing and GIS Specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in geography, geology, computer science, or a related degree to be hired into an entry-level position. Employers typically look for experience with GIS software, such as QGIS, Electronic Standards for the Transfer of Regulatory Information, ArcGIS, or other industry-specific software. Employers prefer candidates with additional experience with geoinformatics, environmental science, computer science, data science, or remote sensing.

Remote sensing and GIS specialists can advance in their careers through additional years of experience and higher levels of education. Remote sensing and GIS specialists may pursue additional computer science or GIS training, a master’s degree, or doctoral program in order to perform more complex GIS analysis. Remote sensing and GIS specialists can also earn an optional certification as a Certified GIS Professional through the GIS Certification Institute. This needs to be renewed every five years.

Job Profile

GIS is a computer-based method for collecting, managing, analyzing, modeling, and presenting geographic or spatial data. Remote sensing and GIS specialists are primarily responsible for providing a variety of GIS support and expertise to create and analyze complex datasets, create maps, evaluate GIS software, and provide technical advice on GIS and mapping to other departments. In the hydropower industry, some remote sensing and GIS specialists analyze satellite imagery and other spatial data to identify areas for hydropower potential. These specialists may also assess the existing or potential impacts of hydropower development on the area’s biodiversity, vegetation, flooding potential, or other hazards.

To assess an area’s potential for new hydropower plants, remote sensing and GIS specialists use software tools and spatial data, such as elevation or elevation change, to calculate the energy that could be generated from a hydropower plant or pumped storage hydropower facility at different points on the map. Geospatial data can come from a variety of different types of satellite imagery, geospatially referenced data points recorded during field work, or other existing databases and maps. Remote sensing and GIS specialists use software programs to perform calculations with the geospatial data that estimate the energy that could be generated by a hydropower facility at a specific location. They also help build geospatial databases for potential hydropower sites with other information that could be helpful for hydropower developments. This information could include vegetation density, geologic features, land titles, jurisdictional boundaries, and other relevant information.

A large part of a remote sensing and GIS specialist’s job is often creating data visualizations. These visualizations are often maps, charts, or graphs that help others understand the results of their geospatial analysis. When done well, the visualizations a remote sensing and GIS specialist produces are powerful and simple ways to convey geospatial data.

Remote sensing and GIS specialists typically:

  • Create and modify GIS data sets and develop and implement GIS-based analyses supporting civil engineering, electrical engineering, water-way, and survey projects
  • Create maps and graphs using GIS software and data collection equipment
  • Apply digital elevation model and regional hydraulic data to calculate the available hydropower on all streams and rivers in a given area. This helps them screen out sites and hence support the estimation of project costs
  • Apply GIS and remote sensing software to identify major fault zones and seismically active zones to prevent the construction of dams in these areas
  • Use GIS to assess the downstream risks posed by a potential dam breach
  • Create maps and other visualizations to convey the findings of geospatial analysis.

Job Skills

Remote sensing and GIS specialists typically need:

  • Communication skills. Remote sensing and GIS specialists may write reports and research papers. They must be able to present their findings clearly to other scientists and team members as well as clients or professionals who do not have a background in geoscience.
  • Critical-thinking skills. Remote sensing and GIS specialists base their findings on sound observation and careful evaluation of data.
  • Problem-solving skills. Remote sensing and GIS specialists work on complex projects filled with challenges. Evaluating statistical data and other forms of information to make judgments and inform the actions of other workers requires a special ability to perceive and address problems.
  • To be detail-oriented. Remote sensing and GIS specialists must pay attention to detail when assembling, troubleshooting, and repairing GIS data sets to prevent mislabeling representing the potential of a given location.

More Information

For more information on remote sensing and GIS specialist jobs, see:

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