Future

Market One of the fastest growth job sectors in U.S. Geospatial Technology is a leader in innovation, with nanotechnology and biotechnology Geospatial Industry – GIS Creation DB Management Graphics Analysis – Surveying & GPS – Remote Sensing – Application Development – Internet Apps

Example of market Segmentation Source: ASPRS (January, 2004)

Job Growth Areas RoleDefinitionExpected Shortages (%) Application Development Identify and develop tools and instruments to satisfy customer needs43 Data Analysis Process data and extract information to create products, drive conclusions, and inform decision making reports36 Data ManagementCatalog, archive, retrieve, and distribute geospatial data36 Project Management Effectively oversee activity requirements to produce the desired outcomes on time and within budget35 Systems Analysis Assess requirements for system capacities including inputs, outputs, processes, timing, and performance, as well as recommend necessary additions or adaptations33 Visualization Render data and information into visual geospatial Representation33 Systems Management Integrate resources and develop additional resources to support spatial and temporal user requirements28 CoordinationCollect geospatial and related data22 Training Analyze, design, and develop instructional and non-instructional interventions to provide transfer of knowledge and evaluation for performance improvement22 Management Efficiently and effectively apply the company's mission using financial, technical, and intellectual skills and resources to optimize the end products17 Data AcquisitionInter-organizational facilitation and communication13 Marketing Identify customer requirements and needs, and effectively communicate those needs and requirements to the organization, as well as promote geospatial solutions10 From: GITA and AAG - Defining and Communicating Geospatial Industry Workforce Demands, Phase I Report)

GIS Drivers Hardware prices: performance continues to improve Hardware diversity increases Software functionality continues to improve Geographic measurement technologies become all- pervasive – e.g. GPS Economies of scale come into play GIScience has become an accepted discipline More GI is created and accessible GIS plays a pivotal role in New Science Biggest constraint – Lack of trained people.

GIS and the Internet A technology infrastructure to access distributed data and processing systems The means to communicate geographic information between users – Publish knowledge Changing GIS from monolithic desktop systems to distributed GIServices, for both Data and Analysis/Modeling – Moving to the “Cloud” Geography is still very important in cyberspace

GIS/GI Skills and Education People much more expensive than hard/software Many GIS folk see themselves as skilled technicians; we need this + other skills Many global similarities in technical GIS education/training Over 2000 universities involved + private sector providers Growth of interest in professional certification, up-dating and non- technical aspects of GIS (e.g. legal framework)

GIS Courses at the University of Arizona RNR 4/503: Applications of GIS – General Survey (F/S) GEOG 4/516a: Computer Cartography – Intro to visualization (F) RNR/GEOG 4/517: Intro to GIS – Database design and development (F) RNR 4/519: Cartographic Modeling – Raster-based analysis, decision-making (F) GEOG 4/516b: GeoVisualization – Advanced visualization (S) GEOG 4/516c: Urban Geographic Information Systems (S) RNR/GEOG 4/520: Advanced GIS Topics – networks, DEMs, internet GIS, etc. (S) RNR 4/522: Resource Mapping – Integrated technologies (GPS, RS, GIS) (PreS) GEOG 4/553: Locational Analysis (F) RNR 4/573: Spatial Analysis and Modeling – Advance analysis/modeling (S) GEOG 4/584: Fire Mapping (RS,GIS) (S) GEOG 657: Spatial Analysis – Autocorrelation and regression (S) Graduate GIS Certificate (17 units) New Professional GIST MS Program (Extended U.)

If You are Interested in Data Analysis Take a course in statistics Programming (high-level) – Procedural Programming C (ArcInfo was originally written in Fortran) – Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) C++, C#, Java, VB.net, Python – Scripting Programming language that allows control of a software application – i.e. ArcGIS Python (others include Perl, R, Tcl, Ch, Vbscript, JavaScript) Internet Applications