GIS Skills are in demand in the job market, and there is no better time than now to sharpen your skills. This article will help you gain a deeper understanding of GIS, its different levels of complexity, and what skills you need to succeed.
We will discuss, the different levels of GIS skills that are required for various purposes and why it is an important skill to have for both personal and professional purposes.
GIS Important Skills
The geospatial field is still an emerging industry that requires a variety of skills to be successful.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are important skills for anyone in the geospatial technology and mapping industry. The field of GIS is advancing quickly and we, as humans, need to keep up with the changes.
Basic GIS skills to learn that is important for GIS jobs include:
#1. GIS Programming & Scripting Skills
A GIS programmer is needed to design and develop mapping applications. GIS programmers can work with other software developers to build, maintain, and support web mapping applications, mobile apps, desktop-based maps, and other related spatial data services.
GIS programming skills are in high demand as more and more jobs require a GIS skill set. More companies are relying on GIS data to make decisions for their businesses, so they need someone who can create those data sets.
You should learn some fundamental of .Net and Python languages that will help you to tackle some of your challenges.
#2. GIS Analytical and Critical Thinking
As a GIS professional, you will be getting a lot of analytical issues and requests.
Analytical thinking is the process of solving problems by analyzing the data and drawing conclusions from those analyses.
GIS analytical thinking involves using both spatial and statistical analysis to explore relationships between physical space and its components.
If you’re interested in GIS jobs, you’ll need to prove your analytical and IT skillset.
#3. GIS Project Management
GIS is an important technology that can be applied to many different industries. The GIS project management skills are essential because the GIS industry is continuously evolving, and will require professionals to take responsibility for GIS workflows, future plans, performance monitoring and quality control.
You may get involved in many GIS projects at once. At this time your communications and critical thinking are important for your project success.
#4. GIS Sales Skills
GIS software is becoming more popular in the world. To keep up with the demand, gis professionals must have strong sales skills.
It will also help gis professionals to get the exact requirement of their clients. Most of the time, you are the frontline professional to interact with your client. So, it is important to understand the requirement and use your Sales Skills to deliver the solutions.
Some companies are focusing on meeting their customer’s needs through personal connections and others are using GIS software to follow up on their customers in a way that’s more personal.
Salespeople have used GIS to create maps for their customers, collaborate with them on projects, connect to them socially, and still communicate the benefits of GIS software.
#5. Learn GIS Software Specific Skills
You should know, how to use specific GIS Software.
There are many GIS software packages available on the market, but some skills are more widely used than others. For example, ArcGIS by ESRI is one of the most used software packages among GIS professionals. It provides powerful tools for geospatial analysis, visualization, and mapping.
I have found that because ESRI offers so many different tools to help with GIS workflows, it is one of the best software packages to learn as a beginner.
I have also found that ArcGIS has all of the necessary features that are needed to do my job as a GIS Analyst.
You can also try out some other GIS Software to expand your GIS Skills.
#6. Cartography Skills
We are surrounded by maps. They are in our newspapers, magazines and on our computers. They are even on our phones.
Mapmakers need cartography skills in order to accurately depict geographical features on a map. Cartographers can use their skills for many different purposes, such as creating transportation maps or historical maps.
#7. Database Management Skills
Database management skills are important for those who work as programmers, analysts, managers, and many other roles. Such skills can be acquired by those who want to learn them as well as those who need them as part of their job.
The skill of database management is an essential but often overlooked IT skill. Database management skills are needed for creating databases, maintaining them, and using them to store information.
#8. Using GIS Equipment
The GIS equipment not only increases the efficiency of the data collection process but also helps to visualize collected data in ways that can be easily understood.
Some people might think that using GIS equipment is unnecessary, but it is important to understand how they can help in the field of GIS.
A GIS Professional should learn each and every GIS Equipment that will enhance his skill in future.
#9. Keep Learning New Technology
Everyone knows that the world of technology is changing and evolving all the time. The more you know about it, the better off you’ll be.
Technology is changing and evolving all the time and knowing what’s new will help us stay on top of things.
You can join webinars and conferences to learn new things. Webinars are often free to join.
#10. Web Service Skills
Learn about the importance of learning web service skills in the modern digital age where every industry is transforming.
Web Services are one of the most important technologies in today’s digital world. They are at the core of everything from social networks to banking systems and even in the GIS field.
Learning Web Services skills can help you get a job in this field.
What Skill Does A GIS Student Need?
A GIS student needs to be proficient in databases, geodata processing, GIS programming languages, spatial analysis skills like map making etc.
There are many skills you can learn in GIS. The major skills are listed below:
- Manages spatial data.
- Manages spatial analysis.
- Uses maps and geographic representations to convey information.
- Manages remote sensing technology.
Steps To Develop GIS Skills
The GIS industry is growing day by day, and the demand for skilled professionals is increasing as well. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, it is important to gain skills in this field.
How To Improve GIS Skills?
You can follow the below-mentioned steps that can help you to develop GIS Skills.
- Get a GIS Course: The best way to start developing your GIS skills is through a course. You can take a free or paid one that suits your expertise and preferences.
- Build your GIS Portfolio: To contribute to the growth of this industry, it is important that you contribute too. Build your portfolio by contributing as much as possible either as an editor or writer for blogs or journals or by making maps and applications using open-source software such as QGIS.
- Get an Internship: Internships provide the opportunity for a student to learn a new skill or gain insight into a new industry. The internship experience may be full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal.
- Consider Certification: GIS professionals can become certified by taking classes and passing exams to validate their knowledge and skills. The process usually takes about one year to complete, but this varies depending on the certification level you are seeking.
- Interact with your peers: If you’re a GIS professional, this is a space for you to interact with your peers. Share your thoughts on GIS education or GIS social media. Chat about how GIS is being used in various industries. Discuss the latest industry trends and what they mean for the future of our profession.
Conclusion: Why You Should Learn GIS Skills Now
A GIS can be used in many different fields including geography, business, social sciences and more. The most common use is in the field of geography where it is used to visualize data on map layers (e.g., population density). For this reason, the need for GIS professionals has increased exponentially over the last decade.
GIS skills are in high demand. In the future, there will be more and more job opportunities for GIS professionals because of increases in data collection, data analysis, and data visualization.
In today’s world, spatial information is crucial for many different tasks from natural resource management to public health. This is why it is important for anyone who wants a career in a related field to be proficient in GIS skills.