Skill Set of a GIS Technician

GeoTech MetaDACUMGEOED Louisville, KYJune 23, 2010

Mike Rudibaugh, Ph.D.Co-PI NSF GeoTech CenterGeography/GIS InstructorLake Land Collegemrudibau@lakeland.cc.il.us217-234-5244

What is the GeoTech Center?

• http://geotechcenter.org/

▫ Resource center for community colleges in developing geospatial technology

▫ NSF-ATE Program 1. Curriculum 2. Faulty Professional

Development 3. Student

Recruitment 4. Workforce Studies 5. Hardware/Software

Scanning the GST Landscape Using the College Program Research Database• Scanning the System

(2009)▫ N= 1185 (Community

Colleges in GeoTech Center geodatabase

▫ Program Map Tier System 1= NO GST (N=733) 2 = Class (N = 287) 3 = Certificates (N = 96) 4 = Degrees (N = 19) 5 = Degrees and

Certificates (N = 50)

College Program Research Database -Regional Patterns Associated to Closest Partner

Using thiessen polygons to assign each college to closest GeoTech Partner

Using the Program Research Database to findRegional Patterns

• The following table profiles how GST is offered at CCs in different regions of the country around GeoTech Partner

• Analysis - the West region is the most mature based on the fact it’s the only region with a higher frequency of colleges that have some GST versus none.

Partner N No GST

Classes Cert. Degree

Cert. and Degree

GSU-Southeast

130

87 25 12 3 3

LLC-Midwest

206

136 46 16 3 5

SWC-West 218

86 87 83 2 10

CNM-Mountain

64 38 16 6 1 3

BSC-Upper Midwest

63 36 21 3 3 0

KCTC-Mid-South

84 56 11 8 3 6

IAGT-Northeast

211

150 41 14 2 4

CPCC-East 108

77 22 5 4 0

DMC-South 101

67 18 2 2 12

Geospatial jobsare not clearly defined

Why?

• Vast, multi-disciplinary industry

• New field with many competing interests

Result?

• Assortment of classes, curriculum, certificate & degree requirements at 449 Colleges• GIS Classes Are Offered in 30 Programming Areas within Community Colleges

• Geography, GIS, Geospatial Represent 50%

Goal: Identify Core Competencies for GIS Technicians

Develop Industry Models that: Serve as a basis for developing new training materials for

the industry;

Categorize the wide range of existing materials that are currently being used;

Comprehend the full range of skills needed for Geospatial Technology;

Form the foundation for industry skill standards and certifications;

Evaluate the myriad training programs that address those skill needs.

Industry Competency Model Initiative

•Industry

•Prospective workers

•Training providers

•The public workforce system

Who are the stakeholders?

A competency model is a descriptive tool that identifies the competencies needed to operate in a specific role with a(n) job, occupation, organization, or industry.

Competencies applicable to many occupations and

industries at national scale

Competencies needed by all occupations within an

industry

Competencies needed by all occupations within an

industry segment

Competencies specific to an occupation identified by DoL

partners (e.g., GeoTech Center)

Requirements for specialized degrees, licensure, or certification

(e.g., GISCI)

The DACUM Process

• A DACUM (Developing A Curriculum) is an occupational analysis performed by expert workers (12) in the occupation (in this case, GIS Technician).

• Results in a DACUM Research Chart, an occupational skill profile that identifies Tasks and Duties of the occupation.

• The research chart is then validated by a survey of the regional user community.

• The validated research chart can used for instructional program planning, curriculum development, training materials development, etc.

• DACUM Workshop Event▫ November 19-20 (2008)▫ 2-days

• Employers Represented▫ IDOT▫ ADM▫ USDA ▫ Illinois Water Survey▫ Coles County Regional Planning▫ Champaign County▫ Effingham Tax Assessors Office▫ Clinton County GIS Office▫ ManPlan.Net (AG. Consulting)▫ EJ Water Cooperative ▫ Meisenhimer and Gende

Engineers Grant funding from the National Science Foundation

(DUE 0801896)

Recent curriculum development in GSTs at Lake Land College

• New Geospatial Technology Program▫ DACUM Results (Industry

feedback structured new GST certificate

▫ Validated at state level (ILGISA)

▫ LLC Developed a new GST Certificate Program (17 hours)

▫ Classes▫ 1. Intro to GIS - 4▫ 2. Advanced Vector GIS - 3▫ 3. World Geography- 3▫ 4. Information Technology

Elective – 2-3 hours▫ 5. GPS Elective – 2-3 hours▫ 6. Internship – 3 ▫ Total 17-19 hours

Recent curriculum development in GSTs at Lake Land College

• New Geospatial Technology Program▫ Recent trends▫ Little to no articulation in

Illinois for GST▫ More university programs

are embedding GST into programs/curriculum

▫ GST technology is beginning to meet general education requirements in some states

▫ Some occupational programs are adding GST as part of licensing exam

▫ Price of hardware/software is coming down

Core Competencies

•Core competencies were identified as any task with at least 75% of survey respondents indicating either important or very important.

•Task items falling below the 75% criteria need to be analyzed closely as they may be relevant to specific occupations and regions but may not have broad application across the user base.

Geospatial Technology Certificate Lake Land College

Course DACUM Task Items

Intro to GIS A-7, B-3,B-8,A-9,A-6,A-4, D-3, D-1,B-7, A-1, A-10

Advanced Vector GIS

B-11, C-8, B-9, B-4, A-13, B-5, B-12, B-6, C2, B-2, C-6

World Geography Broad Geospatial and Mapping Awareness Introduction to Basic Cartographic Techniques

Technical Elective GPS Course

A-3, A-2, B-1

IT Elective E-10, D-2, D-7, C-1

GIS Internship E-1,F-2, F-3,E-5, D-12, F-4, E-7, E-4, E-3, E-6

Lake Land College is expanding its current Geospatial Technology Certificate to include core competencies identified in the DACUM validation survey.

Codes link to the Lake Land College DACUM Verification Survey Results, GeoTech, April 2009

Linking DACUMs to Curriculum

MetaDACUMS – National Trends

• National Snapshot of the GIS Technician

• Attempt to define the GIS Technician occupation based upon DACUMS in diverse occupational markets

• Results (What do GIS Technicians do?)

▫ Process Data▫ Manage

Evaluate▫ Generate Products

Design and Create Maps• Implications

▫ GISCI – Certification

Steps to Build an Industry Competency Model1. Conduct Research2. Analyze Resource

Materials3. Develop draft

competency model4. Engage industry partners

Refine and validate the model

5. Launch and promote the model

6. Plan to maintain and update the model

Workshop participants March 11-12

Corbin, Tripp Assoc Vice President GIS-IT, Keck & Wood, Atlanta; GISP; CFM; President GA Chapter URISA; At-large Board Member GITA Southeast Chapter

DiBiase, David Director, Dutton e-Education Institute, Penn State; GISP; CMS-GIS; URISA Board member; past UCGIS Education Committee chair and lead editor of GIS&T Body of Knowledge

Fox, Thomas GEOINT analyst, Booz Allen Hamilton

Francica, Joe Editor in chief, Directions Magazine; BidConnexion Software Inc.; formerly USGS EROS Data Center, Sun Exploration,Tydac, Vectiv and Intergraph Corporation

Green, Kass President, Kass Green & Associates; Past president ASPRS; numerous Boards

Jackson, Janet GIS Manager, McKim & Creed; GISP; former president GITA Carolina chapter; Professional Surveyor columnist

Jeffress, Gary Director, Conrad Blucher Institute, Texas A&M Corpus Christi; RPLS; ACSM; GeoTech Board member

Jones, Brent Survey/Cadastre/Engineering Manager, ESRI; GITA past president

Mennis, Jeremy Associate Professor of Geography, Temple University; Chairperson, GIS Specialty Group, AAG

Ritchie, Michael President, Photo Science Inc.; Past-President, MAPPS; PLS, PE, CP

Schuckman, Karen

Senior Lecturer, Penn State; formerly with URS Corp. and EarthData; ASPRS past president; PLS, CP

Smith, Cy GIO, State of Oregon; COGO chairperson; NSGIC past president; URISA president elect; GISP

Van Sickle, Jan Senior Associate, Stantec Consulting, Denver; RPLS, ACSM, ASPRS, Penn State lecturer

Recommendations to offer GST Technology in Illinois -SWC Example in San Diego

▫ How do we offer GST curriculum to the Illinois community college student?

▫ Is GST an occupational, transfer, workforce development, or adult education program?

▫ How should we be teaching and offering GST curriculum in Illinois Community Colleges?

Questions and Comments