MapPros! Careers in Geospatial Technologies

Greg Dobson

“By using GIS, GPS, and remote sensing, I can gain a better understanding of the physical processes at work within earth’s environment. Without geospatial technologies, this task would otherwise be nearly impossible. By learning and understanding these technologies, I will be better prepared to reach my education and career goals.”

“Perhaps you are like me and were not the best student in high school. That is just fine, you can still set high expectations for yourself and achieve them. The most important thing is to find an area or field that you are truly interested in and then do what ever it takes to get there. You will find that excelling in school is much easier when you are studying something that interests you.”

“The field of geospatial technologies can be very exciting and the opportunities for work are almost limitless. There are many different types of jobs that you could do and many different organizations that you can work with.”

“If you have even the slightest interest in this field, then you should seriously look into it as a potential education and career choice.”

Student Profile - Greg Dobson

Class Standing: Graduate Student
University: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Major: Geography

What or who sparked your interest in studying geospatial technologies (GIS, GPS, remote sensing)?

After high school I took a job working for a land surveyor. This was my first exposure to the spatial sciences and geospatial technologies. This gave me the opportunity to learn about coordinate systems, scale, data collection, and GPS technology. I then enrolled into a Geomatics Associate degree program. Here I was introduced to GIS and remote sensing. At this point I knew I wanted to have a career in geospatial technologies and have continued my education in this field.

What is your dream job?

Well, at this point in my educational career, I have two. Once I complete this degree, I would like to pursue a Ph.D. in Geography. This would then allow me to work in academia doing research and teaching others about the exciting field of geospatial technologies. If I don’t follow this path, then I would like to work for a governmental research agency focusing on geospatial technologies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

How do you see geospatial technologies helping you in your career goals?

The type of research that interests me depends upon geospatial technologies. By using GIS, GPS, and remote sensing, I can gain a better understanding of the physical processes at work within earth’s environment. Without geospatial technologies, this task would be nearly impossible. By learning and understanding these technologies, I will be better prepared to reach my education and career goals.

What were the most important things you considered when deciding on which school to go to?

Well, there were several aspects I considered, and I would like to point out that a potential student should put forth some effort when deciding on which school, or, more importantly, which department within a school, to choose. First of all, does the department offer the courses that you are interested in, and if so, how many and how advanced do they get? Second, what type of facilities does the department have, including lab facilities, software, and other technical equipment, such as GPS units? Next, are recent graduates of that department acquiring the types of jobs that you would be interested in? Finally, I think it is very important to identify some faculty members you would be interested in working with and then take a look at their backgrounds, (e.g., their research interests, the schools they attended). In addition, I also feel that it is extremely important, when possible, to visit a school or department you are interested in. This will allow you the opportunity to get a better look at the department, meet some of the faculty, tour the facilities, and then decide whether or not it is the right place for you.

What do you like most about being a student?

Being a student, I am always learning and I really enjoy it. I have the opportunity to stay up-to-date with the field of geospatial technologies and to work with the latest software and technology. I also have the opportunity to attend and participate in conferences and meetings devoted to geospatial technologies. This is a great way to meet and talk to others in this field. As a graduate student, I have also enjoyed being able to do in-depth research related to my areas of interest.

What do you like least about being a student?

At times the workload can become very demanding and require a lot of your time, both at school and away from school. This is especially true during the final weeks of a semester. During this time, projects are coming due, finals are just around the corner, and it can become crazy!

What do you do to relax?

I enjoy spending time outdoors by participating in a variety of outdoor related activities, such as hiking, camping, etc. I also enjoy traveling, especially in mountainous regions.

Who are your heroes/heroines?

There are many people I look up to, but especially those who strive to make a difference in their lives through their contributions to science, teaching, and research. One of the oldest professions in the world is land surveying, and I often like to think back 150 years to the early surveyors of this country. They really had a challenge when they set out to sub-divide this country into tracts of land. If only they had been able to use at least a simple hand-held GPS unit, their lives would have been so much easier.

What advice would you give a high school student trying to make education and career choices?

The main thing to remember is that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. Perhaps you are like me and were not the best student in high school. That is just fine; you can still set high expectations for yourself and achieve them. The most important thing is to find an area or field that you are truly interested in and then do whatever it takes to get there. You will find that excelling in school is much easier when you are studying something that interests you. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen to me until my third year of college, but I didn’t let that stop me and now I am working on a master’s degree and plan to pursue a Ph.D. If I can do it, anybody can do it.

If you are interested in geospatial technologies, chances are you have not had any exposure to it in high school. This is unfortunate, but should not be a deterrent. You just need to find some people who are in the field and talk to them about what they are doing. As I said before, in deciding on a school to attend, meeting with some of the people is the most important thing that you can do in order to help you decide on the right school. You can also go to Web sites, such as this one, and read about what people are doing with geospatial technologies. If they have e-mail addresses listed, send them a message telling them who you are, and then ask questions. Remember, you can do anything you set your mind to!

E-mail: dobsonjg@mindspring.com