Geographic information systems specialist to remote sensing technician
A geographic information systems specialist already meets 55% of what the remote sensing technician role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
48.4/ 100
1 How much of what a remote sensing technician is expected to do is already part of a geographic information systems specialist’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the remote sensing technician role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A remote sensing technician role treats 10 of its required skills as things a geographic information systems specialist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- collect data using GPS
- execute analytical mathematical calculations
- geodesy
- geographic information systems
- geography
- geomatics
What stands in the way is 7 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 21 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A remote sensing technician role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a geographic information systems specialist background worth leading with.
- already held geomatics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held photogrammetry engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held compile GIS-data information skills
- already held collect mapping data information skills
- already held geodesy natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held develop geological databases working with computers
All 21 carried skills, including the 10 the remote sensing technician role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 20 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn collect real-time geolocation information required
- still to learn log transmitter readings required
- still to learn interpret visual literacy required
- still to learn keep task records required
- still to learn study aerial photos required
- still to learn study radar images required
- optional, not held research remote sensing technologies optional
- optional, not held conduct research on climate processes optional
- still to learn remote sensing techniques required
- optional, not held Earth science optional
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held assist scientific research optional
- optional, not held civil engineering optional
- optional, not held engineering principles optional
- optional, not held computer simulation optional
- optional, not held create strategic maps optional
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a remote sensing technician role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 collect real-time geolocation information practise this
- 02 log transmitter readings practise this
- 03 interpret visual literacy practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 21 skills that carry over
- already held collect data using GPS skill
- already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
- already held geodesy knowledge
- already held geographic information systems knowledge
- already held geography knowledge
- already held geomatics knowledge
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held photogrammetry knowledge
- already held surveying knowledge
- already held use geographic information systems skill
- already held apply digital mapping skill
- already held cartography knowledge
- already held collect mapping data skill
- already held compile GIS-data skill
- already held create GIS reports skill
- already held create thematic maps skill
- already held develop geological databases skill
- already held interpret geophysical data skill
- already held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools skill
- already held topography knowledge
- already held use CAD software skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held create cadastral maps optional
- optional, not held operate remote sensing equipment optional
13 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held research remote sensing technologies optional
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held Earth science optional
- optional, not held assist scientific research optional
- optional, not held civil engineering optional
- optional, not held computer simulation optional
- optional, not held conduct research on climate processes optional
- optional, not held create cadastral maps optional
- optional, not held create strategic maps optional
- optional, not held engineering principles optional
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held operate remote sensing equipment optional
22 held skills the remote sensing technician role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role CAD software knowledge
- not needed by the target role analyse environmental data skill
- not needed by the target role apply statistical analysis techniques skill
- not needed by the target role collect geological data skill
- not needed by the target role conduct land surveys skill
- not needed by the target role develop computer vision system skill
- not needed by the target role environmental design knowledge
- not needed by the target role geological mapping knowledge
- not needed by the target role operate surveying instruments skill
- not needed by the target role perform image editing skill
- not needed by the target role perform surveying calculations skill
- not needed by the target role prepare visual data skill
- not needed by the target role process collected survey data skill
- not needed by the target role spatial planning knowledge
- not needed by the target role statistics knowledge
- not needed by the target role store digital data and systems skill
- not needed by the target role surveying methods knowledge
- not needed by the target role use an application-specific interface skill
- not needed by the target role use databases skill
- not needed by the target role use presentation software skill
- not needed by the target role use spreadsheets software skill
- not needed by the target role write work-related reports skill
7 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn remote sensing techniques required
- optional, not held Earth science optional
- optional, not held civil engineering optional
- optional, not held computer simulation optional
- optional, not held engineering principles optional
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
Other moves recorded from geographic information systems specialist
- cartographer 59% covered · moderate
- surveying technician 55% covered · moderate
- cadastral technician 54% covered · moderate
- hydrographic surveying technician 52% covered · substantial
Full index of moves from geographic information systems specialist
Common questions about this move
Can a geographic information systems specialist become a remote sensing technician?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A geographic information systems specialist already covers 55% of what a remote sensing technician is expected to do: 21 skills carry over, 10 of which the remote sensing technician role treats as required.
What skills does a geographic information systems specialist need to become a remote sensing technician?
7 required skills are missing, plus 13 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is collect real-time geolocation information.
How hard is the move from geographic information systems specialist to remote sensing technician?
Its learning distance is 48.4 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.