Surveying technician to geographic information systems specialist
A surveying technician already meets 64% of what the geographic information systems specialist role asks for. The move turns on 6 required skills not yet in the profile.
41.6/ 100
1 How much of what a geographic information systems specialist is expected to do is already part of a surveying technician’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 geographic information systems specialist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A geographic information systems specialist role treats 14 of its required skills as things a surveying technician already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply digital mapping
- cartography
- collect mapping data
- compile GIS-data
- create GIS reports
- create thematic maps
What stands in the way is 6 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 25 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A geographic information systems specialist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a surveying technician background worth leading with.
- already held compile GIS-data information skills
- already held geomatics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held collect mapping data information skills
- already held perform surveying calculations information skills
- already held process collected survey data information skills
- already held develop geological databases working with computers
All 25 carried skills, including the 14 the geographic information systems specialist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 18 missing skills fall into 7 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 apply statistical analysis techniques required
- still to learn execute analytical mathematical calculations required
- optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
- still to learn geological mapping required
- still to learn statistics required
- still to learn use databases required
- optional, not held use an application-specific interface optional
- optional, not held develop computer vision system optional
- optional, not held perform image editing optional
- optional, not held prepare visual data optional
- optional, not held store digital data and systems optional
- optional, not held use presentation software optional
- still to learn environmental design required
- optional, not held spatial planning optional
- optional, not held photogrammetry optional
- optional, not held write work-related reports optional
- optional, not held CAD software optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a geographic information systems specialist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 environmental design study this
- 02 geological mapping study this
- 03 apply statistical analysis techniques 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 25 skills that carry over
- 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 geographic information systems knowledge
- already held geography knowledge
- already held geomatics knowledge
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held perform surveying calculations skill
- already held process collected survey data skill
- already held surveying knowledge
- already held use geographic information systems skill
- already held collect data using GPS skill
- already held collect geological data skill
- already held conduct land surveys skill
- already held develop geological databases skill
- already held geodesy knowledge
- already held interpret geophysical data skill
- already held operate surveying instruments skill
- already held surveying methods knowledge
- already held topography knowledge
- already held use CAD software skill
- already held use spreadsheets software skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools optional
12 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
- optional, not held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools optional
- optional, not held spatial planning optional
- optional, not held use an application-specific interface optional
- optional, not held CAD software optional
- optional, not held develop computer vision system optional
- optional, not held perform image editing optional
- optional, not held photogrammetry optional
- optional, not held prepare visual data optional
- optional, not held store digital data and systems optional
- optional, not held use presentation software optional
- optional, not held write work-related reports optional
21 held skills the geographic information systems specialist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adjust engineering designs skill
- not needed by the target role adjust surveying equipment skill
- not needed by the target role calibrate precision instrument skill
- not needed by the target role civil engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role compare survey computations skill
- not needed by the target role conduct research before survey skill
- not needed by the target role determine property boundaries skill
- not needed by the target role engineering principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role engineering processes knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure compliance with safety legislation skill
- not needed by the target role geology knowledge
- not needed by the target role perform scientific research skill
- not needed by the target role prepare geological map sections skill
- not needed by the target role prepare surveying report skill
- not needed by the target role quantity surveying knowledge
- not needed by the target role record survey data skill
- not needed by the target role survey techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role technical drawings knowledge
- not needed by the target role urban planning law knowledge
- not needed by the target role use technical drawing software skill
- not needed by the target role value properties skill
6 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 environmental design required
- still to learn geological mapping required
- still to learn statistics required
- optional, not held spatial planning optional
- optional, not held CAD software optional
- optional, not held photogrammetry optional
Common questions about this move
Can a surveying technician become a geographic information systems specialist?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A surveying technician already covers 64% of what a geographic information systems specialist is expected to do: 25 skills carry over, 14 of which the geographic information systems specialist role treats as required.
What skills does a surveying technician need to become a geographic information systems specialist?
6 required skills are missing, plus 12 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is environmental design.
How hard is the move from surveying technician to geographic information systems specialist?
Its learning distance is 41.6 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.