Jobs in cartography can be viewed across a spectrum of interests and duties. At one end are the GIS researchers and professional cartographers who are primarily concerned with taking data gathered by one group of people and creating effective cartographic visualizations for use by other groups of people. Professional cartographers draw heavily on knowledge of the mapping sciences, including surveying, geodesy, remote sensing, and photogrammetry. A working knowledge of the graphic arts, computer science and the cognitive sciences is desirable. In addition, it is valuable to understand the importance of maps to users, including those working in environmental sciences, planning, recreation, and government.
The
GIS analyst often will have expertise in a particular area such
as the use and management of natural resources, urban and regional planning,
or business. Timber companies and real estate firms are good examples
of businesses with a growing need for GIS specialists. While GIS specialists
may focus on ways to combine and analyze data, it is important that they
understand the principles of good map design.
Corporate cartographers and business GIS analysts generate specialized maps and analyses to aid problem solving and support decision-making. This rapidly expanding specialty has been aided by the widespread availability of geographic data from government and commercial sources. Demand for GIS analysts will continue to grow as more businesses venture into generating their own maps and GIS analysis. Cartographers and GIS specialists in this market are likely to be working in an environment where geographic data, demographic information, statistical procedures, and graphic visualization (including mapping) methods have all been integrated and made accessible through automation.
As in earlier times, there are cartographers who are concerned with the distribution of maps and related sources. Jobs in this category can include map librarians, map dealers, and merchants of map products. Digitization has had its effect on this group as well. Today’s map library is likely to include a series of CD-ROMs with spatial data bases and computers that enable users to generate their own customized maps. Facilities may be repositories or clearinghouses for data collected by other organizations. In these settings, the cartographer becomes an information specialist and must be well versed in information management as well as maps and geographic data.
A wide variety of cartographic positions are available along this employment spectrum to satisfy job seekers with a diversity of interests and skills. Those who enjoy working with computers, graphic arts, mathematics and statistics, in either human or physical domains, can all find a challenging place in the field. There is room for both the generalist and the specialist.
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