2010:The Year the Geospatial

Industry Came of Age

David DiBiase, CMS, GISPPenn State University National Geospatial Technology Center

GeoEd ‘10Jefferson Community & Technical CollegeLouisville KYJune 23, 2010

Sponsors include the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program [DUE #0801893]. Author’s opinions are not necessarily shared by NSF.

1.Five new geospatial occupations established

2.Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) published

Two important developments at DOLETA

2000-2003: Original GTCM

2005-2006: IndustryDefinition Workshops

2004-2006: GIS&TBody of Knowledge

2008: Skills in Professional Geography

2008-2010: Final GTCM

A competency is the capability of applying or using knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and personal characteristics to successfully perform critical work tasks, specific functions, or operate in a given role or position.Ennis, M.R. (2008). Competency Models: A Review of the Literature and The Role of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/.../OPDRLiteratureReview.pdf

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.

Building block model

Competencies needed in many occupations and

industries at national scale

Competencies needed for various occupations within

an industry

Competencies needed for various occupations within

an industry sector

Competencies required for particular occupations identified

by DoL partners (e.g., GeoTech Center)

Requirements for specialized degrees, licensure, or certification

(e.g., GISCI)

Knowledge areas required for particular occupations identified

by workforce analysts

Management competencies

Building block model

1.Gather background information

2.Develop draft competency model framework

3.Gather feedback from industry representatives

4.Refine the competency model framework

5.Validate the competency model framework

6.Finalize the model framework

DOLETA Competency Modeling Process

PMRI, Inc. (2005). Technical Assistance Guide for Developing and Using Competency Models—One Solution for a Demand=Driven Workforce System. http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/Info_Documents/TAG.pdf

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

GeoTech NVC Corpus ChristiRecommendation to “engage DoL”

1st meeting with DoL ETARe: GTCM

URISA presentation

2009

ESRI EdUC presentationPropose approach to complete GTCM

2nd meeting with DoL ETA

3rd meeting withDoL ETA

Workshop participants invited

Project timeline

GTCM panelists

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2010

GTCM workshopScottsdale AZ

URISA presentation

ESRI EdUC presentation

Public review period

3 revisions

Finished GTCM publishedAssessment instrument demo at UCGIS GeoTech NVC Denver

Report on GTCM strategy GeoEd ‘10 conference

Rocket CityGeospatialconference

Project timeline

Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (2010). Competency Model Clearinghouse. http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/

The geospatial occupations

… Does not include geospatial software programmers

Meltz, Don (2009). GIS Is Dead–Long Live GIS. PlanIt Crafter blog http://donmeltz.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/25/gis-is-dead-long-live-gis/ Accessed November 2, 2010

“GIS is on it’s way out as a profession, but GIS will continue to be used as a tool in many other professions.”

“My advice to someone that wants to get into the GIS field is – don’t, because it’s not going to be around much longer.”

Reports of death of GIS exaggerated

1. Assess alignment of geospatial education and training curricula with workforce needs (GTCM assessment worksheets)

2. Increase rigor of certification requirements for GIS professionals

3. Shore-up higher education requirements for professional surveyors

4. Identify the “moral ideal” of the GIS profession

Unfinished business

1. Cast of mind—self awareness

2. Corpus of theory and knowledge

3. Social ideal

4. Ethical standards

5. Formal organizations

6. Hall of fame

Attributes of a profession

Pugh 1989

7. Accreditation

8. Certification and/or licensure

Ford & Gibbs (1996)

Pugh, Darrell L. (1989). Professionalism in Public Administration: Problems, Perspectives, and the Role of the ASPA. Public Administration Review 49:1, 1-8.

Ford, Gary and Norman E. Gibbs (1996). A Mature Profession of Software Engineering. Technical Report, Carnegie-Mellon University, January. http://www.sci.cmu.edu/pub/documents/96.reports/pdf/tr004.96.pdf

What is the GIS profession’s moral ideal?

“A profession is a number of individuals in the same occupation voluntarily organized to earn a living by openly serving a certain moral ideal in a morally-permissible way…” (p. 3)

Davis 2002

Davis, Michael (2002). Profession, Code, and Ethics. Burlington VT: Ashgate.

2010:The Year the Geospatial

Industry Came of Age

David DiBiase, CMS, GISPPenn State University National Geospatial Technology Center

GeoEd ‘10Jefferson Community & Technical CollegeLouisville KYJune 23, 2010

Sponsors include the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program [DUE #0801893]. Author’s opinions are not necessarily shared by NSF.

Thanks for the invitation!

DACUM analysis “GIS Technicians”

Meta-DACUM chart

Geospatial industry sectors & markets

Daratech “GIS/Geospatial Industry”

Software $1.5 B

Data $0.7 B

Services $0.5 B

Hardware $0.1 B

2004 revenue $2.8 B

ASPRS “Remote Sensing Industry”

Data Collection

Data processing

Software & Hardware “support”

“Intermediaries”

2004 revenue $2.9 BDaratech markets

Public

Regulated (i.e. utilties, telecom, transportation and education)

Private

ASPRS markets

Commercial/NFP

Government

Academia

“The geospatial industry acquires, integrates, manages, analyzes, maps, distributes, and uses geographic, temporal and spatial information and knowledge. The industry includes basic and applied research, technology development, education, and applications to address the planning, decision-making, and operations needs of people and organizations of all types.” (2006)

Defining “the geospatial industry”

“The geospatial technology industry includes any technology being used to collect, process, analyze, use, or display geospatial data and information to create a useful product for an end user.” (2001)

“The remote sensing industry is viewed as those commercial firms, not-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies and academic institutions involved in the capture, production, distribution, and application of remotely sensed geospatial data and information.” (2004)

Defining “the geospatial industry”

“The geospatial industry produces location- and time-specific data, transforms data into maps, images and many other forms of useful information, and applies information to create knowledge about the Earth and the human activities the Earth supports.” (2006)