Today things are much simpler. Our world is mapped, and there are GPS systems that help us navigate the glove. That does not mean that map makers are not needed however. Global Information Systems or GIS is a very important part of everyday life whether you realize it or not. The thing to remember is that our world is always changing.
There could be a fault line, or there could be another geographical disturbance. There are plenty of circumstances that can cause an area to be permanently altered, and for that reason there are many jobs in GIS. In other words, someone needs to map the changes, and make those changes available to the public in the form of maps.
Sometimes cities can be removed from maps or from public knowledge altogether. Let's take the city of Centralia in Pennsylvania for example. This is a city that suffered from a coal fire at one point in history. As a result, the once thriving town went under, leaving only a shell of what it once was. Its zipcode was revoked, most of the people moved away, and only a handful remain today. It was taken from the maps so that people would not make the mistake of trying to travel through it.
Of course these might not be the only changes to consider. It might not be an act of God or a general disaster. You might be dealing with something as simple as a population increase or a new building going up. GIS workers do their best to keep track of these things so that maps are as up to date as possible.
Finding GIS jobs can be somewhat difficult. At one time they might have been known as cartographers, but even at that time it was a fairly obscure job in comparison to some of the other choices out there. The best way to find a good GIS job is to take a look at one of the many GIS job boards or GIS clearing houses.
There are GIS jobs all over the world! Whether you want to take a job in Germany, Russia, Italy, or even your own hometown. As you probably know, your city needs mapping done. Whether it has to do with the geography of the town, city, or state, or the population, it simply needs to be done.
Some GIS jobs require the recording of statistical information. This information will help the city to determine how many people reside in certain areas, but for a city, information on the terrain is important too. Mapping of areas within a city or township tends to be a bit more complicated than general mapping. Let's say there is an unfinished construction area, and there is a pit that needs to be filled in. This will need to be recorded on city maps, somewhat because the city needs to keep its citizens safe, but mostly because if not recorded the entire thing will be forgotten which tends to be a health and safety issue.
Training for GIS jobs is essential, and in doing so you will be preparing yourself for a career that lasts. The longer you stay with jobs in GIS, the more you will be paid. jobs in GIS start out at about $32,000 per year, and they increase. After twenty years you could find yourself making up to $71,000 per year, which is a decent amount for anyone to live on.
For more information on GIS jobs, make sure you take a look at the different clearing houses and job websites. It wont' be long before you find yourself in a rewarding career, and of course with a stable income capable of supporting both you and your family. You will be able to live comfortable, happily, and most of all, for the long term. Jobs are scarce, and until the apocalypse finally strikes, we are always going to need mapmakers and GIS jobs. Are you ready to be a part of map making history?
