The nature of the job of a GIS analyst is somewhat different from that of the other professionals who work as software developers in the IT industry. The most basic job requirement of a GIS professional is undoubtedly to assess the problem at hand and develop a clear cut list of requirements, all from the perspective of a geographical information system.
A GIS analyst in any organization is assigned with the task of developing solid plans as well as enabling the installation, as well as use of the various GIS software tools, for the purpose they are meant to serve.
A GIS analyst is also required to perform the vital duty of constructing as well as configuring the various modules of a geospatial database in the organization so that the various GIS applications can effectively use it to their requirements.
The responsibility of controlling as well as suitably maintaining the GIS servers as well as various workstations on which GIS applications run also rests with a GIS analyst.
Any organization if it is based upon the GIS technology involves a host of other technologies as well and their corresponding applications. Now, there might often arise situations where data sharing or else some kind of a resource sharing is desired between the GIS applications as well as the applications of other technologies. This job of efficient integration between the various technological applications along with GIS applications, in order to initiate effective communication as well as sharing also lies in the job domain of a GIS analyst.
As a GIS analyst, you may also be required to take part is certain functions and meets pertaining to GIS and working towards economic development.
A GIS analyst is also required to coordinate GIS as well as related technological procedures along with the various financial services in the organization.
As far as the technical requirements essential to be able to hold the job of a GIS analyst, you must possess a sound as well as deep knowledge of geographical information systems, as well as have prowess in at least two dedicated packages of GIS. Apart from this, the basic technical now how that a programmer should possess is also essential to ace as a GIS analyst. This may ask you to be sound in data structures as well as some of the major and most prevalently used programming languages such as JAVA or C Plus Plus. A basic knowledge of the databases used in GIS (known as spatial databases) must also be present in a potential GIS analyst.
Apart from the technical know how as well as educational qualifications, certain basic qualities as well as traits are central to a GIS analyst. In order to ace as a GIS analyst, one must have a fluent thinking flow as well as a logical and rational thought process, the ability to perceive the requirements of the present and foresee the effect of a present action on the future are also essential. A GIS analyst must also be able to present himself well as well as have effective communication skills.
The field of geographical information systems, or GIS, is a new one, and at the same time, requires a great deal of dedication as well as out of the box thinking. Thus in order to prove your worth as an effective GIS analyst, one must possess a lot of prerequisites, along with the ability to think out of the box at all times. Due to the host of pre required skills and qualifications a GIS analyst is compensated very well in the IT industry, for his or her services. As far as the remunerations are concerned, the average salary that is awarded to a GIS analyst in the United States of America comes out to be about forty thousand US dollars. As the experience as well as the practical hands on and technologies known to a GIS analyst go on increasing, the salaries earned by him or her also exhibit a sure shot escalation.
