WHAT DOES A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALIST DO?
Published: Apr 11, 2025 – The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist serves as the technical lead in creating, visualizing, and managing ArcGIS Portal data layers, map products, and web-based geospatial systems, while documenting all processes in a digital GIS Program Binder. This position coordinates workflow optimization, system configuration, and quality assurance of ArcGIS Portal content to support MCAS New River objectives and resolve technical issues. This role designs and develops Qlik dashboards, geo-analytics platforms, and customized GIS solutions, while providing training and consultation across functional teams.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Geographic Information Systems Specialist
1. Geographic Information Systems Specialist Duties
- GIS Delivery: Meeting and delivering of GIS systems.
- GIS Tools Proficiency: Working across various GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS, FMI, GESW etc.).
- Data Management: Manage inflow of information, generate reports and packs for various parties, develop common GIS standards for design and build partners, ensure data integrity.
- GIS Work Pack Assembly: GIS Process & Methodology for Work Pack assembly.
- Data Import: Effective data import and population of inventory systems.
- Data Sharing: Seamless data sharing process with all stakeholders.
- Design Support: Support to the Design Team.
- Geo-Spatial Analysis: Geo-spatial analyses and reporting capability.
- Standards Development: Support and develop standards with design and build partners.
- Data Standards Definition: Define data standards, data schemas, and data models.
- Data Preparation: Preparation of data for use in reports, maps and other assessments.
- GIS Application Development: Creation and maintenance of Mobile and Web GIS applications.
- Spatial Consistency: Ensure spatial consistency and standards.
- System Integration: Integrate GIS solutions with other systems/databases via APIs.
- Technical Support: Deliver Technical Support to the Design Production team.
2. Geographic Information Systems Specialist Details
- Technical Leadership: Serves as the technical lead supporting the creation and visualization of data layers and map products using ArcGIS Portal.
- Content Management: Manage web-based geospatial content/apps/systems and maintain a digital GIS Program Binder detailing the processes and actions involved in completing assigned duties.
- Project Planning: Plans, schedules, conducts, or coordinates detailed work.
- Instruction Response: Independently responds to technical/administrative instructions on results expected.
- Strategic Consultation: Provide consultation for ArcGIS Portal strategic planning and resolution of issues, technical assistance and training, and liaison support with installation/regional IGI&S Manager or other functional communities.
- Expert Engagement: Meet with subject matter experts to discuss topics such as technical specifications, customized solutions, and operational problems.
- Workflow Optimization: Define optimum workflows for ArcGIS Portal, and design, implement, and test configuration changes.
- Requirement Review: Review technical requirements to meet MCAS New River objectives and perform quality assurance on ArcGIS Portal content/services.
- Problem Solving: Develop new approaches to problems and coordinate technical specifications, customized solutions, and operational problems.
- Dashboard Development: Develop Qlik Dashboard & Geo-Analytics Map platform with close follow-up.
- Skill Training: Perform coaching and training on technical skills and better practices across markets.
- Map Creation: Create detailed maps using desktop GIS software based on field observations and publicly available data.
3. Geographic Information Systems Specialist Responsibilities
- Problem Research: Research problems, such as the development of planning/modeling, mapping, or assessing geologic and environmental factors, as well as recommend procedures to increase data accessibility and ease of use.
- Database Design: Design database and coordinate physical changes to database, applying additional knowledge of spatial feature representations, such as points, lines, polygons, and geographic information systems.
- Web Development: Develop and maintain, in cooperation with the company's GIS developer(s), web-based GIS applications, not limited to server, web applications, editing, and analysis.
- Mapping Services: Provide mapping services to assigned operations to enhance use and management of land and water resources.
- Title Research: Perform basic title research, analyze surveys, and review/draft property legal descriptions.
- Output Creation: Create output, such as maps and graphs, using computer and GIS software and related equipment.
- Information Presentation: Present information to users and answer questions.
- Project Participation: Participate as a team member on various projects that lend themselves to be developed in a GIS environment.
- Data Review: Review existing and incoming data for accuracy, quality, consistency, usefulness, and documentation.
- Data Entry: Oversee entry of data including application of coordinate geometry, keyboard entry of tabular data, manual digitizing of maps, scanning and automatic conversion to vectors, and conversion of other sources of digital data.
- Symbol Verification: Determine or verify designations of cartographic symbols.
- Standards Support: Support maintaining data standards throughout the company.
- Geodatabase Administration: Administer and maintain assigned operation's components within companywide Enterprise SDE Geodatabase environment, enforcing data standards and policies, including quality standards for data gathering.
- Data Maintenance: Maintain and correct spatial data by actively participating as a team member of the corporate GIS mapping group, which recommends and maintains companywide GIS standards led by the GIS Manager.
4. Geographic Information Systems Specialist Job Summary
- Spatial Editing: Using Esri’s ArcGIS Pro desktop software for spatial editing and analysis workflows.
- Database Updating: Updating tabular fields within an Enterprise Microsoft SQL Server database utilizing ArcGIS Pro, SQL Management Studio and/or customized interfaces.
- Web Development: Participating in the development of web services, web tools, and web maps/apps within an ArcGIS Enterprise environment (ArcGIS Server and Portal for ArcGIS).
- Boundary Maintenance: Maintaining spatial ownership boundaries using land surveys and legal descriptions.
- Map Production: Map production related to various needs throughout the company such as timber harvesting, cruising, silviculture, real estate, renewable energies, marketing, etc.
- User Support: Providing end-user support and training related to GIS web mapping applications, Collector for ArcGIS, and GPS technology on both desktop and mobile devices.
- UAV Oversight: Overseeing contractors utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- Technology Evaluation: Collaborating in system/software development and evaluating new GIS technology.
- Design Support: Support the Regional Design Managers to deliver timely preparation of contractor design packs.
- Process Support: Develop a support structure for all GEO database process flows within NBI.
- User Management: Effectively manage the user base in relation to system issues, appropriate communications, etc.
- GPS Collection: Collect high-quality GPS data including as an advanced user of mobile GPS devices.
- GPS Support: Provides technical support for GPS field applications used in production agriculture including tractor guidance systems, Collector for ArcGIS, Survey123 for ArcGIS, Drone2Map for ArcGIS, etc.
- Technical Assistance: Provide technical assistance, training, and policy guidance as a subject-matter expert on the ESRI product line including ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and other ArcGIS Apps products.
5. Geographic Information Systems Specialist Accountabilities
- Vision Alignment: Work towards the achievement of the company's vision statement.
- Data Editing: Perform data editing, compilation and conversion activities using FME (desktop and server) and ESRI (desktop and enterprise) technologies as well as maintenance and cleanup operations for GIS systems following pre-determined procedures.
- Software Integration: Integrate external software with GIS software.
- Web Development: Responsible for full-stack web developments that create platforms and digital offerings that leverage loosely coupled web services from both proprietary (using ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS for Server, Python and ESRI’s JavaScript API) and open source libraries.
- Database Management: Responsible for database design, management and maintenance.
- Data Standards: Develop, implement, and maintain data standards, quality control procedures and guidelines for the conversion, attributing, displaying, and consumption of data.
- Standards Enforcement: Establish, document, and enforce data standards and procedures.
- Data Custodianship: Provide a custodial role for data residing within the base system.
- Systems Compatibility: Work with external organizations on data transfer and systems compatibility issues.
- User Training: Train and provide technical support for users and manage summer student data cleanup/compilation projects.
- Knowledge Maintenance: Maintain knowledge in the field of Geomatics and Information Technology by monitoring trade publications, professional associations, and actively participating in professional organizations.
- Policy Compliance: Comply with all company policies including safety policies and WCB regulations.
- Data Loading: Perform data loading and tracking across 13 markets regularly.