WHAT DOES A GIS DO?
Updated: July 06, 2025 - The Geographic Information System (GIS) professional integrates hardware, software, and data to capture, manage, analyze, and display spatial information. This role supports decision-making in sectors such as urban planning, environmental management, transportation, and public health. The individual enables accurate mapping, efficient data analysis, and enhanced visualization of geographic patterns and relationships.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Geographic Information System
1. GIS Analyst Duties
- Data Collection: Collecting, importing, collaborating, creating, editing, managing, and analyzing GIS data in the ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise environment (ArcGIS Enterprise, including Portal, ArcGIS Pro, Survey123, Collector, ArcGIS Online)
- Map Creation: Creating high-quality web maps and web applications
- Data Importing: Importing/exporting various formats of spatial data to Enterprise GIS
- Data Analysis: Manipulating and analyzing geographical information to be presented in reports or presentations
- Program Development: Developing programs that convert GIS information from one format to another and developing tools for loading or transferring data between different systems
- Data Maintenance: Maintaining feature classes, REST endpoints, and other sources of spatial information
- Change Documentation: Ensuring all changes/updates to the Enterprise GIS database are documented, tested, and approved
- Staff Training: Training staff on Enterprise GIS capabilities, field data collection apps, and viewing apps in Portal, ArcGIS Online, and other IT-integrated GIS applications and software
- Field Training: Perform field trips to collect data and train field workers
- User Administration: Assist in the administration of users and their roles and associated applications
- Technical Support: Provide technical GIS support and troubleshooting of GIS applications and web services
- Procedure Development: Develop documentation, procedures, and standards to ensure compliance
- Technology Monitoring: Keeping well-informed of technical changes, innovations, and GIS best practices
2. Geographic Information System Analyst Details
- GIS Operations: Perform a range of GIS tasks at an advanced level
- Data Management: Creating, editing, and managing GIS datasets and creating project-based map layouts on short notice
- Data Analysis: Perform high-level analysis of multiple sources of data via the ESRI ArcGIS software suite
- Schema Development: Develop geodatabase schemas and analysis methods to support project goals
- Web Development: Develop and support web GIS applications using ESRI Web App Builder, Story Maps, Collector, and Survey 123
- Document Interpretation: Read and interpret as-built, record, and other engineering documents and make appropriate edits to water, sewer, and stormwater data
- Attribute Updating: Attribute and geometric updates from plans, record drawings, or incorporate data collected in the field
- Workflow Coordination: Guide collaboration with team members for consistency in work products including establishing repeatable workflows and QA/QC processes
- Quality Control: Perform quality control checks via various GIS-related software such as Data Reviewer
3. GIS Developer Responsibilities
- Client Interaction: Work in client-facing roles to contribute to the end-to-end delivery lifecycle of complex and large-scale Geographical Information Systems
- Customer Service: Strong customer service focus with an ability to respond to changing customer priorities
- Test Planning: Inputs to Test Plan and Test Strategy
- Code Development: Develop code using Test Driven Development (TDD)
- Quality Assurance: Ensuring software developed meets quality standards through code and design reviews
- Documentation Support: Participate or provide documentation for any product reviews of deliverables during the project execution
- Status Reporting: Contribute to Status Reports
- Independent Work: Work independently with minimal assistance
4. Senior GIS Developer Job Summary
- Requirement Gathering: Interacts with customers/users to understand requirements
- Requirement Analysis: Carries out detailed analysis to understand requirements
- Solution Development: Creates codes/builds solutions from information as per requirements in development/maintenance projects
- Technical Guidance: Provide technical guidance to the team for the design, development and delivery of products and services
- Quality Control: Ensures quality control through reviews, inspections and testing of the work items
- Risk Management: Identifies technical risks, plans contingency, and mitigation actions
- Technical Leadership: Leads the technical implementation and functions as a point of escalation for the resolution of technical matters
- Process Compliance: Ensures compliance with all applicable TCS processes within the team
5. GIS Project Manager Accountabilities
- Architecture Management: Manage all aspects of application, web GIS, and system architecture support for an extensive project portfolio
- Project Leadership: Lead project teams through all phases of the application process including requirements building, designing, developing, testing and deployment
- Project Management: Manage scope, budget, timeline, and deliverables
- Data Analysis: Data preparation, processing and analysis
- Proposal Writing: Proposal writing, technical writing, strategy, and capture management
- Business Development: Sales leads follow-up, new business introductory calls/meetings, explore new potential business channels, and new business development
- System Administration: Administration and support of ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, and Amazon Web Services
- Team Management: Manage team members and advise on staff allocation
- Time Tracking: Review timesheets and invoicing to ensure projects are on track
- Performance Review: Performance management process
- Event Networking: Attend networking and conference events
6. Geographic Information System Specialist Functions
- Database Management: Manage project GIS databases including data loading, quality assurance and metadata
- Data Production: Produce maps, charts, reports and other data deliverables for internal and external issues
- Service Maintenance: Develop and maintain map services and other content for web-based GIS portals
- Query Response: Respond to project queries daily
- Team Collaboration: Collaborate with engineers and designers on pipeline routing and other GIS analysis tasks
- Meeting Participation: Participate in project meetings and workshops
- Specification Contribution: Contribute to GIS data specifications and other technical material
- Training Support: Support internal and external training programs on GIS applications
- Technology Promotion: Raise awareness and support the wider adoption of GIS technology through workshops, presentations and marketing materials
7. GIS Technician Duties
- Design Review: Work with Otelco Engineering and Mapping and review the current Outside Plant (OSP) design to understand the principles and practices of the current system designs
- Database Updating: Perform database updating for OSP Infrastructure in Fiber-to-the-Premise, Copper/DSL Telephony, and Hybrid Fiber Coax systems utilizing As-Built drawings and mobile electronic data collection
- Network Mapping: Mapping of all network designs for Fiber to the Premise deployment and other telecommunications customers
- Map Production: Produce maps of the existing, engineered, and planned Outside Plant design
- Field Coordination: Work with Field Engineers to ensure OSP and address data in all systems accurately reflect the As-Built state
- Order Documentation: Document completed construction service orders daily in Map Wise and iVUE
- Report Generation: Produce monthly reports detailing footage for existing, engineered, and planned OSP by aerial, Underground, Fiber Type, Fiber Count by market, by use (Metro or Long Haul), with available capacity
- Record Updating: Review tickets assigned by field personnel to fix or modify/update records after fiber damage, road moves, and audits
- Asset Management: Works closely with Accounting to maintain inventory and plant asset accounts
Job Role FAQs
What is a job role?
A job role refers to the duties, responsibilities, and expectations associated with a specific position within an organization. It explains what tasks an employee performs, how they contribute to team objectives, and how their work supports the company’s overall goals.
What are the typical responsibilities of a job role?
Typical job role responsibilities include completing daily tasks, collaborating with team members, making decisions, and meeting performance targets. For example, a software developer may write code, fix bugs, review pull requests, and collaborate with product teams.
What is the difference between a job role and a job title?
A job title is the official name of a position, such as Marketing Manager or Software Engineer. A job role describes the actual duties, responsibilities, and expectations associated with that position.
Why are clearly defined job roles important?
Clearly defined job roles help organizations improve productivity, reduce workplace confusion, and ensure accountability. When employees understand their responsibilities and expectations, teams can collaborate more effectively.
How do job roles support career development?
Understanding different job roles helps professionals identify career paths and the skills required for advancement. By learning the expectations of various roles, individuals can build relevant skills and plan long-term career growth.
Editorial Process
Lamwork content is developed through structured review of publicly available job postings and documented hiring trends.
Editorial operations are managed by Thanh Huyen, Managing Editor, with research direction and final oversight by Lam Nguyen, Founder & Editorial Lead. Content is periodically reviewed to reflect observable labor market changes.