Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

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Collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data. Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems.

tasks jobzones knowledge skills abilities work_activities work_context interests work_styles work_values

Tasks

  • Travel over photographed areas to observe, identify, record, and verify all relevant features.

  • Select aerial photographic and remote sensing techniques and plotting equipment needed to meet required standards of accuracy.

  • Study legal records to establish boundaries of local, national, and international properties.

  • Examine and analyze data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare topographic maps, aerial-photograph mosaics, and related charts.

  • Determine guidelines that specify which source material is acceptable for use.

  • Determine map content and layout, as well as production specifications such as scale, size, projection, and colors, and direct production to ensure that specifications are followed.

  • Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment.

  • Build and update digital databases.

  • Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy.

  • Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.

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Job Zone

  • Name: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

  • Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

  • Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

  • Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

  • Examples: These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

  • Svp range: (6.0 to < 7.0)

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Knowledge

Browse Knowledge
  • Geography
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

  • Computers and Electronics
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Design
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Engineering and Technology
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Administration and Management
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Customer and Personal Service
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Production and Processing
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

  • Education and Training
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • English Language
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

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Skills

Browse Skills
  • Active Learning
    Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Mathematics
    Using mathematics to solve problems.

  • Writing
    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • Complex Problem Solving
    Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Science
    Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

  • Troubleshooting
    Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

  • Technology Design
    Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

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Abilities

Browse Abilities
  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Written Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

  • Number Facility
    The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Mathematical Reasoning
    The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

  • Flexibility of Closure
    The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

  • Information Ordering
    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

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Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
    How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

  • Freedom to Make Decisions
    How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

  • Spend Time Sitting
    How much does this job require sitting?

  • Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
    How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?

  • Electronic Mail
    How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
    How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
    How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

  • Structured versus Unstructured Work
    To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

  • Telephone
    How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

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Interests

Browse Interests
  • Conventional
    Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

  • Realistic
    Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

  • Investigative
    Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

  • Artistic
    Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

  • Enterprising
    Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • Social
    Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

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Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.

  • Persistence
    Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

  • Achievement/Effort
    Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

  • Initiative
    Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility
    Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

  • Independence
    Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

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Work Values

Browse Work Values
  • Autonomy
    Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.

  • Ability Utilization
    Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.

  • Moral Values
    Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • Responsibility
    Workers on this job make decisions on their own.

  • Achievement-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Independence-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

  • Achievement
    Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.

  • Working Conditions
    Workers on this job have good working conditions.

  • Independence
    Workers on this job do their work alone.

  • Security
    Workers on this job have steady employment.

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