Applied Science Careers

I saw a Reddit post this week that stopped me in my tracks: A Senior GIS & Planning Specialist job posting listed at $26–29/hr. Right next to it? A road sign advertising Taco Bell roles for $22–27/hr. This isn’t about putting down either job - both are honest work. But it does raise a hard truth for our field: Too many talented GIS professionals are still stuck in what I call the “technician trap.” It’s when your role is defined purely by software operation and map production. You become the person who “makes the maps,” but not the person shaping strategy, informing decisions, or tying spatial insights to business outcomes. And that narrow positioning keeps salaries capped. As I see it, breaking the technician trap means leveling up in 3 ways: Expand beyond button clicking: Learn SQL, Python, and cloud workflows so you can move from static outputs to scalable solutions. Connect to business outcomes: Frame your work in terms of cost savings, risk reduction, or revenue growth, not just map deliverables. Tell the story: Communicate clearly to non GIS stakeholders why your insights matter. If they can’t see the impact, they won’t value it. I hope I can help do this, not just for individuals navigating their own careers, but for our space as a whole. Efforts like the Geospatial Professional Network (formerly URISA) salary report and other pushes for salary transparency are big steps in the right direction. They give us the data and the conversation we need to shift how GIS is valued. The Taco Bell sign isn’t the problem. It’s a reminder that if we don’t elevate how we present and apply our skills, we’ll keep bumping up against ceilings that don’t reflect the value we bring. Our work is valuable. But we have to start showing it that way. 🌎 I'm Matt and I talk about modern GIS, earth observation, AI, and how geospatial is changing. 📬 Want more like this? Join 8k+ others learning from my newsletter → forrest.nyc

GIS ANALYST ROADMAP: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE Are you ready to launch or advance your career as a GIS Analyst? 📍 This roadmap will guide you step-by-step, from mastering the basics to diving into advanced techniques like machine learning. Whether you're just starting or looking to specialize, these essential skills, tools, and certifications will help you stand out in the ever-evolving GIS industry: 1. Fundamentals of GIS 🗺️ ➡️ Learn the basics of GIS (map projections, vector/raster data). ➡️ Master popular software: ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine. 2. Data Acquisition & Management 🗄️ ➡️ Discover geospatial data sources (satellite imagery, LiDAR). ➡️ Manage databases with PostgreSQL/PostGIS. 3. Spatial Analysis 🔍 ➡️ Perform spatial analysis (buffer, overlay, proximity) ➡️ Advanced techniques: interpolation, geostatistics, hydrological modeling. 4. Cartography & Visualization 🖼️ ➡️ Create stunning maps with effective color schemes and layouts. ➡️ Learn 3D mapping using ArcGIS Pro, Blender. 5. Remote Sensing 🌍 ➡️ Understand multispectral & hyperspectral data. ➡️ Image processing: classification, NDVI, change detection. 6. Programming & Automation 🤖 ➡️ Automate workflows with Python, libraries like ArcPy & GeoPandas. ➡️ Build web maps with Leaflet.js, Mapbox. 7. Web GIS & Cloud Solutions ☁️ ➡️ Share maps via ArcGIS Online or GeoServer. ➡️ Explore cloud platforms: Google Earth Engine, AWS, Azure. 8. Advanced Spatial Analysis 📊 ➡️ Dive into spatial statistics (regression, kriging). ➡️ Apply machine learning to geospatial data. 9. Industry-Specific Applications 🏙️ ➡️ Environmental & Urban Planning: Land-use, environmental monitoring. ➡️ Utilities & Transportation: Infrastructure, logistics, utility mapping. 10. Certifications & Continued Learning 🎓 ➡️ Get certified: Esri Technical Certifications, GISP. ➡️ Stay updated with new trends: AI in GIS, UAVs (Drones). 11. Networking & Portfolio 🌐 ➡️ Build a GIS portfolio with interactive maps/dashboards. ➡️ Network with GIS communities on LinkedIn, webinars, and conferences. The journey to becoming a proficient GIS Analyst requires continuous learning and adapting to new technologies. 🚀 Stay curious, build a strong portfolio, and connect with the global GIS community to keep your career on the cutting edge. With this roadmap as your guide, you're well on your way to success! If you find this post insightful, kindly consider reposting. #GIS #Geospatial #GISAnalyst #GISCareer #RemoteSensing #SpatialAnalysis #Geospatial #PythonForGIS #WebGIS #DataVisualization #MapDesign #MachineLearning #Cartography #ArcGIS #QGIS #Innovation #WebGIS #HTML #JavaScript #GEE #CSS #GeoTech

🗺️ From zero to GIS pro - here's the roadmap I wish I had when I started! After years in the geospatial field, I've mapped out the complete learning path for anyone wanting to break into GIS. 🎯 Start with Foundations Don't skip coordinate systems and map projections. I see too many people struggle later because they jumped straight into software. 🛠️ Master Core GIS ArcGIS Pro and QGIS are your bread and butter. Focus on spatial analysis and geoprocessing - that's where the real value is. 💻 Programming Changed Everything Python (ArcPy), SQL/PostGIS, and JavaScript opened up massive career opportunities for me. This is where you separate yourself from the pack. 🌐 Web GIS is the Future Learning ArcGIS Online and web mapping made me much more valuable to employers. The industry is shifting online fast. 🚀 Pick Your Specialization After exploring different areas, I found my niche. Choose yours: Urban Planning, Environmental, Remote Sensing, Cartography, or Enterprise GIS. What I've learned: Start with free tools, build real projects, join GIS communities, and never stop learning! 🎯 Where are you on this journey? Drop a comment - I love connecting with fellow GIS professionals! Save this roadmap for your GIS learning journey! 🔖 #GIS #Geospatial #CareerDevelopment #Mapping #SpatialAnalysis #GISJobs #QGIS #ArcGIS #Python #WebMapping

Your geography skills can actually get you a job. Sounds like a joke, right? The same subject most of us crammed the night before exams, rivers, borders, capitals, is quietly one of the hottest career assets today. Think about it 👇 🌍 Every evacuation plan needs someone who knows routes, chokepoints, and terrain. 📡 Every OSINT map needs an analyst who can spot where “Latakia” isn’t the same as “Latvia.” 💼 Every corporate risk team needs people who can say: “This port closing in the Indian Ocean? That’s not just news, it’s a supply chain disruption worth millions.” The truth is, geopolitical risk, OSINT, climate security, even logistics all reward people who can connect maps with meaning. It’s not about memorizing capitals anymore, it’s about reading geography as strategy. ✨ Tip for students: Start tracking regions beyond the headlines. The Sahel, the Arctic, Central Asia, these are the maps where tomorrow’s risks are brewing. ✨ Tip for young analysts: Pair your geography with tools, Maritime AIS, or even satellite imagery from Google Earth Pro. Suddenly, you’re not just reading maps, you’re analyzing them. So yes, the skill you once used to locate the Nile or the Himalayas can literally land you in a role where decisions hinge on knowing why place matters. ✨ Over the years, so many Humanities, Political Science & IR grads have reached out to me — usually feeling lost about what comes after the degree. 💡 Each time, I’ve shared a few resources that gave them clarity and helped them take real steps forward. And almost every single person comes back saying: “I wish I had this earlier.” 👉 If you’re figuring out your own path and don’t want to waste months in trial-and-error, just DM me or drop your email — I’ll share them with you too.

𝟓 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬! If you're about to graduate or just started on your GIS career path, these are the 5 tips you should not miss (aka tips I wished I knew early on)! 𝟏. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 Start with python which is the most widely used and supported programming language for spatial data analysis. ➡️ Self-learn with Dr Qiusheng Wu's free course on Intro to GIS Programming at https://lnkd.in/gnEp75TQ ➡️ Sign up for our recurring Spatial Data Science & AI course for 2025 here at https://lnkd.in/gYaGtNhR if you haven't! 𝟐. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐭 Use GitHub, Streamlit, Gradio, or any other free hosting platform to create your portfolio of research or personal projects’ output as map visualizations or simple videos. ➡️ See my interactive maps created during 30DayMapChallenges 2024 at https://lnkd.in/gUGNFqGh which is hosted on Vercel. ➡️ See Dr Qiusheng Wu’s personal page on Huggingface for inspiration: https://lnkd.in/gqcr9n8x 𝟑. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭 Statistics is the backbone of spatial data analysis, so a good understanding of data patterns is an important prerequisite. ➡️ MIT’s free Intro to Statistics video (1.5 hours): https://lnkd.in/g4g_6P3Z ➡️ Stanford U’s free Intro to Statistics course: https://lnkd.in/gV5y8YsP 𝟒. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐐𝐋 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 SQL is widely used for computing and transforming large volumes of vector data. Popular databases such as PostgresDB has PostGIS extension that can do all sorts of processing such as Clipping, while DuckDB also offers a Spatial Extension early this year that performs at amazing speed too! ➡️ Free Intro to PostGIS material: https://lnkd.in/gXByW2hk ➡️ MotherDuck’s Getting started with modern GIS using DuckDB: https://lnkd.in/gC-f5bmW 𝟓. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 Spatial ML automates time-consuming processes like land cover classification, and improves predictive modeling for phenomena such as climate change or urban growth. Equip yourself with advanced ML algorithms in order to develop highly intelligent spatial applications. ➡️ NASA ARSET’s Overview of Machine Learning, they also offer online advanced ML application workshops: https://lnkd.in/gdaFuEwN Sources mentioned: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Qiusheng Wu #GIS #Python #QGIS #ArcGIS #Geospatial #AI #ML #Resources #SQL #statistics #Education #CareerTips #FreshGraduates

🔥 GIS is not a job title. It’s a trap. If you’re applying to everything labeled “GIS,” you’re already losing. 🛑 GIS Analyst 🛑 GIS Technician 🛑 GIS Specialist These are vague, outdated, and often undervalued roles. The title tells you nothing about the actual work, impact, or pay. 🔍 Here’s what matters more: ✅ What data are you working with? ✅ What decisions are you driving? ✅ What tools do you need to master, not just use? 💡 I’ve seen GIS experts doing real-time urban modeling, wildfire prediction, AI-driven mapping — and still getting job offers with copy-pasted job descriptions and junior-level pay. Hot take: Stop calling yourself a GIS Professional unless you want to be boxed in. Call yourself what you do: → Geospatial Data Scientist → Urban Analytics Engineer → Remote Sensing AI Specialist Let the recruiters catch up. Meanwhile, you build your identity, and own your value. Agree? Disagree? Bring the heat 🔥👇 #GIS #GeoAI #CareerGrowth #RemoteSensing #SmartCities #DataJobs #Geospatial #JobSearch #DigitalTwin #ControversialPost

🛰️ GIS Is Evolving — Are You? I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it really means to future-proof your career in GIS. GIS is no longer “just maps.” We’re building dashboards, scripting automated data flows, integrating real-time sensors, and supporting decisions that actually move the needle for cities, businesses, and the planet. 🌍 If you’re early in your GIS career or even mid-stream, here’s what I’d focus on moving forward: 🛠️ 1. Learn to Code — at Least a Little Python. JavaScript. SQL. You don’t need to be a full-stack dev, but automation and customization are must-haves. A few scripts can save your team hundreds of hours — and that makes you indispensable. 📊 2. Understand the Business Problem Map-making is the output. Decision-making is the goal. Learn how to ask better questions and tie your work to real-world outcomes. Become the person who translates spatial insight into strategic action. 🔄 3. Think Beyond the Map Get familiar with ETL tools (like FME), cloud platforms (like ArcGIS Online, AWS, or Azure), and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau). GIS is a data science discipline now — embrace that role. 🤝 4. Collaborate Cross-Functionally Sit in on planning meetings. Ask your end users what they really need. The best GIS pros aren’t just tech-savvy — they’re trusted collaborators. 🌱 5. Stay Curious, Stay Humble Tech will change. The tools you use now may be outdated in five years. What won’t change? Your ability to learn, adapt, and lead with curiosity. We’re in a golden age of spatial data. Let’s make sure we’re ready for what’s next. 🚀 #GIS #Geospatial #CareerAdvice #GISCareers #Python #DataScience #FutureOfGIS #Mapping #SpatialThinking

Traditional vs. Modern GIS Manager The role of the GIS Manager is undergoing a fundamental transformation. It’s no longer just about managing maps—it’s about enabling strategic, organization-wide spatial intelligence. Let’s break down the shift: Traditional GIS Manager • Focused on desktop software, map production, and technical delivery. • Relied on on-premise servers and siloed data workflows. • Managed projects using rigid, waterfall-style methodologies. • Operated in reactive support mode—responding to requests from others. • Often viewed as a “mapmaker” or technical support resource. Modern GIS Manager • A strategic leader bridging business objectives with geospatial capabilities. • Embraces cloud-based architecture and scalable solutions. • Leverages AI and GeoAI to generate predictive, real-time insights. • Applies iterative and prototyping approaches to solution development. • Promotes collaboration, enabling self-service GIS and cross-departmental impact. • Recognized as a spatial strategist and key contributor to innovation and decision-making. The modern GIS manager is no longer confined to the GIS department. They are integrators, innovators, and transformation partners. Which one are you?

Something happened this month that most people in the GIS field will hear about weeks after it matters. NASA deployed the Prithvi geospatial AI model on a live satellite in orbit — the first foundation AI model running on satellite hardware, not just processing satellite data on the ground. Vexcel launched their MCP for aerial imagery. Esri now has 100+ pretrained AI models baked into ArcGIS. That is not an incremental shift. That is a category shift. Here is the pattern I have been watching for a few months now. Every time a major AI announcement lands in this field, the professional response splits: "AI is going to make GIS professionals obsolete" or "AI is going to make them more valuable than ever." Both camps are missing the point. The right question is not "will AI replace GIS professionals?" It is: which GIS professionals will still be valuable in three years, and which ones will not? The answer is not about who is more technical. It is about who can do the work AI cannot do — and who has spent their career doing exactly the work that is now being automated. The GIS professionals who spent 20 years becoming excellent at spatial analysis, geoprocessing, and cartographic output are the ones most exposed. Not because that work does not matter — but because AI is now doing more of it, faster, without needing to leave the executive's chat window. The GIS professionals who spent 20 years becoming excellent at translation, executive communication, strategic influence, and leading humans through change are the ones least exposed. Not because AI cannot try that work — but because organizations do not trust AI with the human parts of leadership yet, and they will not for a long time. The gap between those two profiles is widening. Fast. If you are reading this and feeling exposed — that is useful information. It is not a verdict on your career. It is a signal about what to build next. Six months ago, the leadership skills I write about were "nice to have." Now they are the difference between the GIS professional the executive team calls when something matters — and the one who watches the AI agent produce the analysis they used to be paid to produce. You still have time. The AI running on a satellite this week is not going to replace the leadership you provide next week. But it is going to replace whatever work you have been doing that does not require you specifically. The question worth sitting with: What percentage of your current job could a well-prompted AI agent do without you? Whatever is left — the part only you could do because of who you are and how you lead — is the part worth investing in for the next three years. That investment is not technical. It is identity work. Because the AI just launched into orbit. And the people below it need to know what to build next and how to verify whether or not the information is still valid. #GISLeadership #GeoAI #Prithvi #TheScienceofGISLeadership #GrowingCuriosity

Your career path doesn’t have to be linear to lead you where you’re meant to be. I’m excited to share a new GIS Career Pathways blog post about my full‑circle journey at Esri, from starting as an intern, gaining leadership and operational experience outside of tech, and eventually returning as a Project Manager. In the post, I talk about: • What it’s really like to work as a Project Manager in a GIS‑driven organization • The skills that matter most beyond technical expertise • How early career opportunities can shape long‑term growth If you’re exploring careers in project management, GIS, or tech, or reflecting on how your past experiences connect to your future, I hope this resonates. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gxme2XDy #GIS #GISCareers #ProjectManagement #CareerJourney #InternshipExperience #ProfessionalGrowth #CareersInTech #LeadershipDevelopment #NonLinearCareer #DigitalExperience #Esri #WomenInSTEM #EsriYPN #YoungProfessionalsNetwork Rosemary B. Marcus Seepersad Raquel Perez Leslie Wilson Corianne Jones Lindsay Wolins