Day at Work: GIS Analyst

Wesley C. is a cartographer and Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. He uses GIS technology to gather and organize information in order to improve pedestrian infrastructure. As part of ConnectEd's "Day in the Life" series, Wesley discusses his daily duties and the knowledge needed to be a Cartographer and GIS Analyst.
Explore more career videos at connectedstudio...
Follow us on Facebook! / connectedstudios

[@ps-mz2tn]

Great video. I've just graduated with a B.A. in Geography and Urban studies from a large public university. My professors told me over and over again how valuable a skill GIS is for people in my field, but I wasn't able to take any legitimate GIS courses during my education. Anyone want to chime in with info as to how valuable GIS skills are to accessing a broader range of planning professions? Thanks.

[@SereniaSaissa]

Excellent video. I LOVE maps. I took geography in High school. but I wanted to take history at college. I should have done geography at college instead!!!!

[@Snrof05]

LOL! Same boat. I ended up with a history degree and a minor in geography. I so regret that decision. I'm now applying for masters in geoscience so that I can pursue a career in GIS.

[@JohnAK72]

Right now I'm publishing the output map for my class report using ArcMap and wish it was as intelligent as Google. John

[@jghjjhkhkhk]

+John AK72 arcmap is horrible

[@yeahitspersonal]

Go to North Dakota they are booming right now

[@ghosty2loose]

What is the public health aspect of pedestrians being able to walk comfortably?

[@ConnectEdNational]

Great question--hopefully a public health and safety expert will chime in here, too. In the meantime the best answer we can give (we are the video production team, not experts in public health!) is that pedestrian safety is of the utmost importance especially in large urban areas. Bad planning can lead to thousands more roadway deaths per year. Good planning and infrastructure can keep the number of injuries and the death toll down. You can't completely stop accidents but you can lower the number and make certain things less likely to occur. (ob)

[@ConnectEdNational]

Also, watch the video at 1:45 when Wesley is talking about making the right conditions to encourage people to walk/get exercise.

[@ghosty2loose]

thank you. # it was apart of homework :D

[@ConnectEdNational]

Did your teacher tell you to watch this video or did you find it on your own? (If your teacher told you to watch it, what teacher at what school?!)

[@ghosty2loose]

she told me to watch it. she is a geography teacher on an online school

[@orkhanmiralayev5442]

Hi Westley, do u use erdas imagine in ur job or just simply knowing arcmap is enough in what u r doing? Thanks.

[@christopher5731]

I have a strong background in GIS I need a job! Who is hiring?

[@yourmotherisfat77]

cool job

[@jezzijazz7250]

Anybody knows the GIS station in gargano italia?

[@kathysll610]

i need a job as well

[@carso456]

did you have to take calculus in the GIS program?

[@Jimmyageek]

+carso456 YES

[@katelynspidel6977]

No! I had to take Pre-Cal just getting basic classes out of the way. The only math required of us in GIS was statistics.