The harsh reality of being a GIS analyst

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GIS Analyst is a great career path but it can also come with its downsides. In this video, we explore some of the non-glamorous parts of the GIS Analyst role that you should be aware of when entering the field.
0:00 Intro
0:46 Not a technical role
1:45 Limited to specific tools
2:53 Button clicker syndrome
4:09 Salary deficit vs. non-GIS roles
5:13 High barrier to entry (sometimes)
5:51 It's all about deliverables
7:19 Using it as a stepping stone
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Check out some other posts and resources here:
Learn Spatial SQL: forrest.nyc/learn-spatial-sql/
40+ Resources for Spatial SQL: forrest.nyc/40-spatial-sql-re...
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Other courses to get started with GIS, spatial data science, and data science (affiliate links):
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialization from UC Davis: imp.i384100.net/n1Kyxo
Spatial Data Science and Applications from Yonsei University: imp.i384100.net/9W6E6W
Python for Everybody from University of Michigan: imp.i384100.net/BX3P31
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[@bennyanthro4891]

I work as an archaeologist in the private sector and thinking about taking a GIS certification course to in the future segue from archaeology. We use GIS all the time in my industry, mostly for making maps on the spatial relations of cultural resources in the field. Thanks for clarifying the GIS analyst role a bit better. I assume the salaries for the analyst role are comparable to an entry level position.

[@rastafella420]

Thank for this valuable information. I am thinking about career choise after my geography study. I don't like programming, but I liked visualising data using desktop GIS. Your info, that you usually work with GIS app, just using the ready data actually encourages me to look further and maybe take this as a career path.

[@MattForrest]

Amazing so glad to hear that!

[@optus7113]

Which universities provide post graduate geo-informatics course the best?

[@dansdaly]

Thank you for sharing this valuable info. You seem to have a gift and natural talent for producing excellent videos Matt. Thanks again.

[@MattForrest]

I appreciate it that means a lot!

[@jordanbranum327]

Love all the new videos this year!

[@MattForrest]

Thanks a ton appreciate it!

[@jordanbranum327]

@@MattForrest your great content helping me realize how to build up out of GIS analysis slump to bigger en better projects

[@MattForrest]

Awesome that means a lot! Glad to hear it!

[@liam-ec-m595]

As someone starting at an engineering consultancy firm as a GIS analyst in the UK this is really interesting. I'm looking to pivot to technology consulting from the grad role.

[@MattForrest]

Awesome!

[@patrickchumley992]

Awesome video, thank you for posting this. Unrelated, where did you get that shirt? It's perfect!

[@MattForrest]

J Crew Factory!

[@kenoskyiscool]

I think this is the issue with nearly all 'analysis' roles. You go to school, or online, learn a bunch of cool stuff, and end up being stuck in ArcGIS or AGOL clicking buttons. Anyways, really just commenting to say that I just realized you are the author of Spatial SQL, great book and perhaps you can do a colab with the author of How to Succeed as a GIS Rebel in a future video?

[@MattForrest]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that and that is a great idea. I think we could do something cool with a live stream.

[@mclagett1043]

Hi Matt I'm really impressed with your educational skills! I'm just researching options for starting a new career at age 44 and I'm trying to consider how/if AI will be effecting the career paths I'm considering in the next 20 years... What is your best guess as to the potential impact of AI on the GIS field moving forward? Thank you for sharing your knowledge Matt, best of luck to you.

[@dos3622]

the marriage of AI and GIS is reshaping how we manage operations, simulate scenarios, and anticipate the future

[@MattForrest]

Good question! AI will make things faster and more accessible. A lot of coding especially for analysis can allow you to use AI to build code blocks and have you adjust or perfect it. However knowing the scaffolding to run processes like Docker, data pipeline tools, cloud, etc. are big differentiating skills.

[@vinodmore5658]

Appreciate your work 🤌🤌 Can u make a video explaining what are the different opportunities are there in different domains like disaster management and like that and how to get started in that field..

[@TheAdamKohl]

NGA

[@MattForrest]

Will add it to the list but a lot of it is using these generic geospatial skills and then focusing on those areas and datasets

[@KhunaisMohammad]

Great Video! Just a question, you mentioned that as an Analyst, you mostly are working with data already gathered and set up for you, so who is in charge of gathering the data in the first place, and can you land a career as that role?

[@ranger844]

That really depends on what sort of data you wish to collect. A GIS Analyst may use pre-pared forestry data, hydrology data, address points, road networks, etc. Just as a GIS Analyst can jump from industry to industry working with different industry standard spatial datasets the person who collects that data focuses on 1 industry to collect data in. So you for sure can land a role as someone who collects data if you have a passion for studying water you may become a hydrologist (they collect their data, and either process it themselves or a GIS analyst may process it depending on the team setting and goal), a forester collects data, surveyor, or a GIS technician in government coordinates with land planning/engineering department and digitizes the address points for new proposed construction, or digitizes roads which are then inturn used by a GIS analyst.

[@MattForrest]

Good questions! You definitely can and it’s generally called Data Engineering.

[@WWG1-WGA]

Thank you !

[@MattForrest]

Welcome!

[@oumardicko5593]

I'm currently a software developer but want to specialize in GIS (the programming part of course), any tips for me ? I'm currently following courses on ESRI and would go for a certificate before end of July

[@rsg7221]

Learn FME. It is the most used ETL tool within the GIS space

[@oumardicko5593]

@@rsg7221 i’ll keep it in mind, thank you

[@MattForrest]

I’m working on a course - stay tuned!

[@ifoodieTV]

Can you answer this question 🙋 please. what are the similarities between data analytics and gis?

[@MattForrest]

Data Analytics focuses on creating outcomes from data that help organizations do any number of things more efficiently. GIS focuses primarily on the collection and management of geospatial data. The key is that GIS data generally powers spatial analytics, but that data tends to be locked away in a GIS system making it harder for data analysts to actually use it.

[@ifoodieTV]

@@MattForrest hmmm. That is disappointing that GIS data cannot be used for DATA ANALYTICS.

[@MattForrest]

@@ifoodieTV It still can be! It’s getting easier to use but hasn’t always been that way :(

[@ifoodieTV]

@@MattForrest ok because my goal is to learn GIS first. Then DATA ANALYTICS. For GIS. I am using QGIS platform.

[@dannyluelee]

Oh man, you’re from Wisconsin? No way lol.

[@MattForrest]

Minneapolis is my home town but went to school at UW-Madison! 👐

[@louislegendre8714]

Man..... that's some nice hair. "Rick Astley"🤌

[@MattForrest]

Strangely enough I have heard that one before!

[@emilyau8023]

😂