Geospatial Specialist
What the work is
Acquires, integrates, analyses, interprets, presents, manages and distributes information about locations in time and space, and develops related equipment, software and services.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Gathers geospatial data through satellite imagery, aerial photography, GPS, surveys and other sources
- Cleans, organises and formats geospatial data for analysis
- Uses geospatial technology such as GIS to analyse spatial data to describe and infer trends and patterns, solve problems and answer spatial data-related queries
- Communicates findings and insights from geospatial data using reports, dashboards and interactive maps to technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Develops and maintains databases and information systems for geospatial data management
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a surveying team working in paddocks, streets and construction sites. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- Your measurements close perfectly and the new building sits exactly where it was drawn
- A long boundary mystery is solved by an old map and a rusty marker in the grass
- A map you built helps a team make a decision that is obviously better
Hard days
- Standing in the sun or wind for hours while the equipment needs one more check
- Two neighbours disagree about a boundary, and you are the one holding the evidence
- A small error found late that means redoing days of work
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 241233, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.