For many, when thinking about the art of mapmaking, old tools like protractors or ink on worn-out paper come to mind. It can be a profession that many consider to be outdated or associated with the explorers of past generations, centuries ago.

However, with recent advancements, modern-day cartography has now meshed with geographical studies, effectively bringing it to the forefront of technology and progression. The hybrid of these two fields has revolutionized our world.

Together, cartography and GISc are able to provide a new lens into our planet, mapping its physical characteristics along with the data held within them.1

Want proof? Open up your maps app on your phone and behold!

As one of society’s first industries, advancements in agriculture don’t come all too often anymore, but when they do, they can benefit us all. Today, with the help of GISc, farmers are utilizing what’s called precision farming. This technique uses geographical data to inform farmers of how to best treat crops by analyzing an abundance of GISc-retrieved information.

Precision farming can include satellite data that delivers weather and vegetation patterns and predictions, allowing farmers to plant and prepare crops more strategically.2 With knowledge like this, farmers are able to earn more and grow better, which is good for everybody.

The job of defining the borders of varying property types has been established for decades. However, because surveying is rooted in a precise physical location, it can lend itself nicely to digital geospatial technology.

For that reason, land surveyors have found themselves at the center of geographic information science. Since GISc relies on location as the basis on which to build information, surveying and GISc are the ideal combination.

3 New Takes on Classic Careers Through Geographic Information Science

CARTOGRAPHY

AGRICULTURE

SURVEYING

kentgisc.com

1. Underwood, E. (March 2013). The New Cartographers. Retrieved on May 25, 2017, from sciencemag.org/careers/2013/03/new-cartographers3

2. GISGeography. (February 2017). Agriculture Technology: How GIS Can Help You Win the Farm. Retrieved on May 25, 2017, from gisgeography.com /farming-agriculture-technology/

3. Magnotta, J. (November 2014). Land Surveying and GIS Revisited: An Unnecessary Drama. Retrieved on May 25, 2017, from gislounge.com/ land-surveying-gis-revisited-unnecessary-drama/