Geographical information systems (GIS) Officer
Use GIS systems to combine different data types onto one map to help gather information or highlight patterns.
Also known as: mapping technician, GIS technician, GIS location analyst, GIS data specialist
About the job
What it's like
A geographic information system (GIS) is designed to capture, store, analyse and present a range of complex geographical data. It’s like a modern version of a map but with the ability to show ever-changing information such as floods, fires or the expected route of a hurricane.
As a GIS officer you’d use these systems to collect data and use it to help make long term plans. This could be anything from assisting with disaster responses by assessing the number of people affected in a particular area to assessing the environmental impact of building and planning applications.
The data you’d use could come in various formats including cartographic (maps), photographic or digital images from things like satellites. You would have to use GIS technology to combine all these data types onto one map and use this to gather information or highlight patterns.
You could work in government, commerce and industry and help make decisions about long-term planning and development.
Things you might do:
capture the location of things such as bridges, street lights, road barriers and flood defences using a range of Global Positioning System (GPS) tools
prepare graphic representations of data in the form of maps, graphs or tables, using GIS hardware or software applications
maintain and update existing GIS databases
be able to use various methods of analysis, data manipulation and cartography software
use tools to join different types of GIS data and create new information in order to investigate patterns
work with clients to find out what information they need and how best to get it
Hours
You would normally work 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, although you may have to work some longer hours or weekends depending on workload and client needs. If you're involved in field work it may involve long and irregular hours.
Environment
The role might involve field work to collect data so you should be prepared to spend some of your time outdoors.
Travel
You might have to travel to carry out field work.
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Energy Digital technologies Creative Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- geographic information systems
- arcgis (gis software)
- quantum gis (qgis)
- spatial data infrastructures
- spatial analysis
- database programming
- geospatial mapping
- geospatial databases
- vector database
- data cleansing
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- analysing
- attention to detail
- observation
- designing
- written communication
- working with technology
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Computing Science
Geography
Foundation Apprenticeship: Software Development
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you’ll need.
This job requires ability and experience with computer systems, data analysis/application and maths. Most employers will ask for degree-level qualifications or above.
GIS Officers will often have a degree in:
Environmental science
Geographical information systems
Urban planning
Geography
Surveying
Computer science
Maths/statistics
Software engineering
There are postgraduate qualifications available in relevant subjects, such as GIS or remote sensing. For entry into one of these courses you’d normally be expected to have a degree in a relevant subject such as geography, earth or environmental science, computing science, mathematics or civil engineering, but other subjects might be considered.
Not all employers list specific qualification requirements but they might ask for relevant experience, usually work based, that demonstrates a range of transferable skills.
Classes that build spatial awareness and visual skills such as art and design or involving 3D modelling may help when producing user-friendly maps.
It’s also helpful to have programming skills, experience of desktop publishing software, knowledge of analytics software such as ArcGIS and database software such as Microsoft Access.
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