Mapping out History
Find out how surveyors mapped the second longest canal tunnel in the UK! The Dudley Tunnel is the second longest canal tunnel on the UK...
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FOR STUDENTS
Are you a KS4 or KS5 student who enjoys geography, maps, being outdoors or thinking about using technology to understand data?
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Do you want to support and influence decisions on the management and future of our environment, urban areas and climate policies?
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Use our free resources and activities to help you obtain and enhance your geospatial and data skills. Explore our Careers page to see the range of jobs available within the Geospatial sector, and discover where you can study Geospatial further.
What does geospatial mean?
The word 'geospatial' is made up of two parts:
geo
the Earth
spatial
size, shape, and position
geospatial
the size, shape or position of something on the Earth's surface
Geospatial experts use 'geospatial' or location data to measure, map or model things on the Earth’s surface which include:
Climate change
Geospatial experts measure the size, volume and speed of glaciers and monitor their change over time using historic maps or imagery. This allows us to analyse the rate of melt and sea level rise predictions for the future and the impacts on the planet.
Why are geospatial skills useful?
Learning how to use GIS gives you transferrable skills which you can apply to a wide variety of jobs within the geospatial sector or any jobs which use location data, such as retail or marketing.
Manipulating data to create graphic representations or visualisations of data in the form of maps, graphs or tables, is useful for any job which requires presentations or report writing.
Organisation factors heavily in a GIS professional’s workload as they often are in charge of maintaining a ‘geographical library,’ in which maps are stored and then prepared as resources for reports, converted into different formats or transferred as data between systems.
Analysing datasets has become an important skill in a number of industries because professionals with an understanding of spatial analysis can apply mapping technologies to bring a greater meaning to data.
GIS professionals are more aware of the importance of using reliable data sources due to issues regarding accuracy, precision and resolution.
Because they work at the intersection of data analysis, programming and cartography, GIS professionals are detail-oriented and good at solving problems as they join datasets together to create new information or to spot patterns.
Creativity plays an important role as well. Internet apps and tools are developed by GIS experts for use on websites, to design digital maps, uncover patterns and trends, and digitise paper maps into user-friendly data sets that yield new information.
Proficiency in programming languages, such as HTML, R and Python, can be used in a variety of GIS or IT-related jobs, such as web or game development.
Once you understand basic GIS concepts such as projections, topography and databases, you are able to use these skills in any GIS software as these tools are only the interface for the manipulation and presentation of data.
Working on GIS projects allows you to develop soft skills, such as communications, critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork abilities, which combined with technical proficiency, produces a well-rounded candidate.
Transferrable Skills
How can I use geospatial data?
Location data already has a significant impact on our lives. It tells us where our nearest coffee shop is, allows us to asses the weather before making plans, check for travel disruptions, tracking deliveries and even shows us how well and where you or your friends are exercising.
If you are a student in the UK, studying Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Physics, IT – or any other related subject – and you have an interest in solving real-world problems using digital technologies, then the geospatial sector could be an exciting option for you!
What we do
We created this website to help students find out more about the sector, including what skills they could learn and what jobs they could get! Click on each of the categories below to find out more.
Resources
Use any of our free resources or activities to improve your geospatial skills
Careers
Discover a huge range of exciting geospatial careers and the various routes to get there
Pathways
Explore the main pathways into the industry to help you figure out what's right for you.
GIS is the nervous system for the planet.
Jack Dangermond
Co-Founder of Esri
Opportunities
Digital Twin Design Challenge
Reimagine a real-world location using Minecraft!
Digital twin technology is set to be the next powerful tool for future engineers, and this contest is your opportunity to use it in a fun and creative way.
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Your design could with USD $5,000!
Entries are open until 31 March 2022.
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