Feb 19 Geography alumni panel

[Richard Roth]

Below (and attached) is a summary of a particularly detailed and useful
career information panel on the use of GIS in the City of Seattle, and
related possible future hiring patterns. The three panelists are all
departmental alumni:
__________________________________________________________

Feb. 19, 2002

Harvey Arnone, Sr. GIS Analyst, Supervisor of GIS Applications and
Productivity Tools
Seattle Public Utilities, Information Technology Division

Tom Nolan, City GIS Director, Deputy IT Directior
Seattle Public Utilities, Information Technology Division

TJ Moore, GIS Specialist
City of Seattle Strategic Planning Office

Tom Nolan began with a brief overview of the history of GIS in the City of
Seattle.  Starting in the late '70s, GIS was used for simple applications
such as address systems, geocoding, billing and address matching with
census information. In the '80s, more value was seen in GIS as it began to
meet digital data needs and was used for data conversion--as many as 50
people at one time were employed in the sewage drainage mapping project,
for example. More recent trends include data development (not just data
conversion), with links to hydraulic modeling, and was done by GIS
analysts and GIS programmers. This data development helped prove the worth
of the GIS investment as more and more sophisticated queries lead to more
complex data analysis.

The late '90s have seen a  switch to web delivery, both in terms of
internet applications and, more significantly, in-house intranet
applications throughout the City. Integrating data conversion with other
applications across departments, through various interfaces, is crucial.
In this way, such city-wide needs as security, public utility management,
supervisory control, and data operation can all be integrated using GIS
tools. Typical analyses include economic and financial analysis;
infrastructure management; public safety and crime analysis; urban and
transportation planning; demographic analysis; and comprehensive planning
and growth monitoring. 3D GIS (3D Analyst) is being used to explore view
protection issues, as well as building development scenarios for proposed
height and density increases in the Commercial Core and Denny Triangle
areas of downtown.  Network Analyst and Spatial Analyst are used for
project management in these areas. Thus GIS has moved into the big systems
IT realm, with address as a key functionality.

Arc 8.1 geodatabase modeling is the emerging data model command line
interfaces have been replaced (over a 4-year period) by windows-based
looks. The key now is building small applications, productivity tools, and
customized Arc/View interfaces. Databases have also been redesigned using
Visio Casetool, embedding code into databases and building in relational
data.

There has also been work on various web-based tools for delivery of
georeferenced information.  (In a 2000 residential survey performed by the
Department of Information Technology that asked a question about interests
in new content on the City's web site, maps and geographic information was
the most requested item - 84 % of respondents who visited
www.cityofseattle.net.)  A number of Web sites highlight distributed
access to georeferenced information, including:  the Real Property Finder,
GISWEB, and the Seattle Planning Information and Data Resources (SPIDR)
Web site.  Interactivity is delivered with ArcIMS software or other
technologies.  For example, the SPIDR TractMapper application uses
extensible markup language (XML) and dynamic HTML (JavaScript) to deliver
interactive choropleth mapping and exploratory data analysis of Census
data along with other city information.

The City currently has over 40 people in various GIS roles. Central Geographic Data
Base is file-based with ArcInfo coverages and shapefiles, but the city is
beginning to move to a RDBMS approach to storing geographic data ala the
geodatabase..currently attribute data are sometimes stored in Access or
Oracle databases). This data is used to create custom maps ("maps for your
apps"--for internal and external customers), data editing (and on-line
interactive modeling), data maintenance, customized data analysis,  etc.
Students seeking these kind of positions should develop such skills as::
GIS analysis; any engineering skills you can pick up (because GIS analysts
work a lot with engineers), courses in public affairs, urban planning,
quantitative skills and census geography. . A blend of CAD and GIS skills
is an especially attractive package. Any programming language (web-based
probably being increasingly crucial) is OK--people aren't hired for their
skill in a particular programming language, but, rather, for their proven
ability to become skilled at whatever they have been exposed to and are
familiar with.

Writing and speaking skills are critical in helping to identify customer
needs. (Customers are quite varied: I would say that most depts./offices
around the City have used GIS services/support..the City Attorney; the
Mayor's Office; the City Council; Dept. of Neighborhoods; Seattle Public
Library; Seattle Housing Authority; Seattle Public utilities; consultants;
contractors, developers, university professors, architects, environmental
consultants, engineers, layers, surveyors, etc.) Writing skills are also
crucial in the key project management roles.

Other, "softer" but crucial skills include: troubleshooting,
team-building, empathy & motivational; listening and caring; knowing how
to persuade people without alienating them or seeming arrogant, knowing
how to compromise, coping, creativity, flexibility, patience &
persistence, and being able to plan and prioritize.

In terms of finding opportunities and gaining experience in the job
market, networking, internships, and volunteer work can be helpful.  In
addition to for-profit and government organizations, the non-profit sector
can be a source of  job opportunities.  In addition to an attractive and
effective resume and a targeted cover letter, a portfolio of selected work
can be helpful when interviewing with potential employers.


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Richard Roth
Assistant to the Chair				voice: 206.543.3246
Department of Geography				fax:   206.543.3313
University of Washington		        Smith Hall, Room 415-B
Box 353550
Seattle, WA  98195
			http://staff.washington.edu/rroth


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