Transportation Geographic Information Systems Technician - Kanawha County

Nature of Work

The Transportation GIS Technician in this position will report to the Geospatial Technology Section of the Information Technology Division in Kanawha County. The selected employee primarily performs in-office tasks leveraging the Esri ArcGIS Platform to maintain West Virginia’s geospatial infrastructure data. In this role you may conduct field visits to collect accurate GPS data on roadway assets or may perform routine GIS administration to keep databases organized and secure. Work may include creating simple, functional maps and web applications that help engineers and the public visualize project data. By resolving spatial errors and updating records, you ensure the state’s transportation network is accurately represented for critical planning and reporting. Performs related work as required.

Pay Grade: 13

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs mid-level GIS operations including manual data entry (e.g., digitizing, scanning, keyboard entry, etc.)
• Plot and map production, low-level GIS analysis, generating reports, and answering information requests
• Assists with GIS hardware and software operations such as system setup and updates, installation and testing, networking and peripheral device connectivity
• Assists in investigating, evaluating and recommending new data sources, software, equipment and techniques for improving geospatial analysis and services
• Assists in developing and following GIS database standards for content, format, design, maintenance and quality assurance procedures
• Creates maps using customized GIS applications and manipulates data from a variety of databases
• Maintains records, databases, and other spreadsheets in order to provide work logs and metadata for in- house datasets
• Performs activities such as digitizing, attributing spatial and tabular data, customer/interdepartmental support including manipulation of raster and vector data, GIS map creation to meet required standards, graphic and design work utilizing ESRI
• Attends trainings and applies new techniques as they are implemented within the agency
• The personal contacts are with individuals or groups from outside the employing agency in a moderately unstructured setting
• Established rules, regulations, and procedures will be used to solve a variety of routine problems and answer a variety of standard questions. The work product or service affects the design or operation of systems, programs, or equipment
• Travel may be required; therefore, a valid driver’s license is required

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of standardized operations, policies, and guidelines that are used to solve routine and repetitive issues
• Skill obtained through training and expertise in the use of motorized equipment, sometimes large and varied in nature for purposes of testing or maintenance standardized in nature
• Knowledge of basic automated mapping and geospatial processing methods, techniques and capabilities
• Knowledge of basic GIS database structures and geographic data sources
• Knowledge of basic cartographic principles and practices pertaining to map symbols, line work, colors and patterns, thematic content, etc.
• Knowledge of basic map scales, projections and coordinate systems
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and peripherals such as a digitizing cursor
• Ability to gather and interpret basic geographic information from various data sources such as maps, graphs, charts, planimetric drawings, survey data, aerial photography and satellite imagery
• Ability to use basic automated methods and techniques for geospatial data input, processing and analysis
• Ability to understand basic geospatial technical concepts and terminology and to convey this information to supervisors, other employees, administrators and public officials
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment under minimal supervision

Minimum Requirements

REQUIRED TRAINING/EDUCATION

• Associate’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major in geography, cartography, geology, natural or earth sciences, environmental sciences, landscape architecture, urban planning, land surveying, environmental engineering, computer science, or a related field with six (6) semester hours in computer science, computer mapping, or computer aided drafting and design (CADD) or GIS.

• Two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in computer mapping or GIS related activities, including digital map analysis, map display and digitizing procedure, and automated mapping or CADD drawing production.
• Substitution: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the above fields, with six (6) semester hours in computer science, computer mapping, or computer aided drafting and design (CADD) or GIS may be substituted for the required training and experience.