GIS Technology: Mapping, Data Management, and Work-Based Learning Across Industry Sectors

许多领域的工作都需要地理信息系统（GIS）技能。GIS结合了制图、空间分析和数据管理来支持研究和决策。计算机程序员或数据库管理员需要GIS专业知识来维护或编写包含地理信息的数据库。制图技术人员在创建地图和图表时应用GIS概念。地理信息系统还用于城市规划、制定营销策略、解决公共卫生问题以及进行地理研究。地理信息系统在许多领域的应用为学生提供了新的就业选择。尽管有这些就业需求，但在2012-2015年间，加州中南部海岸地区仅颁发了4个GIS证书，全部由距离Cuesta学院所在的圣路易斯奥比斯波200英里的一所社区学院颁发。由于Cuesta学院所服务的地区目前没有足够的地理信息系统培训，该项目旨在满足多个行业对地理信息系统（GIS）技术人员的高需求。该项目在Cuesta学院（一个为西班牙裔服务的机构）设立GIS分析员证书。活动包括外展活动，以及基于项目和基于工作的学习，旨在激励更多的学生参加专门的GIS课程。这一增加的入学人数预计将增加获得地理信息系统分析师证书的学生人数，特别是西班牙裔学生。该证书将成为地球与海洋科学项目的一部分，但可能会吸引那些寻求在其他学位（如工程或计算机信息系统）上增加GIS技能的学生。通过与在这些领域和其他领域使用地理信息系统有关的研讨会，该项目旨在吸引来自不同领域的教师参与地理信息系统项目。地理信息系统分析师证书也有望吸引那些需要学习地理信息系统技能以提升其职业生涯或在新工作中具有竞争力的工人。地理信息系统分析师证书要求增加三门新课程，这些课程将基于地理技术中心在国家科学基金会的资助下开发的模型。地区雇主将为课程的发展做出贡献，并为学生提供工作经验。参加地理信息系统课程的学生将有机会参加环境系统研究所用户会议，获得行业认可的证书，并在当地的地理信息系统活动中展示他们的项目。到2021年6月，该项目的目标是招收40名学生参加GIS课程和项目，其中10名或更多的学生将获得GIS分析师证书。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Geographic Information System (GIS) skills are needed for jobs in many fields. GIS combines cartography, spatial analysis, and data management to support research and inform decision-making. Computer programmers or database administrators need GIS expertise to maintain or program databases containing geographic information. Mapping technicians apply GIS concepts when creating maps and charts. GIS is also used in city planning, developing marketing strategies, addressing public health concerns, and conducting geographic research. The use of GIS in many fields opens new employment options for students. Despite these employment needs, only four GIS certificates were awarded in the South-Central Coast Region of California between 2012-2015, all by a single community college that is 200 miles from San Luis Obispo, where Cuesta College is located. Since adequate GIS training is not currently available in the region served by Cuesta College, this project aims to meet the high-demand workforce needs across multiple industry sectors for Geographic Information System (GIS) Technicians.This project establishes a GIS Analyst certificate at Cuesta College, a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Activities include outreach, and project-based and work-based learning designed to motivate more students to enroll in specialized GIS courses. This increased enrollment is expected to increase the number of students, particularly Hispanic students, who earn a GIS Analyst certificate. The certificate will be part of the Earth and Ocean Science program but may appeal to students who seek to add GIS skills to other degrees, such as engineering or computer information systems. Through seminars related to use of GIS in these and other fields, the project aims to engage faculty from different fields in the GIS project. The GIS Analyst certificate is also expected to appeal to workers who need to learn GIS skills to advance in their careers or to become competitive for a new job. The GIS Analyst certificate requires the addition of three new courses, which will be based on models developed by the GeoTech Center with funding from the National Science Foundation. Regional employers will contribute to the development of the curriculum and provide work experiences for students. Students enrolled in GIS courses will have the opportunity to attend the Environmental Systems Research Institute Users Conference, earn industry-recognized credentials, and display their projects at a local GIS event. By June 2021, the project aims to enroll forty students in GIS courses and projects that ten or more students will earn the GIS Analyst certificate.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.