One of the things we often hear from MSEM students and alums is how much they enjoy and value classes offered in the USF Geospatial Analysis Lab (GsAL) – where they are able to earn a GIS Certificate or simply hone skills applicable to a wide range of environmental management career pathways. The faculty and staff who lead the GsAL stay at the forefront of trends and tools in this rapidly evolving field, and we recently caught up on the latest when they returned from this year’s ESRI User Conference in San Diego. Professors David Saah, Paul Nesbit, and Fernanda Lopez Ornelas shared highlights and perspective.
What were three hot topics of conversation that caught your attention at this year’s ESRI conference?
- Beyond the Map with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Maps are much more than figures – they are used to gain insights, reveal patterns, and create data-driven solutions for complex issues. What was really interesting were the myriad geo-enabled apps and widgets developed by different organizations to communicate and share geographic information throughout their organization and/or publicly.
- GeoAI. This was the ‘hottest’ topic – it was a part of nearly every session, conversation, workshop, etc. Organizations are leveraging AI for data classification, modeling, and prediction, making geospatial decision-making smarter and more efficient. It is a really exciting time!
- Global Impact of GIS. There is an expanding use of GIS along with data availability (i.e., big data and real-time data) being used across various industries to solve local issues and address global challenges.
How do these topics play into things MSEM students should be thinking about as they consider bolstering their skills to prepare for a career in environmental management?
MSEM and GIS students should keep an eye on the new capabilities and apps available and associated with GIS. For example, GeoAI, or Geospatial Artificial Intelligence is one theme that was everywhere – from GIS tech support chatbots (think a customized ChatGPT trained on authoritative solutions) to Large Language Models (LLMs) for classifying geospatial data and modeling global patterns. These AI solutions are an incredible tool and are being integrated into industry, research, and our daily lives.
Students and young professionals should ensure they understand the capabilities and advancements in GIS and AI; not necessarily to understand the nuts and bolts, but to harness their capabilities to enable smarter, data-driven decisions in nearly any career.
More broadly speaking, how have career opportunities in Geospatial Analysis evolved over the past few years, and what trends do you see on the horizon?
Career opportunities in Geospatial Analysis have expanded significantly due to the increased accessibility of spatial data and advancements in technologies like big data, AI, and remote sensing. Geospatial literacy and communication are becoming increasingly important in all disciplines and at entry and senior levels.
Developing interdisciplinary skills, particularly in GIS, programming, and domain-specific knowledge, while staying informed on the new capabilities and opportunities within GIS software. Young professionals should seek practical experience through projects, internships, or certifications, and continuously update their skills to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
How does what you learn at industry conferences like this one impact course offerings in the GsAL?
Attending industry conferences helps keep us at the forefront of geospatial technology trends, ensuring that our geospatial certificate programs (internal for USF students and professional for anyone) remain cutting-edge. We’re constantly inspired by the latest developments, like GeoAI and real-time data capabilities, and we bring a lot of these advancements back to integrate into our existing curriculum and plan new courses. This approach prepares our students for the current job market and also equips them with the knowledge to leverage emerging technologies.
Following the conference, we are hard at work to offer a new GIS programming class this Fall, Python for GIS. This class will develop highly sought after job skills in programming using the Python scripting language, enabling GIS automation, enhanced big data analysis, and foundations for GeoAI. We are also excited to partner with BayGeo to host an Education Summit centered around GeoAI in early September 2024 (keep an eye out for more details!)
What advice do you have for MSEM students about attending and getting value out of industry conferences?
Industry conferences are the best place to learn first-hand about current use cases and future developments within the industry – and also provide endless opportunities to grow your professional network.
Pre-conference tip: look for the opportunities! There are many cheap (or free!) conferences for students and recent graduates and the experience is unmatched. Three of our senior/recent graduates from the undergraduate program attended the Esri User Conference through a paid ESRI internship. Talking with them at the conference, they were amazed with the widespread use of GIS and geospatial technologies across various industries. They also made connections with students and graduate students using GIS around the world and grew their professional network with prospective employers.
Events like this can be overwhelming (and exhausting!) – but it really opens your eyes to a larger world beyond the skills and content of your GIS classes. This conference showcases all the possibilities with GIS and the rapid advances that occur within the technology year-to-year.
