Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
Career Overview
Technical occupations in geomatics include aerial survey, remote sensing, geographic information systems, cartographic and photogrammetric technologists and technicians:
These workers:
- Gather, analyze, interpret and use geospatial information for applications in natural resources, geology, environmental research and land use planning
- Work for all levels of government, utilities, mapping, computer software, forestry, architectural, engineering and consulting firms and other related establishments
Meteorological technologists and technicians:
- Observe weather and atmospheric conditions
- Record, interpret, transmit and report on meteorological data
- Provide weather information to the agricultural, natural resources and transportation industries and the public
- Work for all levels of government, the media, natural resources, utilities and transportation companies and consulting firms
Job Titles
Duties
Cartographic technologists and technicians:
- Plan map content, format and design, and compile required data from aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports and other maps
- Create maps and related graphs and charts using digital mapping techniques, computer interactive graphics, computer assisted design and drafting (CAD) software, traditional drafting methods and computer or traditional scribing tools
- Check final designs to ensure completeness and accuracy
Photogrammetric technologists and technicians:
- Examine and interpret aerial photographs to prepare topographic maps, aerial-photograph mosaics and related charts
- Operate digitized stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment to provide three-dimensional models of terrain, to trace maps, and to prepare charts and tables
- Monitor recording quality and adjust equipment as required and inspect quality of recorded images
Aerial survey technologists and technicians:
- Operate airborne remote sensing equipment, such as survey film or digital cameras, laser or radar sensors, and scanners which produce images of the earth, coastline or atmosphere
- Monitor recording quality, adjust equipment as required, verify the integrity and accuracy of data contained in remote sensing image analysis systems and inspect quality of recorded images
Geographic information systems (GIS) technologists and technicians:
- Operate specialized computer hardware, computer software and peripheral equipment to model, manage, analyze and display geospatial data
- Develop specialized computer software routines, Internet based GIS and database and business applications to customize geographic information
- Work with outside organizations on data transfer and systems compatibility issues
- Perform data entry, editing activities and maintenance operations to systems following pre-determined calibration procedures
- Combine external software such as spreadsheets and statistical packages with GIS software
- Train and provide technical support for GIS users
Meteorological technologists and technicians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Observe, record and transmit atmospheric and weather information including air pressure, temperature, humidity, precipitation and cloud, wind and ultraviolet conditions
- Observe, chart and report on ice conditions in navigable waters and snow conditions, and participate in programs to forecast and control avalanches in mountainous terrain
- Maintain climatological databases, analyze and interpret weather data and participate in the production of weather maps, charts and reports
- Install, inspect, monitor, calibrate and maintain meteorological equipment and instruments
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,740% Employed Full Time
73%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.
Career Pathways
Mobility is possible between some occupations in this group.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is required
- Geomatics technologists require completion of a two- to three-year college program in cartography, photogrammetry, aerial survey, remote sensing, geographic information system or geomatics
- Geomatics technicians require completion of a one- to two-year college program in cartography, photogrammetry, aerial survey, remote sensing, geographic information system or geomatics
- In Quebec, membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists is required to use the title ''Professional Technologist''
- Meteorological technicians require completion of a one-year meteorological technician program provided by the Meteorological Service of Canada
- Further specialized training is available for meteorological technicians, and may be required by some employers
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,740Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 115 | 6.6% |
| Kootenay | 135 | 7.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 735 | 42.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 85 | 4.9% |
| Northeast | 55 | 3.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 210 | 12.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 400 | 23.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
830Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 50 | 0.2% |
| Kootenay | 70 | 0.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 350 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | -1.1% |
| Northeast | 30 | 1.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 110 | 1.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 210 | 1.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 430 |
| Public Administration | 240 |
| Forestry, Logging and Support Activities | 30 |
| Utilities | 20 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 20 |
Resources
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Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors – Employment Opportunitieswww.abcls.ca/?page_id=31
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Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors – Employment Opportunitieswww.abcls.ca/?page_id=31
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Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG)www.cag-acg.ca
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Canadian Cartographic Association (CCA)cca-acc.org
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Canadian Institute of Geomatics – Careerswww.cig-acsg.ca/careers
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Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG)www.cig-acsg.ca
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Canadian Institute of Geomatics, British Columbia Branchwww.cig-acsg.ca/British-Columbia
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North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS)nacis.org
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Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), B.C. Chapterwww.urisabc.org