Program Description - Pellissippi State Community College

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GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
Program Description: The Geographic Information Technology program
offers students opportunities to develop skills useful to engineering, business,
science and industry. The technician that completes this program gains competence
to work in a variety of applications in this growing field. Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) are designed to assist engineering and business decision
making by using data that is spatially referenced to the Earth. Modern computer
software and related technology make it possible to use this spatial data to solve
complex planning and management problems. Students learn to understand various
kinds of spatial data, computer tools and data quality considerations that are important
to effectively use this technology in making good decisions.
Business Concentration: Provides a course of study for individuals who wish to
work as specialists in business, emergency management, logistics, public safety,
economic development, site selection and marketing.
Technology Concentration: Provides a course of study for individuals who wish to
work as specialists in engineering, surveying, land management, planning and
facility management.
Degree: Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Typical Job Opportunities:
Engineering and Surveying GIS Specialist: Uses GIS technology to manage survey
and engineering data in a geographic database from project planning, through construction,
project completion, archiving and revision.
Facility Management GIS Specialist: Designs and implements systems and procedures
to combine archived and revised engineering drawings, photographs and
other facility data in a geographic database to manage large industrial and service
facilities to assure eff i c i e n c y, control and compliance.
Land Management GIS Specialist: Uses GIS technology to obtain data about land
and water resources and uses this data and GIS tools to make day to day and strategic
decisions in managing these resources.
County and City Government GIS Specialist: Uses GIS technology to create and
manage parcel, deed and property tax databases used in association with other planning,
zoning, road, and utility data to assist in managing public facilities.
Site Selection GIS Specialist: Designs and implements procedures to utilize demographic
and site comparison data in spatial analysis to make decisions to purchase,
develop or sell real estate properties.
Logistics GIS Specialist: Designs and implements procedures to monitor transportation
assets and optimize routes to increase efficiency and lower costs of transp
o r t a t i o n .
Demographic A n a l y s t :Specializes in the understanding and use of spatial information
about people, their characteristics and preferences. These data are used in businesses
to respond to customers through alternative store locations, product mix, and
special marketing eff o r t s .
Public Safety GIS Specialist: Specializes in developing and implementing spatial
databases to use in crime and accident analysis, traffic control, emergency response,
and disaster planning.