gis professional certification 2.0: putting gis to the test€¦ · development (or equivalent)...

GIS Professional Certification 2.0:

Putting GIS to the Test Prepared by Nancy Obermeyer, Rebecca Somers, Bill Hodge

Presented By: Nancy J. Obermeyer, GISP

ILGISA Date: October 17, 2016

Nancy Obermeyer BA, MPA, Indiana University

MA in Geography, University of Cincinnati PhD in Geography, University of Chicago

NCGIA-Maine 1988-1990

Worked in Illinois: IL State Office of Planning, Dept of Energy

& Natural Resources; PACE; and Illinois Dept of Transportation, Public Transit Division

Visiting Professor at UIC – CUPPA (2000-2001)

Professor of Geography, Indiana State University since 1990

GISP 2.0: Putting GIS to the Test

Presentation Outline

The GISP: A brief history

GISP 1.0: Portfolio requirements

GISP 2.0: The exam

Practice questions

The GISP: A Brief History

• 1991 AAG Panel: “Is GIS a new (academic) discipline?”

– Bob Aangeenbrug (organizer), Mike Goodchild, Derek Gregory, David Cowen, Robert Sack

– General consensus: GIS does not stand alone as a discipline


• My take (and my 1992 AAG presentation)

– “… while GIS does not qualify as a discipline, it does possess the characteristics of a profession.”*

– Suggested that GIS community explore creation of a new professional organization

– Suggested certification process**

*N. Obermeyer 1994. “GIS: A New Profession?” The Professional Geographer, 46(4) pp. 498-503.

** N. Obermeyer 1993 “Certifying GIS Professionals: Challenges and Alternatives,” Journal of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (5:1),pp. 67-76.

The GISP: A Brief History • Characteristics of a profession

– Based on Max Weber*, D.L. Pugh**

• Unique body of knowledge (expertise)

• Rising professional organization (AAG, GIS/LIS,URISA, ACSM, AM/FM International, ASPRS)

• Shared language (GIS, raster, vector, DLG) – jargon?

• Professional Culture and Lore (recent passing of Roger Tomlinson, for example)

• Code of Ethics

*M. Weber. 1946. From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology (translated by H.H. Gerth & C.W Mills). New York: Oxford University Press.

**D.L. Pugh. 1989. “Professionalism in Public Administration: Problems, perspectives, and the role of ASPA,” Public Administration Review 49:1-8.


• Growing interest—pros and cons of GIS certification*

– Bob Aangeenbrug, Mike Goodchild, Bill Huxhold, Karen Kemp, Rebecca Somers, Lyna Wiggins, David DiBiase, Nancy Obermeyer, others

• GIS as a professional identity

• Certification for protection of the public * e.g.; Rebecca Somers, 2000, "Defining the GIS Profession, and Debating Certification and Regulation, in Geo Info Systems, May 2000, pp. 22-29. http://www.spectroscopyonline.com/spectroscopy/data/articlestandard/geospatialsolutions/362002/30439/article.pdf

http://www.spectroscopyonline.com/spectroscopy/data/articlestandard/geospatialsolutions/362002/30439/article.pdf




• New motivation

– Move by licensed surveyors to pass laws to require surveying licensure for GIS professionals working with public data (North Carolina, for example) in mid-to-late 1990s


• 1997 URISA BoD created certification committee – Chairs: Nancy Obermeyer (1998-2001); Bill Huxhold,

(2001-2003)

– Members from public organizations, industry, academia • Bob Angeenbrug, Heather Annulis, Bob Barr, William Bowdy,

Judy Boyd, Al Butler, Tim Case, Roger Chamard, Will Craig, David DiBiase, Peirce Eichelberger, Joe Ferreira, Keith Fournier, Steven French, Cindy Gaudet, Josh Greenfield, Ann Johnson, Karen Kemp, Jury Konga, Joel Morrison, Sherman Payne, Michael Renslow, Warren Roberts, Mark Salling, Joe Sewash, Rebecca Somers, Curt Sumner, Geney Terry, Eugene Turner, Barry Waite, Lynda Wayne, Suzanne Wechsler, Elaine Whitehead, Lyna Wiggins, Thomas Wikle


• GISCI became a reality in 2004

– GIS Professionals are more than just casual users

– Defines and qualifies the profession to protect its stakeholders from people who claim to have expertise but do not actually have this knowledge

• Original GISCI board members: Linda Wayne (Pres.); Peirce Eichelberger, Nancy Obermeyer, Bill Huxhold, Karen Kemp, Doug Richardson, Cy Smith, Tom Tribble, Lyna Wiggins

• Membership in GISCI based on organizations with GIS expertise and interests

Member Organizations

/

http://www.nsgic.org/index.cfm

Board Members

One of the strengths of GISCI has been the strong and diversified Board representation over the years!

Our current Board makeup reflects that same passion, experience, and service.

Board Members

Martin Roche GISP

GeoPlanning Services LLC

URISA Representative

Allen Ibaugh GISP

Data Transfer Solutions

URISA Representative

Board Members

Tony Simental GISP

W VA Office of GIS Coordination

NSGIC Representative

Steve Sharp GISP PMP

Dir Enterprise GIS, State of Vermont

NSGIC Representative

http://www.nsgic.org/index.cfm

Board Members

Jeff Hamerlinck GISP Secretary

WY Geographic Information Science Center

UCGIS Representative

Dr. Helmut Kraenzle

James Madison University

UCGIS Representative

Board Members

John Kelmelis, PhD.

AAG

AAG Representative

Michael S. Scott, Ph.D. GISP

Salisbury University

AAG Representative

/

Board Members

Becky Shumate GISP Vice President

PennWell Publishing

GITA Representative

Terry Strahan

GITA Representative

Board Members

William (Bill) Coleman RPLS GISP

Coleman & Associates Land Surveying

GLIS Representative

Richard Smith, Ph.D

Texas A&M – Corpus Christi

GLIS Representative

The GISP: To test or not to test?

• To test or not to test?

– UCGIS Core Curriculum and Body of Knowledge under construction in 2004

– Multiple groups championing GIS

– GIS evolving at a rapid pace

• Portfolio review seen as a good starting point, given the active evolution of the GIS&T Body of Knowledge at that time

Portfolio Requirements

• Educational attainment

– Bachelor’s degree with some GIS courses(or equivalent)

• Professional experience

– Four years in GIS application or data development (or equivalent)

• Contributions to Profession

– Annual membership and modest participation in a GIS professional association (or equivalent)

Minimum Category Points

Educational Achievement 30 points

Professional Experience 60 points

Contributions to the Profession 8 points

Additional (Flex) Points in any of the three Categories:

52 points

Total = 150 points

Flex points allows one to make up for a lack in one category with an excess in another

Additional Requirements • Code of Ethics & Rules of Conduct

• Obligations to …

• Society

• Employers and Funders

• Colleagues and the Profession

• Individuals in Society


• Pilot Group Certified: October 2003 – Georgia GIS (mostly)

• First Group Certified after Pilot: January 2004

• Nearly 6,000 GISPs as of November 6, 2014

ACTIVE GISPs: CERTIFICATION HISTORY

2016 – 8,000 +

2015 – 7,000+

2014 – 5,900

2012 – 5,159

2011 - 4,946

2010 - 4,729

2009 - 4,526

2008 – 3,224

2007 - 1,920

2006 - 1,375

2005 - 974

2004 - 552

2003 - PILOT 29

GISP Current Process

Initial GISP: Portfolio Requirement + Exam • Ethics Statement • 4 Years Min Geospatial Experience • Portfolio Application

• Education, Experience, Contributions • GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam Required


Initial GISP Cost: • Application Fee - $ 100 • Portfolio Review Fee - $ 100 • Exam Fee - $ 250 • Exam Fee - $ 300 International • 3 Year Certification Period


Recertification: Portfolio Requirement • Education & Contributions Required • Experience • Exam Not Required for Recertification • Online Application • 3 Year Recertification Period

Recertification Process


Recertification Cost: • Annual Maintenance Fee - $ 95/year or • $ 285 as one payment • No Exam Required • 3 Year Certification Period • Recertification Application Online

The Exam: Background

• Why now?

– GIS Body of Knowledge has evolved and become more stable

– Strengthen the validity of the GISP certification


• Purpose

– To strengthen the GISP certification and advance the GIS Profession

– Bring GISP up to professional certification standards so that the GISP will be accreditable by organizations such as the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

– http://www.credentialingexcellence.org/ncca

– http://www.ansi.org/

http://www.credentialingexcellence.org/ncca

http://www.ansi.org/

Development of Exam

• Follows professional certification standards

• Based on Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) of the U.S. Department of Labor

– Fourth tier: Industry-wide technical competencies

– http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/competency-models/geospatial-technology.aspx

http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/competency-models/geospatial-technology.aspx






Development of Exam

Exam Creation History Aug 2012 - GISCI Board Selects Exam Development Project Mgr Nov 2015 - Inaugural Exam Deployment Summer 2016 - Exam Testing Window Fall 2016 - Exam Testing Window

Exam Creation

• Written by GISPs for GISP

• Composed at a 4 Year Experience Level

• Centered on Applied Knowledge

Exam Creation Considerations

MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS

• The Exam is required in addition to the Portfolio Process • Implementation took place November 2015 • Two Exam offerings scheduled for 2016 • All GISPs are considered equal • No Exam required for renewal • Students can test at the time they graduate or before


• The portfolio review will remain

– GISPs must still pass the portfolio review

• The exam added this year (2016)

– GISPs will be required to pass the certification exam

– “pass/fail”

Exam Creation Process

EXAM BLUEPRINT: Exam Components

Knowledge Category Conceptual Foundations 12% Cartography & Visualization 14 % GIS Design Aspects & Data Modeling 29% GIS Analytical Methods 17% Data Manipulation 15% Geospatial Data 13%

Exam to be offered every 6 months

GIS&T Body of Knowledge

US DOL; http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/pyramid.aspx?GEO=Y

Development of Exam

• Steps in exam development

– Validity study--Job analysis

– Exam Blueprint Development

– Item (Question) Writing (finished)

– Exam Construction

– Pilot Exam

– Standard Setting

Development of Exam

• Job analysis (September - November 2013)

– Involved input from hundreds of GIS Professional job incumbents from full range of GIS jobs and sectors

– Identify core technical tasks and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for GIS Professional jobs

– Tasks and KSAs are linked together

– Tasks and KSAs ranked via an extensive survey

– Consideration of GIS&T Body of Knowledge included

Development of Exam

• Exam Blueprint Development (Nov-Dec 2013)

– Derived from the Job Analysis results

– Lays out content of exam

– Indicates task-related knowledge areas that will be included on the exam and the extent to which they are covered

Future Direction

• Exam Maintenance & Updating • GISP Certification Specializations • International Growth • Benefit to Member Organizations • Increased participation - 20,000 GISPs by

2024?

Exam Creation Process

EXAM BLUEPRINT: Exam Components

• Knowledge Category Weight

• Conceptual Foundations 12%

• Cartography & Visualization 14%

• GIS Design Aspects & Data Modeling 29%

• GIS Analytical Methods 17%

• Data Manipulation 15%

• Geospatial Data 13%

Exam Components Knowledge Category: Conceptual Foundations (12%) Knowledge of….

• Spatial relationships that are relevant to geospatial data analysis (e.g., distance, direction, topology)

• Standard standard spatial data models – Vector, raster, object-oriented models

• Understanding conceptual foundations on which GIS is based

– Imprecision, uncertainty, representing change over time

• Knowledge of Earth geometry – Geoids, ellipsoids, spheres

• Knowledge of georeferencing systems – Coordinate systems, spatial projections, horizontal and

vertical datums

Exam Components Knowledge Category: Cartography & Visualization (14%) Knowledge of…

• Contour mapping • Basic physical geography

– Types of boundaries, continents, landforms, topography

• How data collection methods influence map design & representation

• Principles of map design – Symbolization, color use, typography in print & digital formats

• Graphic representation techniques – Thematic mapping, multivariate displays, web mapping

• Understand how data classification and/or symbolization techniques affects the message of thematic map

Exam Components Knowledge Category: GIS Design Aspects & Data Modeling (29%) Knowledge of….

• Data exchange procedures • Security restrictions on data • Database administration • Systems architecture & design • Enterprise environment • Schemas and domains and how they interact • Digital file management • Database design

continued on next slide . . . . .

Exam Components Continued from previous slide . . . . . Knowledge Category: GIS Design Aspects & Data Modeling (29%) Knowledge of….

• Database general structure (tables and data) • Geospatial data structure (topology rules) • Understand desktop, server, enterprise, hosted

applications – Benefits AND shortcomings

• Working knowledge of GIS hardware & software capabilities

– Application servers, data servers, storage devices, workstations

• Data models, including vector, raster, grid, TIN, topological, hierarchical, network, and object-oriented

Exam Component

Knowledge Category: GIS Analytical Methods (17%) Knowledge of….

• Overlay analysis • Planar geometry (points, lines, polygons) to needed to

convert real world examples into spatial features • Algebra (deriving values from a basic formula) • Statistics (descriptives, summary statistics, R-squared) • Basic programming

– Scripting, object-oriented, query, extensible

• Rastor/vector principles • Scales

– Visual, verbal, relative, absolute, physical, display vs. data

• Units of measurement – Conversion and angular vs. metric

Exam Component Knowledge Category : Data Manipulation (15%) Knowledge of…..

• Selection queries – Attribute, spatial, location

• Different data types and formats – SHP, GDB, Coverage, DGN, TXT and IMG – Spatial, rendered, tabular

• Data relationships – One-to-many, and many-to-many

• Data collection, transfer, and format conversion – Export formats, properties, settings

• Data quality – Geometric accuracy, thematic accuracy, resolution,

precision, and fitness for use

Exam Component

Knowledge Category: Geospatial Data (13%) Knowledge of….

• Metadata and standards – ISO, FGDC

• Data archiving and retrieval • Differences among join, merge, union, clip, intersect • Basic geomatics • Basic field data collection

Development of Exam

• Item (Question) Writing (March-April 2014)

– GIS Professionals are carefully selected to represent range of jobs and sectors in industry

– Selected GIS Professionals trained in test item writing by professional test developers

– The GIS Professionals write the exam questions in a workshop setting

– Each question goes through several iterations of review and rewriting before it becomes part of the final exam

Explain theoretical concepts related to professional nursing practices.

Understanding Remembering

Applying Analyzing

Evaluating Creating

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Test questions cover many levels of learning.

Sample Questions (from GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam Preparation Information, June 2016)

• Which is an example of an analog-to-digital conversion?

– A. Scanning a map document to JPG format

– B. Creating centroids from a polygon file

– C. Transforming a GIF to a TIF

– D. Importing a DXF

Sample Questions

• Which is an example of an analog-to-digital conversion?

– A. Scanning a map document to JPG format

– B. Creating centroids from a polygon file

– C. Transforming a GIF to a TIF

– D. Importing a DXF

Sample Questions

• Which of the following is NOT a component of the OGC geometry object model?

– A. Point

– B. Curve

– C. Surface

– D. Chain

Sample Questions

• Which is the most effective method for maintaining data quality to ensure that no line features of a stream center line layer intersect the polygon feature of a land cover layer?

– A. Overlay

– B. Topology

– C. Clip

– D. Intersect

Sample Questions

• According to the National Map Accuracy Standards, what percentage of features must be within 1/30 of an inch or less from their intended horizontal accuracy on maps with scales of 1:20,000 or larger?

– A. 5%

– B. 10%

– C. 90%

– D. 95%

Sample Questions

• Which are compression techniques for raster data? Select all that apply.

– A. Lattice

– B. Pyramids

– C. Quad trees

– D. Run length encoding

Sample Questions

• Which definition of GIS is correct? Select all that apply.

– A. GIS is a toolbox.

– B. GIS is an information system.

– C. GIS is big business.

– D. GIS is an approach to science.

Remaining questions are from Keith Clarke’s online GIS exam

http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/ ͂kcarke/G!&^/midterm.html

Sample Questions

• Examples of points, lines, and areas (polygons) in the feature model for GIS data are…

– A. wetlands, ponds, and parks

– B. trees, loggers, and, and lumber mills

– C. Jeep trails, highways, and zip codes

– D. oil wells, oil pipelines, and oil fields.

GISCI is continuing to develop its online exam preparation.

– You can find additional sample questions online

• Professor Keith Clarke, University of California at Santa Barbara

– http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/ ͂kcarke/G!&^/midterm.html

• Professor Ken Foote, University of Colorado – http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/exam/exam.html

– Note: these practice exams are from introductory GIS classes that these two reputable professors teach.

http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/exam/exam.html

Sample Questions

• The flat file model consists of…

– A. Tables of values for attributes (rows) and records (columns)

– B. Tables of values for attributes (columns) and records (rows)

– C. Tables of attributes for values (rows) and records (columns)

– D. Tables of records for rows of columns for values.

Sample Questions

• Three models that have been used by cartography and geodesy over time are…

– A. Elipsoid, sphere, and geoid

– B. Circle, cone, and cylinder

– C. Ellipsoid, spheroid, and geode

– D. Prolate spheroid, oblate cylindrical, and geoid

Sample Questions

• An example of a datum NOT used in mapping is….

– A. NAD27

– B. WGS84

– C. Mean Wave Height

– D. GRS80

– E. Mean Sea Level

Sample Questions

• Which statement about map projections is TRUE?

– A. No map projection can be both equivalent and conformal.

– B. All map projections are conformal.

– C. UTM has a line of minimal distortion along a parallel.

– D. UTM has no distortion within a zone.

Sample Questions

• At the scale of one to one million (1:1,000,000)….

– A. A map foot is equal to a ground yard.

– B. A map millimeter represents a ground meter.

– C. A map millimeter represents a ground kilometer.

– D. A map inch represents a ground mile.

Sample Questions

• Which of the following is probably a coordinate reference in geographic coordinates?

– A. 4,435,120m N; 123,987m E; 10, N

– B. 123 Elm Street, Goleta, California

– C. 18TWC8713

– D. -10.1259 176.3213

Sample Questions

• Select all that apply.

To compare, overlay, or cross analyze two maps…

– A. Both maps must be depicted at the same scale.

– B. Both maps must be on the same coordinate system.

– C. Both maps must be in the same map projection.

– D. Both maps must be from the same year.

Sample Questions

• What is important to know about attribute data entry. Select all that apply.

– A. The data type (e.g., text, whole number, etc)

– B. Which attribute is the key

– C. The range of the value (e.g., between one and a hundred)

– D. How to code missing values

Sample Questions

• The part of a GIS Database Management System that stores all information about the attributes and records, but not their specific values is…

– A. The attribute record.

– B. The data dictionary.

– C. The data entry module.

– D. The data range.

Sample Questions

• Which statement is FALSE?

– A. In the vector data structure, points make of lines and lines enclose areas.

– B. Vector data structures need separate files to hold point, line, and area information.

– C. Vector data structures suffer from the mixed pixel problem.

– D. In the vector data structure, a complex line can be captured with more points, and so, more detail.

Sample Questions

• Using a “water dominates” rule instead of “winner takes all” will result in…

– A. Cells coded as “edge.”

– B. More cells coded as water.

– C. Fewer cells coded as water.

– D. Worse resolution.

Sample Questions

• Pointing to a feature on a map to retrieve its attributes is the same as which operation in a DBMS?

– A. Buffer

– B. Find

– C. Overlay

– D. Sort

Sample Questions

• SQL is…

– A. The Semi-Quotient Locator, a fuzzy set based human-GIS interactive process.

– B. Structured Query Language, a standardized language for the query of relational database managers and many GISs.

– C. Slightly Querulous Location, a type of GIS command line interpreter.

– D. The sequel to a GIS overlay operation, when data are “unvarying.”

Sample Questions

• Data about data are often called…

– A. A browse data base.

– B. The world-wide web.

– C. More data.

– D. Metadata.

Sample Questions

Select all that apply.

• The values for an attribute for a record can be…

– A. Numbers.

– B. Coded as missing.

– C. Text.

– D. Classes.

Sample Questions

• In the latitude and longitude system (using degrees, minutes, seconds), 20 minutes is equal to…

– A. 1/20th of a degree.

– B. 200 seconds.

– C. 1/3 of a degree.

– D. 0.20 degrees.

Sample Questions

• You have an image that covers a rectangular area 8 kilometers wide by 6 kilometers hide. The image has 300 rows and 400 columns. What is the resolution of the image?

– A. 15 meter

– B. 20 meter

– C. 160 meter

– D. 480 meter

Sample Questions

• A three dimensional data structure that uses vectors and topology is called…

– A. CAD

– B. IDRISI

– C. Sliver

– D. TIN

Additional Sample Questions

– You can find additional sample questions online

• Professor Keith Clarke, University of California at Santa Barbara

– http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/ ͂kcarke/G!&^/midterm.html

• Professor Ken Foote, University of Colorado – http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/exam/exam.html

Reminder: these practice exams are associated with GIS classes that Professors Clarke and Foote teach, and are not designed for GISCI GISP exam.

Thank you! Nancy Obermeyer

Professor of Geography

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN 47809

[email protected]

812-2374351

mailto:[email protected]

For more information on the GISP exam: www.gisci.org

Bill Hodge, Executive Director [email protected]

Phone 847-824-7768 325-315-3251

or

Rebecca Somers, Exam Development PM [email protected]

703-204-0033

http://www.gisci.org/




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