GIS APPLICATIONS IN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: FROM WASHINGTON, DC TO THE FIELD

Growing enthusiasm for geospatial technologies is increasingly transforming resource management and public policy. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has gained momentum as a career field in land management agencies, with its utility across geographic scales - from the national level to the field level - and application in public communication, data management, and resource assessment. GSA’s GeoCorps America program facilitated my career as a geospatial scientist in the Federal service by providing three internship opportunities with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Washington, D.C. The program catalyzed my commitment to public service, established my dedication to GIS applications in resource management, and prepared me for the challenges and rewards of resource stewardship.

The GeoCorps American program provides mutually beneficial opportunities for early-career geoscientists and land management agencies alike. My first GeoCorps internship focused on representing a diverse collection of outstanding public areas through professional-quality cartography. I played a role in communicating the unique identity of a relatively new system of public lands, and I gained exposure to public policy at the national level. I completed my first internship with a resolution to pursue a career in the Federal service. My following GeoCorps internships expanded my role as a GIS Specialist in the Washington Office: I made recommendations for long-term nation-wide data management projects; performed advanced geospatial analysis; and developed in-house cartographic tools to communicate complex land management themes. The experiences prepared me for my current position as a GIS professional for the National Park Service, where I am dedicated to wilderness planning and natural resources assessment at the unit level.