How to Become a Cartographer
Job Duties of a Cartographer
Skills and Qualities of a Cartographer
Salaries of Cartographers
Influential Professionals in Cartographer Field
Leading Cartographer Organizations
Top Cities for Cartographer Jobs
Other Careers of Interest
Cartographers nowadays also need to take courses or be trained in computer programs, since many elements of cartography are now performed on the computer. Besides training and courses in computer technology, candidates for cartography should also study subjects like math and drafting. These studies can begin as early as high school and should continue through higher education.
Some states require that cartographers are licensed as surveyors before they can be professional cartographers. This requires at least one examination. Many states require a written examination provided by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), and/or an examination given by the State licensing board. Cartographers must first pass one examination - the "Fundamentals of Surveying" - and then work under a surveyor who is more experienced for four years. After the four year period, the cartographers must take another examination, the "Principles and Practice of Surveyors."
Light-imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) is used to map the Earth's topography in a digital format. Cartographers use this highly accurate technology to make extremely detailed maps. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are also used by cartographers to gather and display data, and combine data to make specific types of maps. Specialized maps such as maps which show population density or maps which display natural resources are only two examples of a wide variety of maps that are created by cartographers.
In modern times, the director of the USGS is Mark Myers, a geologist and geological surveyor. While not a cartographer himself, Myers oversees the United States Geological Survey, a government agency responsible for maps and mapping data.
GeoEYE, a satellite imagery company, is another large employer of cartographers. The top cities for cartographers wishing to work for GeoEYE include Denver, Colorado; Saint Louis, Missouri; and Sterling, Virginia.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is the United States government's mapmaking agency, employing many cartographers to create both traditional and digital maps. The USGS is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, making that city an excellent one for cartographers who are seeking employment.
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