[SDI-Africa] Surveying and GIS

Tue Sep 26 03:14:34 EDT 2006

Hi Kate,

Yes I know this topic is always a problem, which is why I avoid it :-)

In South Africa, I would not go as far as saying that your employment is in
question (yet), but more and more employers are asking for certified GIS
scientists when looking for people to employ.

I have also noticed that government agencies are now also specifying the
requirement, for organizations to have registered GIS scientists, in tender
documents as well.

At the moment surveyors are not allowed to practice if they are not
registered with the council and they can be prosecuted for doing work while
not being registered as well. So it might be that it will be the same will
go for GIS scientists in the future as well.

Certification also gives the public some power over shoddy workmanship i.e.
the GIS person could be taken to court for a job that is not done according
to specification.

Certification also might not affect the quality of work I produce if I am
not registered, but it translates into me having some advantages over others
who don't have a certification. 

Cheers

Craig

  _____  

From: Kate Lance [mailto:klance_remote at yahoo.com] 
Sent: 26 September 2006 10:03
To: craigvonhagen at yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Re: [SDI-Africa] Surveying and GIS 

Craig,

You raise a hotly debated issue of whether GIS is a science or a tool....

http://www.geoplace.com/hottopics/giscertification/default.asp

GIS Certification Point/Counterpoint

http://www.gita.org/resources/what_is_gis.htm

What Is GIS: A Profession, Niche, or Tool? (GITA, 2005)

http://www.geospatial-online.com/geospatialsolutions/article/articleDetail.j
sp?id=130793

Demystifying Certification (2004)

http://dusk2.geo.orst.edu/annals.html

Demystifying the Persistent Ambiguity of GIS as "Tool" Versus "Science
(Wright et. al., 1997)

see also SDI-Africa, Vol 5., No. 3. -- 1st individual certified in Africa by
GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)

www.gsdi.org/newsletters/SDIAfricav5n3.pdf 

On a more practical/operational note.... what is the plan in South Africa
for the transition into having this survey/GIS certification requirement?  I
mean, if there are people employed as surveyors or GIS specialists right
now, but who fail to pass the exam you mention, is their employment in
question? Are their employers (or the surveying/GIS regulator) obligated to
support training so that they can pass the exam at a later date?

Also, over time, are those with certification required to take refresher
seminars... or possibly retake the examination every number of years?  I
mean... I'm SCUBA certified... but I could kill myself for all I remember
about diving.... it's been way too many years.

Does certification translate into increased liability?

Craig von Hagen <craigvonhagen at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

There is an interesting development in South Africa. Under the Surveyors
Act, Surveyors are required by law to register and pass the council exam to
ensure the public receive a certain quality of service from the Surveying
Profession. This law is in the process of being amended to include GIS
professionals as well. 

I have just been through the same process i.e. GIS scientists have to write
an exam with the council and once they have passed, they are then registered
to provide GIS services in terms of the Surveyors Act. The idea being that
the public can then be assured of quality service and products in terms of
GIS principles and various laws in South Africa regarding access to
information and includes the spatial data infrastructure act.

It is interesting that surveyors and GIS professionals are working closely
together in South Africa and GIS has not really being seen as just another
discipline under Information technology, but as a scientific discipline on
its own that can supplement and provide support to a wide range of other
disciplines from the earth sciences, telecommunications, environment,
socio-economic issues, etc.

Regards,
Craig

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