[SDI-Africa] Surveying and GIS

[John Walkey]

Craig, Kate, List:

Good discussion!  As Kate's posting illustrates there has been a lot of 
debate over this issue.  One thing that strikes me is that while the 
activities of a surveyor are a bit more defined (establishing legal 
definitions of the bounds of lands, mapping the layout of public works and 
construction projects, etc.) and are concretely linked to liability issues, 
GIS technicians, experts, specialists, gurus or whatever tend to be 
performing a wide range of tasks, some of which have liability associated 
with them and others not.

A cartographer may get dragged over the coals for making an ugly, yet 
accurate map, but will get awards if a misleading map looks good (see "How 
to Lie with Maps" by Mark Monmonier).  Cartographers rarely get sued for 
their products.  A surveyor can make a beautiful plan drawing, but if it's 
inaccurate he or she will most likely get sued.  For GIS professionals it 
seems that liability is dependent on what they are actually doing.

Maybe the issue isn't whether GIS professionals should or should not be 
certified, but rather whether certain GIS-enabled activities/tasks require a 
certified professional -- e.g., GIS hydrologist for floodmapping.  What do 
others think?

~John Walkey

Boston, Massachusetts

>From: "Craig von Hagen" <craigvonhagen at yahoo.co.uk>
>Reply-To: craigvonhagen at yahoo.co.uk
>To: <sdi-africa at lists.gsdi.org>
>Subject: Re: [SDI-Africa] Surveying and GIS
>Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 10:14:34 +0300
>
>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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