Geospatial employers need highly skilled, well seasoned senior-level IT manager’s that know GIS and have expertise in planning, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of systems, infrastructure, and staffing. Technical Skills could include ESRI’s ArcGIS, MapInfo Pro, Thematic mapping, Object operations, Feature editing, registration & conflation, Aerials & raster layer integration, ODBC connections & Data translation, Grid Contouring & Math/Queries, AnySite/AnySite Online, MapBasic, ArcGIS ModelBuilder, Google mashup and Geocoding API, MapPoint OCX Mapping/geocoding, or Allocate/pCensus/GeoVue.

At the top of the GIS Jobs list, geospatial employers are searching for GIS Software Developers to create readable maps. Job seekers that know a mix of programs, including ArcGIS Software, Oracle Spatial, software server applications, C++, and other GIS (Geographic Information Systems) are in top demand. Candidates that have used geospatial data to construct 3-D GIS applications in a virtual reality CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) system for visual analysis and assessment will continue to be in demand for some time to come.

The GEOINT 2011 Symposium (focused on promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft) kicked off with a pre-symposium on Sunday the 16th of October. Forums that explore the current state-of-the-art and future of wide area motion imagery (WAMI), full-motion video (FMV) platforms, and Mobile GEOINT Applications sessions inspired the day. Further, the “Future of GEOINT Professional Development” and Socio-Cultural Dynamics: “An Overview from a Diplomacy, Development, Defense and Intelligence Perspectives” rounded out the topical theme. However, it was the Six Flags Over Texas GEOINT 2011 Welcome Reception at Sunset Station that pumped up the party. Sponsored by Northrop Grumman, dozens of chartered busses transported conference attendees and sponsors to an outdoor venue with live music, Texas cuisine, and dancing. Off the bus, a mariachi band welcomed participants. Inside, one guitar player and other stringed music played Mexican style tunes. However, the headline band was Cactus Country, a cover band that played oldies, some rock, but mostly top chart country music. Line dancing with instruction ensued.

October 17, the Expo Hall opened at 11:00. Exhibits rage from giant organizations like Google, SAIC, Lockheed Martin, and Oracle to core geospatial organizations like Woolpert and Blue Marble Geographics. The term booth doesn’t fit this exhibit showcase. Some structures are two stories high, complete with a staircase to the 2nd floor. Huge video screens are on display with imagery that can be manipulated by touch. Large leather sofa’s and coffee tables allow participants to relax while taking in a demonstration. One vendor had a tall, beautiful, blond offering an authentic shoe shine atop an antique wooden shoe shine chair. Among the crowd walking the floor was the President of Continental Mapping Dave Hart. Brant Howard, founder of CompassCom and Hayden Howard, CompassData field services manager. Mark Safran Senior Manager at BAE, Joe Francica the Editor, Directions Magazine and Shawana Johnson of Global Marketing Insights.

This is the place to be to tap into the geospatial intelligence community of interest between government, industry, academic, and professional organizations. Cleared geospatial talent has always been in demand and GeoSearch has sourced that demographic for over a decade. The market demand for this group is increasing as fast as the technology is changing.

Integrating GIS applications with internet operations is fast becoming the top project for many organizations.  This has vamped up demand for developers that are needed to build scalable, powerful, and secure web/cloud based GIS applications.  Governments and commercial operations are focused on the deployment and build up of maps with strong security features, strong back-office integration features and supplemental advanced business logic tools.  Visual Basic .NET and ASP .NET programming with CADD, ESRI and/or Intergraph skills are hot!

FOSS4G is the global conference focused on Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial, organized by OSGeo.  FOSS4G will be at the Sheraton Denver Downtown • September 12-16, 2011 • Denver, CO.  FOSS4G will feature a packed week of educational sessions and fun social events.

September 7-9, 2011 at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA the 2011 ESRI Health GIS Conference is taking place.  Geography is helping organizations and communities everywhere better understand and improve human health. From examining environments to managing projects, GIS technology is being used to face today’s changing world and advance health and human services across the globe.  Major disasters around the world have increased demand for an accurate and timely health care facility location clearinghouse of hospitals, health centers, medical clinics, dispensaries, and nursing care facilities that provide routine health care services.

Denver, CO, August 31, 2011 - A state chapter of MAPPS, the association of private sector geospatial firms, was announced today at the GIS in the Rockies conference in Denver, CO.

Speaking at the conference, MAPPS Executive Director John Palatiello and Gary Outlaw, Merrick & Company (Aurora, CO), the first President of CO-MAPPS, said the chapter will, “Promote the significant cluster of geospatial firms and organizations in Colorado and its contributions to the state’s employment base and economy as well as work with the State of Colorado to leverage that synergy for further business growth.”

On May 23, more than 30 MAPPS member firm principals from firms based or with offices in Colorado gathered at the offices of CompassData in Centennial, CO for an “interest meeting” to discuss the establishment of a MAPPS chapter in Colorado.  At that meeting, it was agreed that a CO-MAPPS chapter was desirable. As a result, a task force was formed to begin implementation of a Colorado chapter.

The task force developed bylaws, established an initial Board of Directors, and organized the launch of the chapter at GIS in the Rockies.

The initial Board of Directors will be Mr. Outlaw (President), Llana Hines, Sanborn (Colorado Springs, CO), Hayden Howard, CompassData (Centennial, CO), Mark Schubert, Aerial Surveys International (Watkins, CO) and Layton Hobbs, Woolpert, Inc. (Denver,CO).

“MAPPS has achieved significant success with its first state chapter in Pennsylvania and we are pleased to be able to launch an additional local organization in Colorado,” said Dick McDonald, PLS, CP, (T3 Global Strategies, Bridgeville, PA). “MAPPS looks forward to adding additional state chapters in the coming months in order to expand our member’s ability to grow their businesses, raise awareness of the important role geospatial technologies play in our society, affect public policy, and empower our member firms to network and work together toward common goals.”

The goals of CO-MAPPS will be to –

• Promote the significant cluster of geospatial firms and organizations in Colorado and its contributions to the state’s  employment base and economy
• Work with the State of Colorado to leverage that synergy for further economic growth
• Strengthen and broaden relationships with the educational community
• Provide a voice for the private sector and the community at large in governmental processes
• Pursue public/private partnerships as well as promote skilled workforces, market innovation & development and competitive market within Colorado
• Provide a forum for private firms in the state

Chapter dues will be just $250 per firm. In order to be a member of CO-MAPPS, a firm must be a member of the MAPPS national association.

24th annual GIS in the Rockies Conference, to be held at “The Cable Center” in Denver, Colorado, August 31 – September 1, 2011.  GeoSearch will be talking about the geospatial job market.  Use this conference to learn how GIS is being used in emerging technologies like economic development, emergency response, knowledge systems in infrastructure, web-based location and communication, mobile technologies and new opportunities for growth.

The City is awarding the “Upgrade of City-Wide GIS Operating System & Data Sources” project to Salish Coast Sciences, LLC.  Salish Coast Sciences is a team of Information Technology (IT) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professionals providing GIS, web and database development services and consulting throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Grants Pass received five proposals for this project with Salish Coast Sciences, LLC as the selected proposer based on the quality and applicability of their proposal, their history of previous experience and results of similar projects, experience of project team members, project approach, references and cost for services.

15,000 geospatial professionals are returning to work after attending the ESRI User Conference 2011 held in San Diego last week.  This workforce is advancing to meet new and important challenges for organizations.  GeoSearch has opportunities and candidates using the latest geospatial technologies.  Now is the time to focus on matching the right opportunity’s with the right candidates.