Career Path Guide
To become a geomatics plan technician, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for you. If the following description sounds like you, then you’re probably well suited for work in this field:
• Are you proficient in computer-aided design (CAD)?
• Are you interested in geography and mapping?
• Do you enjoy providing technical guidance and support?
• Do you want work in a career that has plenty of room for growth?
Those who become geomatics plan technicians are typically individuals with a natural aptitude and interest in computers and computer-aided design (CAD). They also tend to have a methodical approach to finding solutions for technical problems.
This profession is an excellent choice for those who want a career that allows them to leverage their people, computer modeling, and information compiling skills into a well-paying career that offers much room for growth.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career as a geomatics plan technician. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education Needed to Become a Geomatics Plan Technician
You'll likely need a two-year diploma or an assoicate’s degree in engineering technology, geomatics, or a closely related field. Some employers may hire geomatics plan technicians without any formal education and teach them on the job, although it is not common.
Make sure to do your research on post-secondary programs in geomatics and engineering technology in order to make sure you choose a school and a program that will provide you with a specialized skill set that will qualify you to work as a geomatics plan technician, including:
• Proficiency in specialized computer software (e.g. AutoCAD Land Desktop), digital terrain modeling, alignments, drafting techniques and standards
• Proficiency in GIS tools, software and databases
• Able to use map projections and datum to prepare geomatics generated products using AutoCAD, ArcGIS, Access, and Excel
General Job Description
Geomatics plan technicians are responsible for using specialized computer software (such as AutoCAD Land Desktop) to produce legal and engineering survey drawings, GIS themes, maps, digital terrain models, cross sections and horizontal alignments from manual and digital field notes.
They work closely with geographic information systems project managers in order to support fulfillment of internal and external survey data management and mapping systems and services.
Typical Job Duties & Repsonsibilities
• Generate legal and engineering survey products using computer aided design techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) tools
• Use GIS to assist in data management, manipulation and analysis
• Based on data analysis, prepare business theme layers and thematic maps
• Troubleshoot data issues and locate the source of errors in order to correct
• Ensure client satisfaction with regards to external projects
• Gather, manage, translate and maintain complex survey and geographic digital data sets
• Follow and implement pre-defined data models and GIS data structures
• Maintain quality assurance procedures with regards to mapping
• Produce Engineering and Title Records using plans, deeds, digital maps, and other data from outside agencies
• Create time estimates by researching plans, documents, compiling various information
• Archive plans, alignments, cross-sections and other data sets into file management systems
Who Employs Geomatics Plan Technicians?
Geomatics plan technicians are hired on a part-time, full-time or contractual basis by a variety of small, medium and large employers, including:
• Federal and provincial/state governments
• Colleges and universities
• Engineering and architectural consulting companies
• Environmental consulting companies
• Oil, gas and mining companies
• Service firms to oil, gas and mining companies
• Surveying and mapping companies
• Forestry consulting firms
• Computer software companies
• Natural resource companies
Skills and Traits Needed to Be Successful
To be an effective geomatics plan technician, you need to posses a certain set of soft skills, hard skills and personality traits. These skills and traits will allow you to perform your job duties with competence, as well as handle the ups and downs of this career.
Personal Characteristics
• Enjoy providing technical guidance and support
• Enjoy analyzing information and finding innovative solutions to problems
• Enjoy compiling information and researching plans
Soft Skills
• Able to build rapport with team members and customers
• Able to deliver products and services within an established timeframe
• Able to isolate, identify and correct errors
• Able to manage changing priorities
Hard Skills
• Able to interpret and apply survey principles, practices and standards
• Able to interpret survey data from survey field notes, to determine relevant field measurements
• Able to interpret and apply survey related legislation such as the Surveys Act, Registry Act, Land Titles Act, and others
• Proficiency in Computer Aided Design (CAD), GIS tools, software and databases
Geomatics Technician Jobs - Current Opportunities
Our job board below has "geomatics technician" postings in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, when available:
Geomatics Plan Technician Salary
The salary level of geomatics plans technicians can vary depending on their personal qualifications, the size and type of their employer, the specific responsibilities of their job, and many other factors.
Geomatics Plan Technician Salary - United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary level of workers in the Cartographers and Photogrammetrists occupational group is $57,440 per year.
Salary - Canada: According to the 2018 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working as part of the Geomatics Technologist occupational group earn an average salary of $55,746 per year. According to WorkBC (Province of British Columbia) the annual provincial median salary of workers in the Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology group is $72,800.
Similar Careers in Our Database
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to "geomatics plan technician", as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist
References
Please consult the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as a geomatics plan technician.
Occupations in Alberta: “Geomatics Technologist.” (March 31, 2018). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
Architecture & Engineering: “Surveying and Mapping Technicians.” (September 4, 2019). Occupational Outlook Handbook - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
Explore Careers: “Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology.” (March 25, 2019) WorkBC website. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
Explore Environmental Careers: “Geomatics Technician.” (n.d.) ECO Canada website. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
Scholarships for Becoming a Geomatics Plan Technician
All of the scholarships found on the following pages are relevant for becoming a geomatics plan technician:
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Applicable University Major(s)
Studying the university major(s) can help set a proper educational foundation for this profession:
