Marvin Bauer

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GIS Career Interviews
Marvin Bauer U of M
Lawrence Peters
Jide Odulana
Paul Wickman DNR
Sara Dolan
Nikki Paripovich ESRI
Edward DSousa
Terese Rowekamp Rowekamp Associated, Inc.
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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• Education
• Ph.D. 1970, University of Illinois
• Duties
• Remote Sensing Research
• (Natural Resources)
• U of M Professor
• Editor of Academic Journals

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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• What GIS related support networks do you use?
  That is, what professional organizations, user
  groups or other resources do you find most
  helpful to you as a GIS professional?
• American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote
  Sensing
• Institute for Electronic and Electrical
  Engineering

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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• What type of skills or knowledge do you feel are
  most important to successfully complete the type
  of work you are involved in?
• Coursework in GIS/Remote Sensing
• Background knowledge important
• Mathematics, Physics
• Discipline Specific Knowledge
• Geography
• Geology
• Forestry
• etc..

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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• What do you find most exciting about the current
  state of GIS (or your specific field)?
  
• Higher resolution
• Recent Launches of satellites
• Quickbird 0.5 meter
• IKONOS 1.0 meter
• Higher precision sensors
• More satellites being launched ever year

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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• What in GIS (or your field) do you find most
  frustrating, lacking or are disappointed in?
• Landsat Satellite Program
• US failed to make commitment on program
• Old Technology
• Landsat 4 (1984), Landsat 7 (1999)
• Limited use (5 satellites - Once every 8 days)
• Weather factors (cloud cover, storms)
• Orbits will deteriorate and satellite destroyed
  in 1-2 years
• No replacement program underway to replace
  Landsat by US Government

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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• What in GIS do you find most frustrating, lacking
  or are disappointed in? (cont)
• Landsat Satellite Program
• Consequences
• Gap of 2 to 4 years in satellite coverage between
  old Landsat satellites and new
• Landsat satellites
• Temporary blow to Commercial GIS and Remote
  Sensing

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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• How did you get into Remote Sensing?
• Background in Agronomy, Crops
• Remote Sensing Opportunity at Purdue University's
  Remote Sensing Lab in early 1970s
• Forefront of remote sensing technology
• Development of ERDAS software at Purdue
• Worked for 3 to 4 years at Purdue and pursued a
  career ever since
• Currently a professor in the College of Natural
  Resources
• Specialty Remote Sensing of Natural Resources

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Marvin BauerRemote Sensing/GIS Professor

• What companies or agencies use Remote Sensing?
• Biggest Customers
• Military
• Intelligence Agencies
• Federal government
• Other Customers
• State, County, City Governments
• Academic
• Private Sector

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Paul WickmanMGIS StudentGIS Specialist,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

• Education
• MGIS, U of M (2003 - present)
• B.Sc Computer Science
• Carroll College, Wisconsin (1988 - 1992)
• Current Position
• GIS Specialist Programmer
• DNRs division of fish and wildlife
• Previous Work Experience
• IT Consultant (from approx. 1992 - 2003)

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Paul WickmanMGIS StudentGIS Specialist,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

• Job Responsibilities
• Basic GIS analysis
• Habitat improvement, etc.
• GIS Programming - writing Python scripts
• Developing web map application using MapServer

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Paul WickmanMGIS StudentGIS Specialist,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

• Skills and Knowledge Most Important to Current
  Role
• Web mapping
• ArcView 3.3
• Field specific information
• Water management
• Urban planning
• Crime, safety, etc.

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Paul WickmanMGIS StudentGIS Specialist,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

• Most Exciting Aspect of his career/GIS
• Visualization
• Domain in which GIS is applied within the DNR

• Most Frustrating Aspect of his career/GIS
• Cost of products, various levels of licensing
• Potential misuse/abuse in drawing conclusions

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Paul WickmanMGIS StudentGIS Specialist,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

• Most Utilized Support Networks
• Google
• Vast amount of resources
• Interacting with GIS user groups in DNR
• Good information trading/exchange platform

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Nikki ParipovichSales AssociateEnvironmental
Systems Research Institute (ESRI)St Paul (Eagan)
Regional Office

• Education
• University of St. Thomas - B.A. Spanish
• University of Minnesota - MGIS Program
• Former student, capstone project a work in
  progress
• GIS Interests
• Strong in Remote Sensing
• International Environmental Applications of GIS

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Nikki ParipovichESRI Sales Associate

• Sales Associate Responsibilities
• Interface with customers prior to and/or after
  sale
• Coordinate all outbound and inbound efforts
  related to new and existing clients
• Service existing accounts, develop new business,
  provide quotes, write proposals, access purchase
  orders
• Job Description
• Provide support to sales force in ESRI's 11
  regional offices.
• Develop/maintain positive customer relations and
  coordinate various functions within the company.

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Nikki ParipovichESRI Sales Associate

• Position Requirements
• BA/BS in Geography or a related field or
  equivalent experience
• At least one year of business-to-business
  experience
• Knowledge of ESRI products and the different
  systems platforms
• Prior customer service and/or telemarketing
  experience
• Recommended Qualifications
• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Great follow-though

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Nikki ParipovichESRI Sales Associate

• Most Utilized Support Networks
• Wisconsin ESRI User Group - Minnesota version in
  progress
• http//www.ewug.org
• statewide group that meets to discuss ESRI
  software related topics.
• formed in 1999 to discuss technical issues,
  conduct seminars, share ideas and network with
  others.
• MGIS Program - current, former students
• Jackie Hamiltons Blog

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Nikki ParipovichESRI Sales Associate

• Most exciting aspect within her career/GIS
• Ubiquity of GIS - so much opportunity
• Healthy competition - encourages new and improved
  products, trailblazing
• Two strong sectors of business and technology
  complementing each other

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Nikki ParipovichESRI Sales Associate

• Most frustrating aspect within her career/GIS
• Lack of funding for projects
• Dealing with people who are indifferent and/or
  resistant to change - which inhibits others from
  moving forward
• Proposal Writing

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Terese RowekampRowekamp Associated, Inc.

• GIS Consulting Firm
• ESRI Authorized Trainer
• Custom Application Development
• Customers
• 90 Local Government (City/County)
• 10 Federal/Semi-private/Private
• Started in 1992
• Currently 3 Employees

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Terese RowekampRowekamp Associated, Inc.

• Role as President of Rowekamp Associates
• Direct company
• Research technology
• Research applications
• Goal Empower users through services and
  education.
• Training
• Application Development
• Consulting

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Terese RowekampRowekamp Associated, Inc.

• Education
• Bachelors in Geography from University of
  Minnesota Duluth
• Masters in Geography/Cartography Became
  interested in computer applications to
  cartography
• Work History
• LMIC
• PCA
• ESRI
• Consulting Owner/Operator

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Terese RowekampRowekamp Associated, Inc.

• General GIS Positions
• Strong Communication skills
• Problem Solving abilities
• Ability to Synthesize new approaches and Ideas
  based on Experience
• Solid Domain Specific knowledge
• Skills vary on type of position
• Application developers/Programmers
• Technicians

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Terese RowekampRowekamp Associated, Inc.

• Approach to Quality and Marketing
• Honesty and Building Trust
• Opens communication and encourages free exchange
  of ideas
• Most (90) of Marketing is Word of Mouth
• Relationship building not only helps with repeat
  customers, but also helps identify new customers

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Terese RowekampRowekamp Associated, Inc.

• GIS Commmunity and Current State
• Support Networks
• MN GIS/LIS Consortium
• Rowekamp Tech Forums
• Excited About
• potential for growth in non-traditional
  applications (health, homeland security)
• Concerned About
• ease of access to GIS technology and the
  possibility of the misuse of GIS tools

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Compare/Contrast all Interviews

• Education
• All interviewees have post-graduate degree
• Marv Bauer - PhD
• Paul Wickman - MGIS (in progress)
• Nikki Paripovich - MGIS (in progress)
• Terese Rowekamp - MS Geography/Cartography

• According to 2002 MN GIS/LIS Profession Salary
  Survey
• 30 of respondents held Masters degree
• (however, only 8 of positions surveyed
• required MA/MS/MGIS)
• 2 required PhD

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Compare/Contrast all Interviews
Important Skills for Respective GIS Roles
Respondent indicated this is a highly desirable
skill - Indicates it is an important skill, but
less so than others
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Compare/Contrast all Interviews

• Support Networks
• Local Resources - MN GIS/LIS
• Resources relating to respective positions
• National Resources - URISA, ASPRS
• Other - Wisconsin ESRI, GISSO, MGIS

• Most Exciting Aspect within GIS
• Rapid progression of GIS
• Commendable establishment of GIS
• Most Frustrating Aspect within GIS
• Lack of investment
• Confusing priorities
• Concern of misuse

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Questions?