How to become a Mapping Technician: Career Guide, Courses, Skills, Jobs, Salary, Scope

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Ahana Bhaduri

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The cartographer and photogrammetrist maps are assisted by mapping technicians. You do this work on computers that combine data from various sources. Technicians for the mapping can take photos with drones and collect additional information necessary for maps or surveys.

Mapping Technicians are well-versed in the Geographical Information System (GIS), the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Satellite Image Analysis. Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are advanced fields of study for the study of soil, land, and forest, mapping, weather science, disaster management, natural resources, and so on.

In fact, 41% of mapping technicians have a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree comes in second with 22%, and a diploma comes in third with 8%. Courses like BSc GeologyMSc Geology are required to become a Mapping Technician. Entrance examinations are the criteria to determine admission.

The course admission costs anything between INR 10,000 and 72,000, and after successfully completing it, candidates can expect to earn between INR 3-5 LPA in the field.

How to Become a Mapping Technician : Quick Facts

Course Level Bachelor
Duration 3 Year
Examination Type Semester/Yearly
Eligibility 10+2
Admission Process Entrance Exam and Interview
Course Fees INR 10,000-75,000
Average Salary INR 3-12 LPA
Top Recruiting Companies National Remote Sensing Center and North East Space Applications Center and Space Application Center, Central Ground Water Board, etc.
Job Positions Mapping Technician, GIS Officer and Remote Sensing Tech Lead And Professor, GIS Technician, Project Manager, Geographer, etc.

What Does a Mapping Technician do?

The duties of a Mapping Technician generally are:

  • Visit sites for survey and other descriptive data recordings
  • To collect data at a location, use monitoring instruments such as electronic Remote Measurement (robotic total stations).
  • Set stakes and marks for carrying out an investigation
  • Find previous polling points, like old markers for stones
  • Enter data from survey instruments in the field or in an office in your computer
  • To create maps select the required data from the databases
  • Editing and processing images collected in the field
  • Create maps with boundaries, water sites, altitude and other field characteristics
  • Update maps to ensure precision
  • Assist photogrammetry in sequencing aerial photographs to identify non-aerial photographic zones

Steps to Become a Mapping Technician

There are a number of necessary steps which will be followed to grasp a way to become Mapping Technician, here we tend to justify those steps in detail:

  • Step 1 – Make a decision: Before you begin pursuing a career in Mapping Technician, you should ensure that you understand your interests, what subject combinations you'll be required to take in your 12th, and what courses you're eligible for in order to become a Mapping Technician. A career as a Mapping Technician is typically difficult to please and challenging at times; you must have the zeal and motivation to work for the people even under stressful conditions.
  • Step 2 – Choose the correct Subjects: A bachelor's degree in one of the most popular subjects, such as Geography, Remote Sensing , etc usually the bare minimum for monetary managers. Several employers are constantly currently looking for candidates with a degree, especially in Geography, Remote Sensing , etc
  • Step 3 – Prepare for college Entrance: After completing 10+2, students will take the IIRS and GATE entrance exams, and only after passing these exams will they be able to begin their Mapping Technician Courses from a reputable school. When a student qualifies for the doorway examination, he or she will attend a school chosen by guidance, where they will study geology in college.
  • Step 4 – Choose the correct college: If you want to get into the best colleges, you will have to perform exceptionally well in entrance exams. If your score is low, you will be able to attend any school that accepts your grades. According to consultants and professionals, it is always better to require admission in top govt schools because they require the best college, a lower course fee, and well-developed labs.
  • Step 5 – Qualify Entrance: Taking the entrance exam and being admitted to the best college is only the beginning of the journey. This journey will take 3-4 years to complete and will require a great deal of dedication and patience.

Types of Mapping Technicians

Some of the top job profiles of Mapping Technician are given below-

Geographer

The job profile of a geographer is to collect and analyze data and turn them into information and maps. A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist, or humanist who studies geography, which is the study of the Earth's environment and human society, including the interactions between society and nature.

GIS Technician

The job profile of a GIS Technician Customize GIS Application, Make Maps, Data Manipulation. GIS technicians are in lower demand than GIS developers and managers, according to Indeed job trends. GIS technicians are frequently mistaken for GIS analysts and specialists, with only a different job title. This means that on the line graph below, you can add up each percent for each role.

Drafter

The job profile of a drafter Making Design for different manufacturing Units. The Drafter will prepare detailed layouts for a wide range of machinery, mechanical tools, and devices, such as medical equipment These layouts indicate dimensions, fastening methods, and other assembly requirements. Mechanical drafters are sometimes responsible for the creation of production moulds..

GIS Officer Supervision

The job profile is the work of GIS Technician and Geographer and to take Important decisions according to analyzed data. GIS systems are computerised systems that collect, store, analyse, manipulate, and present a wide variety of complex geographical and spatial data. Data can be in a variety of formats, including cartographic, photographic, and audiovisual.

Surveyor

The job profile of a Surveyor is to survey for different geographical locations by using the technical instrument. The method which is used in profession and art, and science of determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional positions of points, as well as the distances and angles between them, is known as surveying or land surveying. A land surveyor is a professional who specialises in land surveying.

How to become a Mapping Technician in India?

Given the significance and importance of Mapping Technician positions in India, there are a number of steps that should be taken to ensure a trouble-free experience. The following are a few of the most important steps that one should take if they want to become Mapping Technicians in India.

School Level Preparation

After graduating from high school, the candidate should concentrate on class 12 and achieve the highest possible grades in either the commerce or science streams. Then they'll have to look for colleges that offer relevant courses in geology or related fields .After selecting a college or a list of colleges, they must consider and work on the admissions process. After enrolling in the course, they must achieve good grades in order to be hired by a good firm or company.

How to become a Mapping Technician after 12th?

Since Mapping Technician courses are offered under UG, PG, Diploma and Certificate levels, the eligibility criteria for different courses vary.

UG Preparation

  • For bachelor Mapping Technician courses, the aspiring candidates must have completed Class 12 with Science or commerce stream
  • The candidate should have at least a minimum 50% marks from a recognized university.
  • The candidates should have passed any of the various entrance exams held for account and its research courses and should have qualified them with a good score since these exams are highly competitive.

PG Preparation

  • For the candidate to pursue a Master's course in Mapping Technician, he/she needs to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
  •  A minimum grade/percentile of 50 or 5, whichever is applicable, from a recognised university is required.
  • The candidate should have also qualified the entrance exams held for masters courses in account such as BUCKET,etc.

Courses to become a Mapping Technician

The courses that can be pursued to start your career as a Mapping Technician have been discussed below.

BSc Geology

Bachelor of Science in Geology (BSc Geology) is a three-year undergraduate earth science degree programme. The course covers the study of rocks, minerals, and other solid substances, as well as their compositions, histories, and other processes that involve them.

This course is divided into six semesters and covers topics such as environmental science, earth science, mineral science, the study of other natural resources (such as water, petroleum, natural gas, and so on), their positioning and presence, climate change and related issues, and so on. Fieldwork and exploration are also part of the course.

Admission Process

BSc Geology Admissions are made on the basis of entrance exams as well as merit in the Top BSc Geology Colleges in India. Some of the best BSc Geology Colleges can be found in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, and Bangalore. SP Jain, Whistling Woods, and other BSc Geology colleges in Mumbai .

BHU, UET , OUAT , GSAT ,etc are the most popular engineering entrance exams in the country, and they are required for admission to primarily public universities. Private institutes may also administer their own exams or rely on national/state level entrance exams. The following is a guide to applying for entrance exam-based admission.

Eligibility Criteria

The following are the minimum eligibility requirements for the BSc Geography course:

  • Candidates must have passed the 10+2 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board with a minimum aggregate mark.
  • Applicants must have completed arithmetic or statistics as a required subject in 10+2.
  • The candidate's age should be less than twenty-five years old.
  • Candidates who have completed their 10+2 through Distance Learning are eligible to use the current programme as long as they study at an associate institute recognised by NIOS.

Msc in Geology

MSc Geology is a two-year postgraduate degree programme divided into four semesters. This course primarily teaches students about their surroundings and focuses on the scientific study of the earth's workings and layers.

Admission to this course will be given based upon the candidate's performance in the Bachelor's degree exam or their performance in the entrance exams administered by admission authorities.

Admission Process

Admission to the Msc in Geology is primarily based on the Entrance Exams conducted by the various states.

Eligibility Criteria

A candidate must have a bachelor's degree in Geology or a related field from a recognised university.

  • Students must have completed Geology as a mandatory subject and two of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology as a secondary subject.
  • In order to be considered for the MSc Geology course, students must also perform well in the entrance exam and meet the cut-off

PG Diploma in GIS and Remote Sensing

This course is a very good combination of skills including technical knowledge and scientific knowledge, so students who want to join the course must demonstrate their ability to do so.

Admission Process

Admission to this course is done solely through an entrance exam. Government-sponsored students do not need to take the entrance exam; they are admitted directly.

  • The general admission process used by all institutions offering the course.
  • Direct admission to the course is accepted by some institutions. They fill their course seats based on the results of qualifying examinations (Bachelor's Degree).

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for PG Diploma in GIS and Remote Sensing candidates are as follows. It should be noted that the eligibility criteria will vary by institute.

  • A bachelor's degree in science, mathematics, engineering, technology, or computer science is required.
  • A minimum of 55% in the qualifying degree is required.

How to become a Mapping Technician Abroad

Pursuing management courses from abroad is one of the most sought after professions, one does not have to worry much about the future if they become Mapping Technicians. The top countries to pursue management courses internationally in abroad destinations are Canada, USA, UK and Australia.

UK

University Courses available Total Program Fees
University of Oxford B.Sc Geography(3 years) 45,000
Imperial College of London B.Sc Geography(3 years) 35,900
University of Edinburgh B.Sc Geography(3 years) 31,350
University of Manchester Master in Drafting(2 years) 30,000
University of Bristol B.Sc Geography(3 years) 29,600
University of Warwick Master in Drafting(2 years) 35,500
University of Glasgow B.Sc Geography(3 years) 28,420
University of Sheffield B.Sc Geography(3 years) 23,750

US

Canada

University Course Tuition Fees (Per Year) (USD)
University of Toronto B.Sc Geography(3 years) 17,827
Master of Geology 32,895
Master in Drafting(2 years) 47,572
McGill University B.Sc Geography(3 years) 17, 760
Master in Drafting(2 years) 32,930
Universite de Montreal Master in Drafting(2 years) 20,350
University of Alberta B.Sc Geography(3 years) 7,875
York University Master in Drafting(2 years) 59,388
Concordia University B.Sc Geography(3 years) 27,825

Australia

University Program Offered Total Program Fee (in USD)
University of Sydney B.Sc Geography(3 years) $67,661
University of New South Wales (UNSW) Master in Drafting(2 years) $34,956
University of Queensland B.Sc Geography(3 years) $61,132
Australian National University B.Sc Geography(3 years) $66,114
University of Adelaide B.Sc Geography(3 years) $60,757
University of Technology Sydney B.Sc Geography(3 years) $42,575
University of Wollongong B.Sc Geography(3 years) $32,510
Queensland University of Technology Master in Drafting(2 years) $47,915
Curtin University B.Sc Geography(3 years) $47,500
University of South Australia B.Sc Geography(3 years) $42,530

Benefits to become a Mapping Technician

  • High earning potential: Careers in mapping technician pay well in most fields, with some of the highest paying entry-level positions. On top of that, if you're hired early, you'll be able to make tremendous strides forward in your career and receive a generous raise in pay.
  • Job security: Job security is an important benefit of a career in becoming a mapping technician because it is an in-demand occupation. Positions in the field are usually safe. As a result of this being essential to existence, there are numerous job opportunities available. This gives you a lot of leeway to change companies, cities, and so on if you feel like you need a new challenge or a change.
  • Continue your education: Employers within this sector wish to see their workers continue advancing their education. Earning a better degree will also mean earning a better bank check.
  • Specialized knowledge: The mapping technician course is diverse and teeming with career opportunities for professionals. There are a variety of specialisations available if you want to focus on one aspect of the geology. Because there is such a wide range of positions available, there is a lot of room for advancement in your career. Furthermore, because the work is not location-specific, it is easier to relocate. If you want to expand your career outside of your home country, there are several options for pursuing a career in geology abroad.

Skills required to become a Mapping Technician

Commercial and Business Awareness Negotiation Skills and therefore the ability to influence others Good time management skills
Excellent Communication and Presentation Skills Strong Attention to detail Associate in Nursing and Inquiring Nature The ability to think on behalf of the team
An Associate in Geography Approach to figure Ability to balance the strain of Labour with study commitments Potential to guide and inspire others
High Attainment and Sound Technical Skills Problem Solving Skills and Initiative Capability to create fast as well as rational selections

Salary of a Mapping Technician

Salary of different job roles of a Mapping Technician vary as per their experiences and the level of seniority. A comparison between salary of different categories of Mapping Technician are given below in table-

Average annual salary

Name of organisation Average annual salary
Private INR 8,10,000
Public INR 3,22,700

Specialisation wise Salary

Specialisation Salary
GIS Specialist INR 5.3 LPA
Remote Sensing Specialist INR 5.5 LPA

Gender wise Salary

Gender Salary
Male INR 67500
Female INR 58900

Experience wise

Experience Salary
0-2 year INR 34,000
2-5 years INR 46,900
5-10 years INR 66,700
10-15 years INR 81,300
15-20 years INR 85,800
20+ years INR 93,500

How to become Mapping Technician : FAQs

Ques. Can I pursue a career as a town planner after becoming a Mapping Technician ?

Ans. Yes, you must first select an Urban and Regional Studies specialisation. After that, you can join any city or smart city planner team as an intern or Trainee and advance your career as you gain experience. Following the diploma course, you can enrol in a certificate course in town planning.

Ques. What advantages do students gain from pursuing a PGD in GIS and Remote Sensing at IIRS Dehradun?

Ans. Students will have the opportunity to work as Ph.D. Scholars for ITC in the Netherlands. Furthermore, IIRS manages various projects for various organisations such as NTSC, ISRO, and DRDO, and students would benefit from this experience.

Ques. How is the placement record for NIT Warangal's GIS and Remote Sensing students?

Ans. This isn't looking good. Only about 20% of students find work.

Ques. Can I get a master's degree in Mapping Technician?

Ans. Yes, several universities, including Aligarh Muslim University, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, and Jiwaji University, offer M.Sc. courses in GIS and RS.

Ques. Can MA students in Geography become Mapping Technicians?

Ans. No, only students majoring in Science, Technology, and Engineering are eligible to take the course.

Ques. What is the best Ph.D. research or dissertation topic in GIS and Remote Sensing?

Ans. There are numerous topics from which to choose based on your interests such as Advanced Transportation Management System ( ATMS ), Identification of Blackspot and their mapping using GIS, Bus stop planning etc and Urban Transportation System, etc.

Ques. What exactly is remote sensing?

Ans. This is a section of science technology by which observers get information about objects like soil, forest, Water, etc without touching it with the help of satellites and aircraft. There are two kinds of Techniques observers use: Image-Based and Microwave based.

Ques:What are the most recent specialisations for the PGD in GIS and Remote Sensing?

Ans. Spatial Data Science is a recent addition to the course's specialisations. This specialisation is related to data science, data mining, machine learning, and other related fields.

Ques. What are my career options after obtaining a Mapping Technician ?

Ans. Data Scientist, Market Analyst, GIS Developer, Spatial Data Modeler, and so on.

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