ASPRS Announces Certification of the First GIS/LIS Technologist

Justin Carasick is the first GIS/LIS Technologist to complete the requirements for certification under the recently introduced American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) certification program for technologists.  Carasick specializes in GIS mapping, training, and programming.  He is an ESRI authorized ArcGIS trainer and a Navy contractor.  He performs master plan files, sets up maps for digitizing, topological overlays, conversion of various maps and data into a GIS, and data attribution.  He has worked with NAVAC Southern Command – Marine Corps Air Station, Beufort, South Carolina, and Pensacola Naval Air Station. He has also assisted numerous county appraisers’ offices in Florida as a GIS Analyst and Programmer.  Carasick has provided GIS training for the Gainsville, Florida Police, Fire & Rescue and Public Works Departments.  He holds a BA in Geography from the University of Florida.

In October, 2003, ASPRS announced final approval of the new ASPRS certification program for technologists — specifically geared to drafting technicians, inspectors, photographers, laboratory technicians, stereoscopic instrument or plotter operators, computations technicians, field survey assistants, interpretation technicians, image analysts, data processors, and digitizers.  This certification was instituted to give those working at the technologist level an opportunity to be recognized by ASPRS for their respective contributions. 

The technologist level is defined as work that is primarily of a technical nature, often demanding a high degree of skill, done under the direction of a professional who is responsible for its outcome.  Such work is pre-professional when performed by a professional trainee who, having completed courses of specialized intellectual instruction and study, is seeking to attain professional status.

The following categories of ASPRS technologist certification are now being offered:

Certified Photogrammetric Technologist (ASPRS)
A technician who performs or supervises technical photogrammetric tasks to extract spatial data from photographic or digital imagery.

Certified Remote Sensing Technologist (ASPRS)
A technician who performs or supervises tasks to interpret, manipulate, extract, process and convert remotely sensed data from photographic or digital imagery.

Certified GIS/LIS Technologist (ASPRS)
A technician who integrates a variety of spatial data sets into a GIS format designed for graphic output or analysis.

For more information on the certification@asprs.org or visit the ASPRS web site:

Certification, general information:http://www.asprs.org/asprs/membership/certification/index.html

Certification Guidelines: http://www.asprs.org/asprs/membership/certification/certification_guidelines.html

Application for Certified Technologist:
http://www.asprs.org/asprs/membership/certification/Technologist_Application.pdf

Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 7,000 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.