Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

Provide technical support and services to geoscience projects including the construction and pre-publication processing of digital and hardcopy geoscience maps, data-sets and compilation products.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Job is delivered mainly through technical and geoscience project support services under supervision of manager by:

1. Facilitating the design, construction and production of hardcopy and digital geoscience products through the application of program-specific software, GIS technology, tools and databases. Conducting pre-publication processing of digital map products following established cartographic standards; conducting quality assurance and quality control of digital map products before submission for publication.

2. Assisting in the organization of completed project materials for archiving; maintaining an inventory of microscopes and organizing servicing; responsible for temporary rock sample storage and providing support in the preparation of rock samples for geochemical analysis (e.g. cutting rocks on a rock saw); responsible for rock-cutting facilities; assisting with equipment preparations for fieldwork.

3. Manipulating geoscience data using GIS and add-on software to construct specific summary data-sets from corporate databases for geoscience products and to facilitate data interpretation by geoscientists. Constructing, populating and maintaining geoscience databases for internal and external use.

4. Obtaining and preparing digital base maps, digital imagery (e.g. radar & satellite images, digital elevation models, etc.) for geoscience mapping projects.

5. Providing technical advice and guidance on digital drafting, cartographic standards and GIS-related geoscience mapping techniques to professional/technical staff and student assistants. Participating as a member on branch and divisional design teams and providing input during development and modification of internal cartographic and publication standards.

Staffing and Licencing :

n/a

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of current Geographic Information System (GIS) software to digitally construct geoscience maps, modify topographic base maps and compile a variety of geoscience datasets in a structured digital environment (digitizing, data input, editing, organizing spatial and attribute data, joining adjacent map sheets, projecting data, trimming lines, weeding data to create 'seamless' bases); conducting pre-publication processing of geoscience maps to produce maps and graphics that adhere to standards of quality, accuracy, consistency, completeness, usefulness and esthetics; understand the capabilities, utilization, application and relationship between GIS and other graphics software to construct maps, perform spatial queries and assist with the design of digital maps and compilation of geo-relational databases.

Job requires knowledge of geologic, cartographic, and geographic (spatial geometry) principles for accurate digital geological map construction. For example, knowing and applying appropriate rock-type colors, geological symbology, standard line types, patterns, text size, integrating various map projections, datums, to create accurate and esthetic maps/diagrams.

Job requires knowledge of standard and specialized cartographic design using specialized graphics software (e.g. Adobe Illustrator) to construct various graphics and integration of images. For example, creating an effective compilation map and GIS product by integrating summarized data from GIS spatial query results, base maps, MS-Access tabular data, MS-Excel graphs, and scanned photographs.

Job requires knowledge of geologic and technical terms and descriptions used in construction of geologic maps and related graphics to correctly use geologic symbology attributes and patterns so that geoscience data is presented consistently and correctly. Job requires knowledge of geological principles to carry out pre-publication processing of bedrock geology maps, such as, identifying errors in geological symbology, rock type coding, layer and line standards.

Job requires knowledge of applicable and available software and hardware including software for map construction, data management, data manipulation and interpretation, spreadsheets and word processing.

Job requires knowledge and understanding of digital topographic base maps, projections and co-ordinate systems and methods to effectively modify and edit base maps for use in geologic maps (e.g. converting NAD27 to NAD83 and selecting correct projections).

Job requires knowledge of time and workload management practices to deal with overlapping project timelines and tight timelines for completion of deliverables.

Job requires some knowledge or familiarity with microscopes used by geoscientists; rock saws and rock-cutting techniques; use of scissor lifts and working at heights for accessing archived materials and the ability to lift and move heavy objects such as rock pails and storage containers.

Job requires knowledge of Health and Safety regulations and knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health and safety that apply to the workplace to ensure compliance and safety.

Skills :

Job requires analytical and research skills to solve GIS-based problems, such as linking map files with tabular data, and conducting spatial queries on the linked data. This involves considerable analysis of the structure of the existing databases and their relationship to GIS attributes. It also involves isolating elements of the database and determining how given elements can interact with geographic information. Analytical ability is required to recognize inconsistencies and or errors in work submitted by geoscientists (legends, line types, etc.) and respond to the problems by making necessary modifications or adjustments in working to meet the standards for final products.

Job requires problem solving skills to select the best solution for performing non-standard GIS technical tasks, for example, to integrate GIS technology in map creation and to ensure compliance with cartographic map production standards; or to develop solutions or options to cartographic and GIS problems that can be integrated into the mapping process to match changing requirements.

Job requires the ability to assess and evaluate new software packages and their applicability to the goals of geoscience projects and map making procedures.

Job requires communication skills to understand instructions, ask questions for clarification and clearly convey detailed information and instructions to managers and geoscientists and to discuss details of completed geoscience products submitted for publication. Job requires ability to clearly explain detailed concepts and techniques for performing GIS tasks to internal and external professionals using appropriate technical language and terminology.

Job requires interpersonal and teamwork skills to empathize with individual style preferences and understand professional staff needs for digital drafting, and to diplomatically manage and communicate time required for completing requests based on priority.

Job requires organizational and time management skills to manage multiple projects and timelines and to organize project materials, rock samples and thin sections for the archives.

Freedom of Action :

Under general supervision the job requires compliance with established program procedures, practices and guidelines with respect to the format of maps, databases, figures, diagrams, etc. However, the job has freedom to develop custom display methods (maps, charts, diagrams, databases) and database design for non-standard technical products. Job requires incumbent to organize own work and methods to achieve desired results; overcome all problems of a technical or subject matter nature governed by the plans, standards, policies, procedures and purposes of the defined area of work; advising manager of project progress and referring unusual operational issues to manager. Work is monitored and reviewed by professional staff and/or section manager. Work priorities are established and set by section manager.

Job has freedom to assess needs and instructions from professional geoscientists and choose among several alternative methodologies to meet their demands with minimal daily supervision. Job makes decisions by analyzing, identifying and resolving problems related to digital map construction. Job has freedom to decide whether incoming base maps and outgoing map manuscripts meet well established quality, format and completeness standards through review of preliminary, pre-publication digital map files. Job requires the freedom to recognize inconsistencies and/or errors in work submitted by professional/technical staff, to respond to the issues and problems through detailed discussions with professional/technical staff and to make or recommend the necessary modifications to meet the standards or requirements. Job has freedom to decide on appropriate approach to best integrate diverse datasets to illustrate interpretations by geoscientists on complex geological maps; and to prepare detailed maps by compiling, plotting and drafting from sketches, notes and instructions, proprietary data of variable quality and previously published maps of variable quality and vintage.

Job has freedom to develop new procedures to meet needs of geoscientists or to solve a map construction-related problem. Job has freedom to participate in the development of cartographic standards and specifications or recommend modification of cartographic standards and specifications for the digital aspects of new product types and attributed maps.