GIS and Remote Sensing as an Emerging Career Option

Most of the countries in the world have started specialising in Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). In India, the lack of skilled workforce has always been a concern. With the advent of new and advanced technology, the importance of geospatial science is going to amplify. Accelerated growth and development prospects in India would encourage several industries and businesses to use GIS and Remote Sensing. These tools and techniques can be widely used in the fields of agriculture, irrigation, forestry, transportation and others. Geoinformatics includes GIS, Remote Sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS).

Top 12 Institutes in India Offering Graduate and Post Graduate Courses on GIS and Remote Sensing

1. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun - M.Tech in Remote Sensing and GIS 2. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay – M.Tech in Remote Sensing 3. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, Kanpur and Roorkee – Department of Geoinformatics 4. Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University, Chennai - M.Tech in Remote Sensing, B.E & M.E in Geoinformatics 5. Symbiosis Institute of Geoinformatics, Pune – M.Sc. in Geoinformatics and M.Tech in Geoinformatics and Surveying Technology 6. Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, - M.Tech in Geoinformatics and M. Tech in Geological Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics 7. Jamia Millia Islamia, (A Central University), New Delhi – PG Diploma in Remote Sensing and GIS Application. 8. Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi – M.Sc. and M.Tech in Remote Sensing 9. The National Power Training Institute, Faridabad 10. School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata – Post Graduate Diploma in GIS and Remote Sensing. 11. Environmental Systems Research Institute 12. University of Allahabad – PG Diploma in Remote Sensing and GIS

Job Opportunities

The increased use of geospatial technology in different industries has improved the scope of job opportunities in GIS and Remote Sensing. Every area ranging from missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology to urban administration, e-governance, remote sensing and even advertising and marketing today depend on geo-spatial data. The skills required to be a successful GIS professional changed and evolved over the years. Though an elective of the civil engineering stream, it can also be taken up by the students of other subjects, especially geography and geology, as a specialisation. There are a number of career opportunities in this field, both in India and abroad. Thus, candidates from a wide variety of professional and educational backgrounds (e.g. Geography, Urban Planning, Cartography, Engineering, Computer Science and so on) aspire to be successful GIS professionals.

Public and Private sector companies in India employ GIS professionals at various levels.

Public Sector Organisations

• Indian Space Research Organization • National Remote Sensing Center • National Spatial Data Infrastructure • Indian Institute of Remote Sensing • Forest Survey of India • Geological Survey of India • Survey of India • Department of Science and Technology • Ministry of Defence • Ministry of Environment • National Informatics Centre • North Eastern Space Applications Center • Indian Agricultural Research Institute • Agricultural Department and Irrigation Department • Meteorological Department • Mining, Soil Conservation, Land Degradation and Ground Water Management • Natural Resource Management • Indian Council of Agriculture Research • Space Application Centers and Aviation • Urban Development Authorities and Municipalities • Watershed and Wetland Management

Private Sector and Other Organizations

There are opportunities in the field of Telecommunication, Oil & Gas and Transportation sector. Those interested in pursuing GIS as a career stream will find a very resourceful crowdsourced directory of several companies at gisinindia (dot) com/directory/gis-companies-in-india.

Job Positions

GIS and Remote Sensing professionals can be hired at various levels in positions like GIS Mapping Technician, GIS Data Specialist, GIS Application Specialist, GIS Business Analyst, GIS Engineer, GIS Operator, GIS Consultant, Geospatial Software Engineer, GIS Programmer, and GIS Technical Assistant.

Expected Salary

With the increased demand of Geoinformatics, the pay structure has improved. It depends on the experience as well as the position that is applied for. The expected salary of a GIS Analyst can range from Rs 1.4 lakh to Rs 5.9 lakh per annum; GIS Engineer can range from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum and a GIS Project Manager from Rs 6.0 to Rs 11 lakh per annum. Read More: Job insecurity and how to cope with it Beware of Online Job Offers – The Real Ones Don’t Come So Easy! Is Declining Employability of MBA Graduates a Growing Concern? Skill India Programme Unemployment on rise in India Problems faced by youth in india Health Issues of Call Centre Employees Do we still need a reservation or quota system in India? Is Joining Armed Forces an Attractive Career Option? Top 10 Engineering Colleges in India Top 10 Medical Colleges in India Top 10 MBA Colleges in India Top 10 Commerce Colleges in India Top Universities in India