What You'll Do

  • Identify, scale, and orient geodetic points, elevations, and other planimetric or topographic features, applying standard mathematical formulas.
  • Collect information about specific features of the Earth, using aerial photography and other digital remote sensing techniques.
  • Revise existing maps and charts, making all necessary corrections and adjustments.
  • Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.
  • Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy.
  • Determine map content and layout, as well as production specifications such as scale, size, projection, and colors, and direct production to ensure that specifications are followed.
  • Examine and analyze data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare topographic maps, aerial-photograph mosaics, and related charts.
  • Select aerial photographic and remote sensing techniques and plotting equipment needed to meet required standards of accuracy.
  • Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments.
  • Build and update digital databases.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Writing 3.5/5
Critical Thinking 3.5/5
Active Listening 3.38/5
Active Learning 3.25/5
Speaking 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.12/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.12/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Intellectual Curiosity, Cautiousness, Integrity

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Near Vision 3.88/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.62/5
Oral Expression 3.5/5
Written Expression 3.5/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.5/5
Flexibility of Closure 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Dreamweaver Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Aerotriangulation adjustment software Aldus FreeHand Arbor Image Draftsman Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk World Bentley MicroStation Bentley Systems InRoads Suite Boeing Kork Digital Mapping Boeing SoftPlotter C Computer aided design CAD software Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite Corporate Montage CADScript Cosmo Software Cosmo World

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.46/5)
  • Intellectual Curiosity (High importance: 4.41/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.35/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.13/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aerial Photogrammetrist Cadastral Mapper Cartographer Cartographic Designer Cartographic Drafter Cartography Technician Data Mapper Digital Cartographer Field Map Editor Geospatial Specialist Imagery Analyst LIDAR Technician (Light Detection and Ranging Technician) Map Editor Map Maker Mapper Maritime Cartographer Orthophotography Technician Photo Cartographer Photogrammetric Engineer Photogrammetric Technician Photogrammetrist Stereo Compiler Stereoplotter Operator Topographer

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.