Science & Technology Opportunity: Cartographer

Cartographer Current Vacancies

2007-06-17:

Cartographers produce and develop detailed geographical information in the form of maps, graphs, charts, diagrams and spreadsheets for use in various areas such as conservation, surveying, publishing and government.

This involves collecting and collating data provided by means such as remote sensing techniques and geographical information systems GIS and presenting information mainly by generating and manipulating images on computer.

Senior staff will also have responsibility for managing staff, projects and resources.
Cartography technicians assist cartographers in the preparation, maintenance and cataloguing of maps, and may assist in fieldwork projects.

The work is largely office-based.
The government employs cartographers in the Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland departments, in the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency Headquarters and in the Hydrograhic Office UK.

Small numbers are also employed in other departments such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs DEFRA, the Met Office and the Department of Transport.

Other employers include planning departments in local authorities, oil companies, utilities companies, commercial map publishers, specialist cartographic and mapping companies and the British Geological Survey.

Some cartographers do freelance work, offering services to cartographic companies or publishers, but opportunities for this are small, and working on this basis will involve a large finacial outlay for equipment.

Members of the British Cartograhic Society can have their details entered on the societys freelance directory (Permalink)