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Apprenticeship training course

Spatial data specialist (level 7)

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Information about Spatial data specialist (level 7)

Initiate and lead programmes and projects which use location to link, analyse and gain insight from multiple datasets.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Location data structures, datums, and standards.
  • Data classification and symbolisation for visualising and representing location data.
  • Sources of error, bias, imprecision and uncertainty, and how they may be affected by choice of data set or methodology, and incomplete data.
  • Implications of data quality including error, bias, imprecision, and uncertainty for decision-making.
  • The range of data formats available, their appropriate use, and their sources for example raster and vector format, remotely sensed data, and emerging data products.
  • Techniques to integrate, analyse, visualise, and interpret location data, for both natural or human environments.
  • Big-data and high-performance computing platforms and operating systems, local and remote High-Performance Computing HPC, and cloud computing.
  • Common location information software; repositories, programming languages, algorithm design, analysis and testing.
  • Database design and management, including information security considerations, and big data technologies.
  • Approaches to establishing the business value of location data analysis to deliver a solution in line with business needs, quality standards and timescales and the importance of location data and analysis to support and enhance multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Techniques in analysis research, design and deployment of location data used to meet the needs of the business and customers. Including limitations, compromises and trade-offs when translating location information and analytical theory into practice.
  • Communication techniques and approaches to interact with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • The responsibilities of working in professional environments in which location data is managed – including licensing, current and emerging legal, and regulatory frameworks.
  • The responsibilities of working in professional environments including ethical, standards and professional frameworks.
  • Operating systems, local and remote High-Performance Computing HPC, and cloud computing.
  • Project management principles and approaches.
  • Stakeholder engagement principles and approaches.
  • Location data curation and quality controls.
  • How sustainable thinking affects their industry, horizon scanning for potential changes in policy and legislation.

Skills

  • Recognise and evaluate the availability, format, scope and limitations of different types and formats of location data.
  • Select, acquire, integrate and maintain a variety of location data types and formats - for example raster, vector, attribute data and metadata - in GIS and linked databases.
  • Select and apply location analysis and modelling techniques to solve complex problems and meet business, time and budget requirements.
  • Analyse location information using programmatic methods, statistical and other quantitative and data integration approaches and visualise results.
  • Review project requirements and conduct stakeholder engagement to scope new project requirements, boundaries and approaches.
  • Assess, and communicate, the implications of incomplete location data on analysis, visualisation and decision making.
  • Selects communication methods to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders and audiences.
  • Implement location data curation and quality controls, for example geometric accuracy, thematic accuracy, resolution, precision and fitness for use, and overall meeting the requirements of relevant geospatial standards.
  • Evaluate, select and apply cartographic design principles and standards to create and edit static and interactive visual representations of location data such as maps, graphs and diagrams for print and digital outputs which meets the needs of different end-users.
  • Implement computational infrastructure and database solutions, internal or external cloud resources.
  • Implement automation and or customisation of GIS, location data analysis and visualisation tasks including Application Programming Interfaces APIs, Software Development Kits SDKs, common location data algorithms and scripting languages, for example Python or R.
  • Apply regulatory, legal, ethical and governance issues when evaluating choices at each stage of the location data lifecycle.
  • Apply project management principles to ensure delivery of business requirements and solutions.
  • Select computing platforms and operating systems appropriate to need.
  • Establish and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Personal responsibility for Continuous Professional Development.
  • Apply appropriate common location software tools to deliver location information outcomes.
  • Apply appropriate common location database and management tools to deliver location information outcomes.
  • Apply appropriate big data and common location computing platforms to deliver location information outcomes.
  • Apply appropriate common location operating systems and high performance computing and cloud computing to deliver location information outcomes.
  • Apply sustainable processes and practices within their role.

Behaviours

  • Take responsibility for keeping up to date with advances in the geospatial field and the opportunities these present for personal and or organisational development.
  • Act with integrity with respect to ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks and in a way that promotes trust in the profession.
  • Be self-directed in learning and reflection to improve and work towards evidence-based best practice.
  • Take personal responsibility for work objectives and delivery of outputs.
  • Be adaptable, demonstrating initiative, reliable and consistent, demonstrating discretion, resilience, self-awareness and team working.
  • Act as a role model to peers.
  • Treats people with dignity, and respects diversity, beliefs, and culture.
  • An advocate for sustainable approaches.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Digital
Qualification level
7
Equal to master’s degree
Course duration
24 months
Maximum funding
£18,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Geographic data scientist
  • Geographic information analyst
  • Geospatial analyst
  • Gis analyst
  • Gis consultant
  • Location information specialist
  • Location information specialist
  • Location intelligence analyst
  • Spatial data analyst

View more information about Spatial data specialist (level 7) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.