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Career Details

19-2099.01 - Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists


Apply remote sensing principles and methods to analyze data and solve problems in areas such as natural resource management, urban planning, or homeland security. May develop new sensor systems, analytical techniques, or new applications for existing systems.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
28,500
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
28,800
Estimate
Change in Employment
300.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+1%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Analyze data acquired from aircraft, satellites, or ground-based platforms, using statistical analysis software, image analysis software, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
  • Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information.
  • Integrate other geospatial data sources into projects.
  • Prepare or deliver reports or presentations of geospatial project information.
  • Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation.
  • Process aerial or satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps.
  • Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of geographic data.
  • Direct all activity associated with implementation, operation, or enhancement of remote sensing hardware or software.
  • Collect supporting data, such as climatic or field survey data, to corroborate remote sensing data analyses.
  • Compile and format image data to increase its usefulness.
  • Conduct research into the application or enhancement of remote sensing technology.
  • Discuss project goals, equipment requirements, or methodologies with colleagues or team members.
  • Develop automated routines to correct for the presence of image distorting artifacts, such as ground vegetation.
  • Develop new analytical techniques or sensor systems.
  • Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.
  • Monitor quality of remote sensing data collection operations to determine if procedural or equipment changes are necessary.
  • Attend meetings or seminars or read current literature to maintain knowledge of developments in the field of remote sensing.
  • Participate in fieldwork.
  • Set up or maintain remote sensing data collection systems.
  • Train technicians in the use of remote sensing technology.
  • Apply remote sensing data or techniques, such as surface water modeling or dust cloud detection, to address environmental issues.
  • Use remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities to assess the impact of environmental change.
Supplemental
  • Direct installation or testing of new remote sensing hardware or software.
  • Recommend new remote sensing hardware or software acquisitions.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Geography
  • 93%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
 Mathematics
  • 81%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 English Language
  • 80%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 77%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Physics
  • 67%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Education and Training
  • 64%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 61%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Administration and Management
  • 54%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Biology
  • 54%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 52%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Design
  • 51%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Cameras
  • Airborne imaging systems
  • Spaceborne imaging systems
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Mainframe computers
  • Personal computers
 Radar and sonar systems and components
  • Doppler Rayleigh laser imaging ranging and detecting LIDAR systems
  • Synthetic aperture radar SAR
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • Hyperspectral imaging equipment
  • Multispectral imaging equipment
  • Spectral imaging systems
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Data management and query software
  • Amazon DynamoDBHOT
  • Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2HOT
  • Amazon RedshiftHOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHOT
  • Apache HadoopHOT
  • Apache HiveHOT
  • Customer relationship management CRM software
  • ElasticsearchHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • NoSQLHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • PostgreSQLHOT
  • Salesforce softwareHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • TableauHOT
 Networking software
  • Amazon Simple Storage Service S3HOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Ansible softwareHOT
  • Atlassian JIRAHOT
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Development software
  • Apache KafkaHOT
  • C
  • C++HOT
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • Hypertext preprocessor PHP
  • Interface definition language IDL
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSONHOT
  • Microsoft AzureHOT
  • Microsoft Visual C#
  • Node.jsHOT
  • Objective CHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • PuppetHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RubyHOT
  • Ruby on RailsHOT
  • ScalaHOT
  • SeleniumHOT
  • SwiftHOT
 Network applications software
  • Apache Webserver
  • Docker Software
  • GitHubHOT
  • Web browser software
 Information exchange software
  • BAE Systems SOCET GXP
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Gamma remote sensing software
  • Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
  • PCI Geomatics Geomatica
 Operating environment software
  • BashHOT
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • UNIXHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Epic SystemsHOT
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCSHOT
  • RSI ENVI
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Image processing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • YouTubeHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Unknown
 Product/Equipment
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Wytheville Community College