When a young student is trying to think of a good career for them in the future they have much to consider. Many do not even consider cartography. Some because they do not know what this is. For others, they figure that much of the world has been mapped already so what demand would there be for them should they become trained in this?
Modern Cartographers
There are many job seekers that may come across positions that are open for cartographers but they are not qualified for this type of work. The cartographers of today are much different than those who performed these services many years ago. Now added to their skills is being data analysts. The problem is with the technology available for the collection of data there is not as yet efficient ways to be able to use this.
The Job Market
The hub of technology is Silicon Valley and this is the very region that is avidly seeking out map makers. This is because maps play such an important role in so many different industries. These range from public health to real estate.
The Role of the Cartographer
One can say that the cartographers of today are mapping the future. Not that much different than the map makers of days of old. Except the data used is different. They have the role of being able to measure and analyze data and interpret geographical information. These maps are used as resources for cultural and political industries as well as the education field.
Collecting Data
To map the future the map makers have to first gather all of the necessary information that pertains to the type of map they are creating. They have a lot of modern technology and resources available to them for this but they still have a lot of field work to do. The maps they produce can be critically important to a large number of industries.