Career Overview
Apply remote sensing technologies to assist scientists in areas such as natural resources, urban planning, or homeland security. May prepare flight plans or sensor configurations for flight trips.
Also Known As
- Digital Cartographic Technician
- Geospatial Extractor
- Meteorologist Liaison
- Research Associate
Alternate Job Titles
- Commercial Drone Operator
- Commercial Drone Pilot
- Commercial Drone Technician
- Digital Cartographic Technician
- Document Image Technician
- Drone Operator
- Drone Pilot
- Drone Technician
- Geospatial Extractor
- Geospatial Technician (Geospatial Tech)
- Image Scientist
- Imagery Analyst
- LIDAR Analyst (Light Detection and Ranging Analyst)
- LIDAR Technician (Light Detection and Ranging Technician)
- Locate Technician (Locate Tech)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Collect geospatial data, using technologies such as aerial photography, light and radio wave detection systems, digital satellites, or thermal energy systems.
- Verify integrity and accuracy of data contained in remote sensing image analysis systems.
- Integrate remotely sensed data with other geospatial data.
- Consult with remote sensing scientists, surveyors, cartographers, or engineers to determine project needs.
- Adjust remotely sensed images for optimum presentation by using software to select image displays, define image set categories, or choose processing routines.
- Manipulate raw data to enhance interpretation, either on the ground or during remote sensing flights.
- Merge scanned images or build photo mosaics of large areas, using image processing software.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Operate remote sensing equipment on drones to collect data in areas that are difficult to access or require high-resolution imagery.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Geography
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Critical Thinking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Integrity
- Adaptability
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Independence
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Photoshop
- AJAX
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Atlassian Confluence
- Atlassian JIRA
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Bentley MicroStation
Tools & Equipment
- Airfield lighting equipment
- Anemometers
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- DJI GS Pro
- DroneDeploy
- Field computers
- Fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles UAV
- Gamma ray scintillometers
- Geophysical magnetometers
- Global positioning system GPS devices
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Ground control targets
- Hyperspectral imaging equipment
- Landing pad
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Sitting
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Remote Sensing Technicians.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $37,310 |
| Median | $60,130 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $101,870 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 71,400
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $117,960
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $70,760
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $68,810
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $48,390
Geodetic Surveyors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $72,740
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.