Geospatial organizations collaborate on credentialing efforts

Des Plaines, IL, March 24, 2015 -- The GISCI Board is pleased to announce that they have entered into an information sharing memorandum with the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).

This agreement is designed to further inform the Foundation’s Universal GEOINT Credentialing program. USGIF has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) as well as a memorandum of agreement with the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI).

“We are very pleased that we have entered into this relationship with USGIF, as we are convinced it marks a continuing step in the geospatial evolution of our profession and industry,” said Bill Hodge, executive director of GISCI. “This agreement gives USGIF and GISCI the opportunity and means to continue our conversation to find a common ground in geospatial certification and credentialing, as both efforts move forward in our respective organizations.”

USGIF is in the process of standing up its new Universal GEOINT Credentialing program, which it plans to beta test in June at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium and officially roll out in the fall. This in-depth credential will require knowledge of remote sensin g and imagery analysis,GIS, data management, and synthesis/reporting. It is designed to allow geospatial professionals to distinguish themselves as internationally recognized practitioners.

“These memorandums are designed to continue to foster communication and provide a more formal mechanism for outreach between the organizations,” said Dr. Darryl Murdock, USGIF’s vice president of professional development. “A primary driver of these initiatives is to share information about our respective credentialing programs.”

ASPRS offers six certifications related to photogrammetry and remote sensing, while GISCI is known for its GIS Professional (GISP) certification. The information sharing partnerships are also intended to help explore the possibility of reciprocity among existing geospatial credentials and those currently in development.

“ASPRS has a longstanding certification program in photogrammetry and in mapping sciences,” said Michael Hauck, executive director of ASPRS. “It makes sense for us to work with USGIF and its credentialing program to find alignment where we can. For both USGIF and ASPRS it’s about providing service to our members and the community at large.”

To learn more about GISCI’s GISP Certification, visit www.gisci.org.

To learn more about USGIF’s Universal GEOINT Credentialing program, visit www.usgif.org.

About GISCI

The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) provides the geographic information systems (GIS) community with a complete certification program. GISCI offers participants from the first years on the job until retirement a positive method of developing value for professionals and employers in the GIS profession.

The organization is now developing an exam component for the GISP Certification to be implemented in early 2015.

Contacts:
Bill Hodge GISP
Executive Director  GISCI
Office (IL) (847) 824-7768 
Cell  (325) 315-3251
www.gisci.org   
bhodge@gisci.org

GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), 701 Lee St, Ste. 680, Des Plaines IL  60016