We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Does a Spatial Analyst Do?

By A. Leverkuhn
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,256
Share

A spatial analyst typically studies a specific zone or territory according to some quite different evaluations of spatial relationships. This includes using many new technologies and resources to study areas in terms of geography, topography, or biological makeup. Many kinds of spatial analyst jobs also involve cartographic representation of phenomena, whether it’s social phenomena such as crime or polling results, economic data, or any other kind of demographic study.

Different kinds of spatial analysts work within various fields and industries, and they tend to be rather specialized. For example, a marine spatial analyst may study a marine area for the purposes of broader ecological studies, or more specific attempts to assess or characterize the spatial distributions of wildlife. These professionals might collect and analyze field data or come up with visual or text representations of collected data. In this case, the spatial analysis that is done focuses on providing concrete information about the occurrence of various kinds of marine life within a lake, river, or larger body of water.

Many spatial analysts use geospatial technology to assess, evaluate, or model a particular area. This kind of assistive technology helps to define spatial points and to monitor them more effectively. From use of satellite images to other various methods of data collection, geospatial technology applies to many different kinds of projects, and is used by professionals in highly diverse ways.

The job of a spatial analyst will typically include both a field component and a research component. Many of these professionals spend a lot of time relaying information to an audience, whether that is an internal department or a broader public audience. While much of the work of a spatial analyst is often done on computers, many of these individuals also venture out into the territories that they analyze order to accurately and effectively capture more information for research.

Although much of the job of a spatial analyst may revolve around specific set metrics for research, in some cases, these job roles can be expended to include higher-level analysis of existing programs. Some lower-level spatial analysts may spend over 90% of their time working on projects previously defined by others, but higher level spatial analysts may find themselves involved in assessing methods or even goals for projects, and figuring out if prior instructions and protocols are still relevant to an employer's general purpose. The "rank" of a spatial analyst within a company or agency will usually impact how much of this kind of evaluation the professional will perform.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-does-a-spatial-analyst-do.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.