For what its worth, an article from the GIS perspective.
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I'm just a messenger, not taking sides with this.....
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From the article: ?ÿWhat is the Definition of ??Authoritative??
Wouldn't you like to try that tact with Payroll, or when getting issued a moving violation ? ?ÿ ?????ÿ
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Aside from the gross oversimplification of the NCEES structure, the article makes a few good points. GIS is not inherently evil, and GISPs have great value in modern society. There is enough crossover between our professions that would should be allies...
Generally a well-written and informative article. Bruce Joffe is a long-time professional acquaintance, and a solid proponent of surveyors and land surveying practice. Where his treatise falls short, however, is close to the end, where he asserts that GIS is a profession in and of itself. If the distinguishing criterion of a profession is being something one makes money at, then yes, there are a lot of professions.
But one of his own requirements for a profession is that it be licensed or certified. Let’s ignore the certification stipulation—certificates not backed by authoritative legislation may look nice on your wall but aren’t legally persuasive in a courtroom. Published licensing requirements by municipal, state and/or federal regulations separate talking the talk from walking the walk. As professional surveyors, we are subject to potentially-expensive penalties for shoddy practice. Nowhere in Mr. Joffe’s subsequent arguments for GIS as a profession does his own requirement for licensing appear.
GIS is a valuable tool used by technicians and professionals in many disciplines. Although several states even license surveyors with a specialization in GIS applications (e.g., North Carolina), the notion of “GIS Professionals” being in the same category of liability and responsibility as are professional land surveyors is simply fake news.
Rudy Stricklan, RLS, GISP (the useless certification required by academic institutions...)
