GIS Consultants Key Terms

Some key terms for GIS consulting

A Geographic Information System, or GIS, is a great tool for any of today's businesses that have material assets or equipment. GIS allows for building automated maps to track business assets or for other research and development goals. GIS is versatile and it's a powerful new technology, and more and more businesses, including larger corporations and public works agencies for municipalities and government, are hiring GIS professionals to help get GIS solutions implemented.

 

Retainer agreement

The retainer is a fee that a business agrees to pay a consultant on the outset to get him or her on board. This kind of fee is common within industries, including GIS consulting.
Try: Take a look at a simple retainer agreement on DocStoc to get more detail on what a retainer might look like.

GIS system

A GIS is a computer system that analyzes geographic information. One of the main things a business will need to know when talking to a consultant is exactly what its GIS system will be like. GIS has a versatility in application, and buyers should know how GIS will work for their shop.
Try: Get a lot of details on what a GIS system is and how it works at What is GIS.

GISCI and GISP

A "GIS Professional" is a GIS worker who has been certified by the "GIS Cerification Institute" (GISCI). The institute has a copyright on these terms and when they appear, they represent the legitimate stamp of approval by this agency for ensuring that GIS professionals (GISP) are properly trained and credentialed.
Try: Find out more at the GISCI site.

GIS Certificate

In addition to the GISCI, there's a number of schools that provide students with other GIS certifications.
Try: Take a look at the Degree Directory to find out how GIS professionals get trained, and how certification might come through a different avenue than direct application to the GISCI.

Map automation

One of the common services performed by GIS consultants is map automation. This kind of process helps "link" business assets to a centralized system where they can be tracked and monitored over time.
Try: See a good overview of map automation at this IBM page.

GIS consultant billing rates

Another common idea that businesses will want to research is the "fee schedules" or billing rates of GIS consulting companies. Some companies will charge per hour, others per project and others a mix of the two. Some use "multipliers" of a salary base to calculate fees.
Try: Take a look at some info on what GIS consultants might generally charge at Directions.

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