Cartographic Technician

The incumbent of this position serves as a Cartographic Technician with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Digitizing Center, in Madison, Wisconsin. Develops resource layers using both scanning and manual digitizing. Digitizes area, line, and point features from soil survey layers at various scales and from various source documents. Follows agency standards and guidelines to produce accurate and precise digital reproduction of source documents. Generates digital soil maps with various software products such as ArcGIS, ARC/INFO, and ArcView. Works in Windows operating system. Utilizes ArcGIS software to clean, label, and merge scanned and digitized files. Joins and edge matches digitized soil survey files. Registers layers to proper coordinates (UTM, Datum). Creates digital information and GIS cartographic products. Moves large complex data sets across the network and writes data to DVD’s and CD ROM’s. Distributes data to field offices and external customers. Performs initial and final reviews for digital data using Arc/INFO with extensive customized Automated Macro Language (AML) process. Develops Metadata for Soil Survey Geographic Databases (SSURGO) digitizing work. Maintains daily records of time distribution and work accomplishments. Performs quality control checks to make sure data is captured correctly. Provides assistance to several trade shows. Assists lower level technicians, students, and volunteers as needed. Serves as lead technician for data distribution. Maintains the statewide digital ortho-photography library. Develops and maintains the spatial and tabular database used for tracking the library’s holdings. Trains other staff members. Makes corrections to digital files to resolve problems noted in quality control reviews. Works with technical and professional staff at the Digitizing Center and professional staff at several other State and regional offices to solve data problems. Supports and participates in Civil Rights (CR) program activities.