A cartographer is a person who draws maps for various purposes. They will create maps for political, social and cultural purposes. A cartographer examines the routes and shortcuts carefully and makes maps. They collect geographical data and make maps. A cartographic professional will compile data regarding the geography, population using the satellite images. They study the statistics and give the important information in the maps. They use information from satellites and LIDARS (Light image detection and ranging).
A cartographer makes data for types of services like the military, industries, special territories and tourists. They collect, analyze and interpret spatial and both non-spacial data. Maps are created either in graphic or digital form.
Being a cartographer is not an easy job .A cartographer links roads, nations and worlds. You can be a cartographer if you lean cartographic grammar and do laboratory work to get high-level skills in digital-mapping .Some of the basic qualification you need to be a cartographer are skills in mathematics, patial awareness, ability to analyze information from different sources, logical approach, a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. And if you can add onto academic qualifications then you can be a cartographer.
To be a cartographer you must study the related courses in geography such as B.Sc Geography, M.Sc Geography, M.Sc Applied Geography, M.Sc Spatial Information Technology, M.Sc Cartography, M.Sc Geographic Information System, M.Sc Remote Sensing, M.Sc Geoinformatics, M.Tech Geoinformatics, P.G.Diploma in GIS, Cartography, Surveying and mapping/topographic/earth sciences or urban and land studies before applying for jobs.
Step 1 To become a cartographer you must pass 12th std with mathematics as one of your main subject
Step 2 some of the graduate courses you can apply for being a a cartographer are
1)BSc Geography
Eligibility-Must have passed 12th std with mathematics
Duration-Three years
Government Arts College , Coimbatore
Step 3 Given below are some of the masters course to become a Cartographer
1)MSc Applied Geology
Eligibility –Graduation
Duration-Two yrs
University of Chennai, Chennai
2)MSc GeoInformatics
Eligibility –Graduation
Duration-Two yrs
Symbiosis Institute of GeoInformatics, Pune
3)Mtech in GeoInformatics
Eligibility –Graduation
Duration-Two yrs
Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune
You will be employed as cartographers in National Survey and Mapping Organizations .You can work in research institutes and Space research organizations as cartographers. Other fields where you can get employed are NASA, US Geological survey, Land Management, Fish and wild life services, National parks, forest service.
Income will depend on the type of organization you work for. In the beginning you will get Rs 10,000 –Rs 15,000 as assistants .If you can specialize on your topic in phd’s then you will get more per months.With 3 yrs or more you can get Rs 40,000-Rs 45,000 per month.
