Remote Sensing GIS Analyst

Join Sanborn’s award-winning team! Sanborn is looking to fill a position for a Remote Sensing / GIS Analyst focused on vegetation mapping. The position is responsible for producing mid-level map products using the CALVEG classification system and that are compliant with National and Regional existing vegetation (EVEG) data standards. The majority of the work for this project will take place in an office setting and will involve working closely with a multi-disciplinary team of ecologists and foresters. The other component of the project will require fieldwork for data collection consisting of collecting information on species composition, structural, and fuels characteristics.

The primary work location will be at the Remote Sensing Lab in McClellan Park, CA. Occasional field work will be required for collecting, training and map attribute accuracy assessment data throughout the state of California.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Soils, Geology, Hydrology, Geography or related degree.

• Five years of intensive and progressive experience requiring extensive use of GIS and Remote Sensing related tools.

Candidates must be familiar with multiple vegetation classification systems, including CALVEG, California Wildlife Habitat Relationships, Manual of California Vegetation, and the National Vegetation Classification.

Experience using a Riegel (model VZ-400i) terrestrial LiDAR scanner for field data collection using a predetermined sampling and plot design.

Coursework and work-related experience pertaining to forestry, ecology or natural resource management, as well as extensive experience with photo/image interpretation and plant species identification is required. Image interpretation, be it multispectral or traditional scanned photography, is critical to the success of the candidate.

TASKS
Image interpretation and map editing of existing vegetation maps.

• Manual editing of feature classes to improve the spatial and attribute accuracy of ancillary layers that are incorporated into the image segmentation process using ESRI ArcPro.
• Assist with pre-planning for field data collection and qualitatively assessing errors in datasets used for modeling, requiring extensive knowledge of vegetation types and ranges within California’s bioregions.
• Coordination among the team members using Microsoft Office products to ensure timely delivery of existing vegetation products. Coordination with the program manager and the designated project lead to assure distribution and flow of work.
• Quality assurance and quality control of mapping products shall be conducted at several stages of the mapping process. Manual image interpretation shall be needed to augment training and validation sample sizes of field collected data that are used for assessing model outputs and conducting an accuracy assessment of classification outputs of remotely sensed data.
• Attribution of polygons with regional dominance type, percent cover from above, and tree size class for use as training sites in the classification of imagery is another requirement of the project. The extensive use of multi-source imagery, from spaceborne and airborne platforms, for the interpretation and identification of vegetation dominance types and structural attributes comprises the majority of the SOW duties for this level of support.
• Use of existing ancillary data sets and accuracy assessments to assist in the streamlining and development of vegetation map products is vital to making improvements to revisited (map updates) project areas.
• Knowledge of an object-based image processing package, in particular eCognition, ENVI, and ERDAS Imagine. The user will create or modify Python scripts based on the mapping area needs.
• Gathering image-to-image tie points or field collected coordinates using JAVAD GNSS equipment.
• Capability to support Wildland Fire GIS efforts which include maintaining critical GIS data layers pertaining to Fire History, Fire Occurrence, Vegetation Burn Severity, Aviation Hazards, Aerial Fire Retardant Avoidance, Direct Protection Area (DPA). Related support can include assisting with periodic updates and ongoing maintenance of Fuels and Predictive Services databases and additional GIS layers concerning Fire Management Zones (FMZ), Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), Strategic Objective Shapes/Management Requirement shapes for (WFDSS), Wildfire Risk Assessments and Burn Severity.
• Creation of Historic Aerial Photograph Orthomosaics (HAPO) using AgiSoft MetashapePro.
• Additional project work may be assigned due to changing regional priorities.

Fieldwork and data collection requirements*:

• Occasional fieldwork is required to check the accuracy of the vegetation maps or collect field measurements to support vegetation type and structural mapping projects.
• Field work shall include navigation to preselected plots using GPS, collection of vegetation data, including environmental variables, site history, disturbances, and CALVEG type. Intermediate to expert-level knowledge of the distribution and identification of CALVEG dominance types is essential for accurate data collection and QA/QC. Additionally, constructing bioregion-specific data dictionaries for data collection devices is required for field data collection.
• Post processing of locational data with GPS software and data post-processing is required after field data collection has occurred in order to produce a database that can be used for mapping projects. The field collected data shall be imported into an ESRI feature class template and archived in the data library for use in vegetation mapping projects.

• Although there is a fieldwork component for project support, most of the project is carried out within an office setting using GIS and image processing software to make improvements to vegetation map outputs. Fieldwork can range from 2-3 weeks per year.

CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SECURITY AND SUITABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The following forms and inquiries, or their equivalent, will be used to initiate the credentialing process:

• OPM Standard Form 85 or 85P
• OF306
• National Criminal History Check (NCHC)
• Release to Obtain Credit Information
• PIV card application

If selected to fill the position, a candidate would be required to pass a drug screen and satisfy the requirements of a National Criminal History Check (NCHC) to verify the identity of the individual applying for clearance and to determine the individual’s suitability for the position.

The position may require occasional travel.

Salary Range: $68,000 - $80,000 annually

Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

Sanborn offers a comprehensive health and wellness program which includes medical, dental, vision, 401k, holiday, PTO, EAP, disability and life insurance benefits.