Unit of competency details

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised  text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge and/or the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1

Use GIS software to query spatial data.

1.1

Spatial data  updates are accessed, read, interpreted and edited to ensure they are in an acceptable format to meet functional requirements .

1.2

Entities  and attributes  are used to display spatial information  that will assist in the delivery of spatial information services .

1.3

Entity and attribute queries of spatial data are used to generate summary results.

1.4

Results from queries are used to present spatial data graphically according to organisational guidelines .

1.5

Entity and attribute queries are applied when using univariate statistics  to explore the dataset.

1.6

Routine spatial data problems or irregularities are solved in the course of the activity or via consultation with relevant personnel .

1.7

Keyboard and computer hardware equipment  are used to meet functional requirements on speed and accuracy and according to OHS requirements .

2

Solve problems using GIS software.

2.1

Existing spatial and aspatial data is adjusted to integrate with new data to meet documentation and reporting  requirements and to add to personal learning and organisational intelligence.

2.2

Geospatial techniques  on appropriate software  are used to combine spatial layers data to solve problems, highlight selected data features and improve the visual aspect and understanding of the project.

2.3

Spatial overlay techniques  are used to solve problems and generate results pertaining to the spatial project  as specified by relevant personnel.

2.4

Cartographic integrity is tested and validated  to solve accuracy and quality problems.

3

Produce reports based on basic spatial analysis.

3.1

Map or plans are integrated into project reports.

3.2

Results, summary statistics and graphs from a mapping application are incorporated into a project.

3.3

Legal and ethical requirements  are adhered to according to organisational guidelines.

4

Archive data.

4.1

Spatial dataset to be archived is manipulated where necessary to ensure completeness.

4.2

Metadata  is created according to accepted industry standards.

4.3

New and existing spatial data is stored and archival details are recorded according to organisational guidelines.

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication skills to:

• discuss vocational issues effectively with colleagues
• impart knowledge and ideas through oral, written and visual means

• literacy skills to:

• assess and use workplace information
• read and record data
• research and access routine sources of spatial data

• numeracy skills to:

• accurately record and collate
• record and interpret statistics
• undertake basic computations

• organisational skills to:

• manage files
• prioritise activities to meet contractual requirements

• spatial skills to:

• combine spatial data layers (geoprocessing)
• exercise precision and accuracy in all operations
• load spatial data into a mapping application and perform entity and attribute queries
• archive and retrieve spatial data
• manage and manipulate spatial data
• manage files

Required knowledge 

• cartographic design principles
• datum and projections
• geoprocessing
• logging procedures relating to a computer
• operation of relevant software packages
• organisational policies and guidelines
• printing and image formats for map production
• security management guidelines
• spatial database operation
• spatial data storage technology
• spatial information systems
• technical terminology in relation to reading help files and prompts
• univariate statistics and charting

Overview of assessment 

This unit of competency could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function, for example CPPSIS4034A Maintain spatial data.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of:

• using GIS software
• solving problems using GIS software
• producing reports based on basic spatial analysis
• knowledge of GIS software system.

Specific resources for assessment 

Resource implications for assessment include access to:

• assessment instruments, including personal planner and assessment record book
• assignment instructions, work plans and schedules, policy documents and duty statements
• registered training provider of assessment services
• relevant guidelines, regulations and codes of practice
• suitable venue and equipment.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Context of assessment 

Holistic: based on the performance criteria, evidence guide, range statement, and required skills and knowledge.

Method of assessment 

Demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment).

Demonstrated competency in a range of situations, that may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

Obtained by observing activities in the field and reviewing induction information. If this is not practicable, observation in realistic simulated environments may be substituted.

Guidance information for assessment 

Assessment requires that the clients’ objectives and industry expectations are met. If the clients’ objectives are narrowly defined or not representative of industry needs, it may be necessary to refer to portfolio case studies of a variety of SIS requirements to assess competency.

Oral questioning or written assessment and hypothetical situations (scenarios) may be used to assess underpinning knowledge (in assessment situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral questioning or written assessment, questions are to be identical).

Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence from existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

All practical demonstration must adhere to the safety and environmental regulations relevant to each State or Territory.

Where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (recognition of current competencies [RCC] or recognition of prior learning [RPL]), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge.

Assessment processes will be appropriate to the language and literacy levels of the candidate and any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and will reflect the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised  wording in the performance criteria is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Spatial data  may include:

• digital
• hard copy
• image
• text
• raster
• vector.

Functional requirements  refer to:

• work deliverables.

Entity  refers to a single item created on the screen such as:

• arc
• circle
• hatch
• line
• text.

Attributes  are properties associated with an entity and may include:

• colour
• layer
• level
• line type
• line width
• text.

Spatial information  is:

• virtual data related to the location of objects on the earth.

Spatial information services  refer to:

• virtual data that is:

• analysed
• collected
• displayed
• manipulated
• stored

• virtual images used for planning and implementing the efficient administration and development of natural and built resources.

Organisational guidelines  may include:

• code of ethics
• company policy
• legislation relevant to the work or service function
• manuals
• OHS policies and procedures
• personnel practices and guidelines outlining work roles and responsibilities.

Univariate statistics  are summary or descriptive statistics for single variables and may include:

• arithmetic mean
• histograms that illustrate the concepts of normal and other distributions
• maximum
• median
• minimum
• mode
• range
• standard deviation
• variance.

Relevant personnel  may include:

• colleagues
• staff or employee representatives
• supervisors or line managers
• suppliers
• users.

Computer hardware equipment  may include:

• mobile devices such as personal digital assistants or data loggers
• multimedia devices
• networked systems
• personal computers
• printers
• scanners.

OHS requirements  may include:

• Australian standards
• identification of potential hazards
• safety plan
• safe use of:

• computer equipment
• mobile equipment
• regulated equipment
• screen-based equipment
• workstations

Documentation and reporting  may include:

• audit trails
• naming standards
• project management templates
• report writing styles
• version control.

Geospatial techniques  may include geoprocessing spatial data such as:

• clip
• dissolve
• intersect
• merge
• union.

Appropriate software  may include:

• commercial software application
• communication packages and presentation functions
• computer-aided design (CAD)
• database
• GIS
• graphic
• internet
• organisational
• presentation applications
• remote sensing
• surveying.

Spatial overlay techniques  may include:

• raster, including aerial photography and/or satellite imagery in digital format
• vector overlay, geoprocessing and the incorporation of other spatial information.

Spatial project  may include:

• administration (e.g. postcodes, suburbs, and federal and state electoral counties)
• analysis of environmental, land and geographic information
• asset management
• cartographic services
• civil engineering
• digital imagery
• electricity
• emergency services management
• environmental datasets
• GIS
• hydrography
• integrated services – environmental, land and geographic related datasets
• land ownership tenure system
• local government
• location-based services
• global positioning
• mapping facilities
• photogrammetry
• remote sensing
• site analysis
• survey marks
• sewerage
• telecommunications
• terrestrial survey
• town planning
• utility services such as water
• water catchment.

Validated  means reflecting the true state of a test result, including tests for systematic distortions such as:

• confounding bias
• information/data bias
• observational bias
• recall bias
• selection bias.

Ethical requirements  may include:

• confidentiality
• privacy.

Metadata  refers to:

• summarised information about a spatial dataset that describes the characteristics of the dataset, including:

• availability
• conditions of use
• coordinate system
• currency
• spatial data acquisition methodologies
• date of acquisition
• quality
• source
• version control.