At Ifremer, there are two "types" of geomaticians:

• Those in the laboratories (deep-sea environment, marine geoscience and fisheries). Their profession is therefore more focused on the use and production of maps.Those, as at SISMER, who are in charge of a Geographical Data Infrastructure (data archiving, description using metadata, distribution via standardised services, etc.). Their profession is more focused on the administration of a GIS.

Main responsibilities

Within the SISMER service, this engineer manages and maintains Sextant. Sextant is Ifremer's marine and coastal Geographical Data Infrastructure, operated by SISMER. Compliant with ISO standards and the standards of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), Sextant is an interoperable system that enables the exchange of geographical data with Ifremer's scientific and institutional partners. Sextant provides support in examining marine environment issues and is therefore operated under numerous projects across mainland France (projects related to the MSFD, to SINP Mer, to institutional networks and to impact studies - mineral resources, fishery resources), overseas France (Indian Ocean, New Caledonia) and Europe (MyOcean, SeaDataNet, EMODnet).

It actively participates in the management of geo-referenced data and particularly in the integration of synthetic products from data collected under scientific projects run by Ifremer and its partners.

It provides support and advice in setting up and monitoring projects requiring Sextant as a platform for data banking and distribution. In this context, it is responsible for project leadership and manages relations with external partners.

Main activities

The main activities are:

• Data banking and extraction of geo-referenced data ensuring the best possible quality and its provision in synthetic form, using existing tools and in particular the Sextant portal;
• Managing geographical reference data (mapping, etc.) and its accessibility to users, either at institutional establishments or for projects requiring information that is supplementary to scientific data;
• Facilitate the interoperability of information systems through geo-referencing standards and common data-exchange protocols;
• Offer consistent technical solutions to projects that require GIS techniques;
• Contribute to the specifications necessary to the development of existing tools such as Sextant;
• Contribute to actions covering communication and the exploitation of geographical information (geomatics) and to the training of users in existing tools, such as Sextant;
• Set up "thematic catalogues" for the partners of Sextant and the projects run by Ifremer and manage access to this database;
• Update and load data and metadata, in accordance with the Inspire Directive;
• Update the websites associated with Sextant and dedicated to the thematic catalogues;
• Train the users and administrators of Sextant and write training guidelines and tutorials;
• Propose, in collaboration with the other members of the team, the codes of best practice in terms of metadata management;
• Facilitate the interoperability of information systems through geo-referencing standards and common data-exchange protocols;
• Offer consistent technical solutions to projects that require GIS techniques;
• Contribute to the specifications necessary to the development of existing tools such as Sextant;
• Actively participate in the helpdesk, the ITIL/ISO20000 quality management system and all general activities of the SISMER service: user monitoring, training and information provision, etc.

Specific knowledge

Very good knowledge of tools, techniques and standards for the management of geo-referenced information:

• Skills in GIS and mapping: Proficiency in ArcGIS & possibly QGIS
• Knowledge of web and web-GIS technologies: Data distribution standards and protocols (OGC), metadata standards (ISO)
• Website coordination
• Experience in IT and the operation of geographical information systems (GIS)
• Good level of English

To create and manage a GIS (geographical information system), the geomatician must master spatial and statistical analysis as well as the rules of cartographic representation. He/she has sound skills in the design and structuring of geographical databases and, ideally, in IT development. He/she is familiar with geographical data acquisition, integration and distribution techniques (maps, GPS, satellite images, etc.)

Personal qualities

The GIS project manager is attentive to the requirements of users, to whom he/she provides the documents required. He/she re-formulates the request and adjusts his/her responses according to his/her contact. A proactive source of suggestions, he/she designs and drives the development of an IT system to fulfil precise requirements. Through his/her interpersonal skills, he/she gains user support for the project.