In this edition of “People of PRI,” we spoke with Stefan Ilic, a new visiting scientific specialist on the GIS team at the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS). In this interview, Stefan shares insights into his journey to becoming a GIS specialist, his passion for geography and cartography, and the tools he relies on for his work. He also offers valuable advice for newcomers in the field and reveals some of his hobbies outside of work. Read on to learn more about Stefan's unique perspective and his enthusiasm for mapping and data analysis.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at PRI.
A: I graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Geography and GIS in December 2023 and was previously a GIS intern at the Illinois State Water Survey.
My role on the GIS team is to assist with tasks related to GIS. This includes analyzing spatial data, georeferencing and digitizing old maps, creating maps, manipulating spatial and non-spatial datasets, assisting with building models to automate GIS tasks, and much more as new projects and collaboration opportunities arise.
Q: What drew you to your area of work or study?
A: Growing up, I was always interested in history and political geography, which naturally led to a fascination with maps. I loved looking at atlases and memorizing where countries are located, along with their capital cities, flags, and national anthems.
When I discovered that GIS is a highly valuable skill focused on maps and mapmaking, I was immediately drawn to the field. While cartography is fun, I found the more engaging side of GIS involves data manipulation.
Q: What tools are indispensable to your work?
A: Definitely ESRI products, primarily ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, are essential tools that every GIS specialist will use at some point. In my case, I use them for nearly every task.
Data analytics, cartography, and even task automation can be done in ArcGIS Pro using the Model Builder interface or the Python window. However, I usually prefer to write Python scripts for ArcGIS Pro projects in VS Code.
Excel is also a handy tool for GIS professionals. Whether creating a dataset or tidying it up before importing it into GIS software, Excel provides a good interface for these tasks.
Because the ISGS is the custodian of many old geologic documents and maps, these need to be digitally stored. Much of what we have is stored in Microsoft Access databases, so I’ve had to learn some basics to query data and export it for other purposes.
Q: What questions do you get asked most frequently about your career?
A: Most people outside of the GIS world don’t know what it is or how it’s useful, so when I tell them that I’m a GIS specialist, their first question is, “What is that?”
Sometimes I say that I’m a data analyst and cartographer because it seems like a simple enough answer, but then they might ask, “Well, aren’t all of the maps already made?” I then must explain that creating maps is a continuous process and that there is always a need for new and updated maps.
I also explain that GIS is much more than just making maps; it involves collecting, synthesizing, manipulating, and analyzing data to answer questions through maps and web applications.
Q: What advice would you give to those just starting out in your field?
A: My biggest piece of advice to anyone starting their first job in any field is to ask questions and be vocal. Often, you will be working with people more experienced than you, so understanding how they do things will help you build your knowledge base.
Figuring out how to do something on your own is a fantastic way to exercise your problem-solving skills, but I always take the opportunity to ask a more experienced peer for their advice. They’ve often run into the same problem before and can provide extra insights that might be useful in the future. Also, asking peers can be beneficial because you can ask more specific questions related to your work.
For those who have just started a job in GIS, I recommend trying out various software and expanding your skill set. Knowing ArcGIS Pro is great, but being proficient in different software and programming languages is even better.
For example, recognizing when a task can be automated and attempting to automate it in Python or completing an ESRI training module on deep learning can be advantageous. Curiosity is a valuable trait.
Keep in mind that this advice comes from someone who is still a newcomer; these are just some things I have noted as important based on my experience.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I love to play soccer (or, as most people call it, football). More recently, because of the success of the Serbian basketball team in the Paris Olympics (I’m Serbian, and yes, I was heartbroken that they didn’t manage to make the finals by beating the United States), I’ve been motivated to work on my basketball skills. I’m still pretty bad, but I can make the occasional three-point shot.
I also enjoy going on long walks or drives just for the sake of it.
When I’m not outside, I like to spend my time either cooking or learning Russian by watching movies, listening to music, and reading. Last but not least, I enjoy spending time with my friends.
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Stefan works in the Natural Resources Building at the U. of I. and can be reached at silic5(at)illinois.edu.
The Illinois State Geological Survey is a division of the Prairie Research Institute.