If you told me a decade ago that I’d become an expert in mapping cemeteries, I would’ve laughed and been very confused about the dramatic turn my professional life must’ve taken at some point.
I’m an environmental scientist who specializes in geospatial technology, which involves analyzing the Earth and how geography plays a role in human societies. I use these tools in my work to map conservation planning, food deserts, trail systems and green space accessibility.
kAmu@C E96 A2DE a_ J62CD x’G6 366? @G6CD66:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:2>:@9]65F^42D^46?E6CD\:?DE:EFE6D^86@DA2E:2=\2?2=JD:D\46?E6C^Qm|:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ’D v6@DA2E:2= p?2=JD:D r6?E6Ck^2m[ 3F:=5:?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 =@42= 4:E:6D[ 4@F?E:6D 2?5 4@>A2?:6D] x DE2CE65 A2:C:?8 >J 4=2DD6D H:E9 @FED:56 A2CE?6CD E@ 5@ >2AA:?8 2?5 2?2=JD:D H@C<] $@>6 @7 E96 H@C< >J DEF56?ED >@DE 6?;@J65 H2D >2AA:?8 D>2== =@42= 46>6E6C:6D :? 2?5 2C@F?5 D@FE9H6DE ~9:@] %96 AC@;64ED 2==@H65 E96> E@ 82:? 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 4@==64E:?8 52E2 :? E96 7:6=5 2?5 AC@G:565 2 9F>2? 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 52E2]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQvC@FA @7 A6@A=6 DFCC@F?5:?8 2 >2A =2:5 @? 2 8C2DDJ 7:6=5[ 9625DE@?6D 2?5 EC66D :? E96 324<8C@F?5Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^f`egdf^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_a_e\de\KCe82>];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m%96 2FE9@C 2?5 DEF56?ED 7C@> 96C 25G2?465 vx$ 4@FCD6 :?G6DE:82E6 A2A6C >2AD @7 E96 46>6E6CJ] |:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ r@>>F?:42E:@?D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\?5^c]_^Qmrr q*\}sk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm%96? :? a_a_[ E96 =@42= 46>6E6CJ 2DD@4:2E:@? @7 ~I7@C5[ ~9:@ – H9:49 @H?65 2?5 @A6C2E65 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4:EJ@7@I7@C5]@C8^C6D:56?ED000G:D:E@CD^~I7@C50r6>6E6CJ]A9AQm2C62’D =2C86DE 46>6E6CJk^2m[ DA2??:?8 @G6C c_ 24C6D – 76== FA@? 7:?2?4:2= EC@F3=6D 2?5 5:DD@=G65] %9:D >62?E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@56D]@9:@]8@G^@9:@\C6G:D65\4@56^D64E:@?\fdh]_gQm4:EJ H2D ?@H D@=6=J 2?5 7F==J C6DA@?D:3=6k^2m 7@C E96 >2?286>6?E 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46 @7 E9:D 9:DE@C:4 2?5 24E:G6 46>6E6CJ] p?5 :E H2D AC@G:565 @?=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:2>:@9]65F^?6HD^a_ad^_b^>:2>:\F?:G6CD:EJ\8:D\DEF56?ED\DFAA@CE\@9:@\4@>>F?:E:6D\D965\=:89E\@?\9:DE@CJ]9E>=Qm@=5 A2A6C >2ADk^2m 2?5 DE24<D @7 :?E6C>6?E 42C5D E92E =:DE65 ?2>6D[ 52E6D 2?5 7F?6C2= 9@>6D] %96 2DD:DE2?E 4:EJ >2?286C C624965 @FE E@ D66 H96E96C E96C6 H2D 2 H2J H6 4@F=5 96=A H:E9 >2AA:?8 E96 46>6E6CJ 2?5 EC2?D:E:@?:?8 7C@> 2==\A2A6C E@ 5:8:E2= C6D@FC46D]k^Am
kAm%9FD 3682? 2 J62C=@?8 25G6?EFC6 :? 92C?6DD:?8 E96 677@CED @7 @G6C d_ 4@==686 DEF56?ED E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ >2A 2 46>6E6CJ H:E9 @G6C e[___ 9625DE@?6D 2?5 G:CEF2==J ?@ C64@C5D] (92E x 5:5?’E 2?E:4:A2E6 H2D E96 ?6H7@F?5 4@??64E:@?D DEF56?ED H@F=5 56G6=@A E@ E96 4@==686 E@H? E96J 42== 9@>6]k^Am
k9am~=5 D49@@= 46>6E6CJ >2AA:?8k^9am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]ddbh^;88]G`a?aAc_Qm%C25:E:@?2= >2AA:?8 >6E9@5Dk^2m H@F=5 92G6 FD 5:G:56 2?5 4@?BF6Ci (6’5 8@ @FE E@ E96 46>6E6CJ H:E9 >F=E:A=6 v!$ F?:ED 2?5 >2C< 2 A@:?E @? 6249 9625DE@?6] (9:=6 2E E96 46>6E6CJ[ H6’5 2=D@ E2<6 2 A9@E@ @7 E96 9625DE@?6 2?5 HC:E6 5@H? :ED :?7@C>2E:@? – DF49 2D ?2>6 2?5 52E6D @7 3:CE9 2?5 562E9 – :? 2 ?@E63@@<]k^Am
kAmq24< :? E96 @77:46[ H6’5 E96? 4@>3:?6 E96 52E2 7C@> 2== @FC v!$ F?:ED H:E9 E96 92?5HC:EE6? ?@E6D 2?5 A9@E@D] %96 7:?2= 52E2D6E H@F=5 :?4=F56 E96 =@42E:@? @7 E96 9625DE@?6[ 2== :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 9625DE@?6 2?5 2 C676C6?46 =:?< E@ 2 A9@E@]k^Am
kAm%9:D AC@46DD E@@< C@F89=J `_ E@ `d >:?FE6D A6C 9625DE@?6 @G6C2==] $@ 2 D>2== 46>6E6CJ @7 C@F89=J b__ 9625DE@?6D H@F=5 C6BF:C6 ?62C=J e_ 9@FCD @7 H@C< E@ DF446DD7F==J >2A]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ#@HD @7 9625DE@?6D :? 2 46>6E6CJ[ EC66D 2?5 2 3C:4< 3F:=5:?8 :? E96 324<5C@AQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^f`ege_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_a_e\de\;CAfHe];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m|:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ 92D :ED @H? D64E:@? 2>@?8 E96 E9@FD2?5D @7 9625DE@?6D :? ~I7@C5 r6>6E6CJ] #@33J? p33:EE[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\?5^c]_^Qmrr q*\}sk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmx? E96 A2DE 7:G6 E@ `_ J62CD[ 9@H6G6C[ 86@DA2E:2= E649?@=@8J E@@=D 92G6 8@?6 E9C@F89 2 EC2?D7@C>2E:@?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]d`hc^:DACD\2C49:G6D\){xx\d\dh\a_`gQm$>2CEA9@?6D 2?5 E96 4=@F5k^2m 92G6 C6A=2465 E96 ?665 7@C 92?5\96=5 v!$ F?:ED 2?5 =@42= 52E2 D6CG6CD] sC@?6D 42? 2=D@ BF:4<=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]=2?5FC3A=2?]a_aa]`_cdf`Qm42AEFC6 9:89\C6D@=FE:@? 26C:2= :>286CJk^2m] (6 4@F=5 FD6 E96D6 E@@=D E@ 4@>3:?6 2== E96 D6A2C2E6 DE6AD ?646DD2CJ E@ 4@==64E 9625DE@?6 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 :>286CJ]k^Am
kAmp== @7 E9:D 8@E >6 E9:?<:?8i (92E :7 H6 FD65 E96D6 25G2?46D :? 86@DA2E:2= >2AA:?8 E649?@=@8J E@ 7=:A E96 D4C:AE @? 46>6E6CJ >2AA:?8nk^Am
k9amu=:AA:?8 E96 D4C:AEk^9am
kAm(92E 92AA6?65 ?6IE H2D 2 8:2?E 6IA6C:>6?E] {F4<:=J 7@C FD[ E96 4:EJ @7 ~I7@C5 925 2 ?6H 5C@?6 :E 925 FD65 E@ 42AEFC6 9:89\BF2=:EJ :>286CJ @7 E96 46>6E6CJ] (:E9 E9:D :>286CJ[ J@F 4@F=5 K@@> :? 2?5 D66 :?5:G:5F2= 9625DE@?6D G6CJ 4=62C=J]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ$4C66?D9@E @7 A9@?6 2AA D9@H:?8 2 >2A H:E9 2 4:C4=65 A@:?E @7 :?E6C6DE 2?5 4@@C5:?2E6D E@ FA52E6 2 A@:?EQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^f`egdg^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_a_e\de\37;c<8]!}vn:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlc__U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m%96 2FE9@C 2?5 96C DEF56?ED FD65 2 A9@?6 2AA E@ 4@==64E 9625DE@?6 52E2] #@33J? p33:EE[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\?5^c]_^Qmrr q*\}sk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmx? E96 4=2DDC@@>[ H6 4C62E65 2 ?6H 52E232D6 2?5 5:GG:65 FA E96 46>6E6CJ :?E@ 2C62D H6 H6C6 6249 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C] q67@C6 H6 6G6? H6?E @? 2 D:E6 G:D:E[ 6G6CJ A6CD@? A=2465 2 5@E @? E@A @7 6249 9625DE@?6 E96J 4@F=5 D66 :? E96 5C@?6 :>286CJ @7 E96:C 2C62] %96? 2E E96 46>6E6CJ H6 4@F=5 D:>A=J H2=< E@ 6249 9625DE@?6 H6 H6C6 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C[ E2<6 2 A9@E@ 2?5 2EE249 E92E E@ E96 5@E H6 925 A=2465 62C=:6C]k^Am
kAm%96 C6DF=E H2D 2 52E232D6 @7 @G6C d[___ 9625DE@?6D >2C<:?8 H96C6 @G6C e[___ :?5:G:5F2=D 925 366? =2:5 E@ C6DE] (:E9 @=5 7:6=5 >6E9@5D E9:D H@F=5 92G6 E2<6? @G6C `[a__ 9@FCD] %96 ?6H >6E9@5D 4FE E92E E:>6 :? 92=7i ;FDE @G6C e__ 9@FCD @7 H@C<[ @C C@F89=J D:I >:?FE6D A6C 9625DE@?6]k^Am
kAm&D:?8 E9:D 52E232D6[ H6 E96? 4C62E65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@I7@C5@9:@]>2AD]2C48:D]4@>^2AAD^:?DE2?E^2EE249>6?EG:6H6C^:?56I]9E>=n2AA:5lebf423geehhfcf7hhaf33h25`c6hcadhQmH63 2AA=:42E:@?k^2m H96C6 72>:=J >6>36CD 2?5 E96 4:EJ 4@F=5 D62C49 7@C :?5:G:5F2=D 3J ?2>6 @C 3J =@42E:@?] %96 4:EJ @7 ~I7@C5 ?@H >2?286D 2?5 FA52E6D E9:D @?=:?6 C6D@FC46]k^Am
k9amqF:=5:?8 4@>>F?:EJ[ A2DE 2?5 AC6D6?Ek^9am
kAm(9:=6 @FC 8@2= 925 366? E@ 4C62E6 2 D62C4923=6 @?=:?6 52E232D6 @7 E96 46>6E6CJ E@ 96=A E96 4:EJ[ >J DEF56?ED 2?5 x 2=D@ =62C?65 2 =@E 23@FE @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] (6 D2:5 ?2>6D 2?5 C625 DE@C:6D E92E 925 AC6G:@FD=J 366? =@DE E@ E:>6]k^Am
kAm(6 =62C?65 E92E |:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ 92D 2 DA64:2= D64E:@? @7 E96 46>6E6CJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE@CJ>2AD]2C48:D]4@>^DE@C:6D^g3ae6dc64e36c`da3hb2f54_h6g`23`eQmD6E 2D:56 7@C 724F=EJ 2?5 DE277k^2m] $EF56?ED 6?4@F?E6C65 ?2>6D E96J D66 6G6CJ 52J 2D E96J 6?E6C 42>AFD 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 H2=< E96 DEC66ED @7 ~I7@C5]k^Am
kAm(6 6?4@F?E6C65 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE@CJ>2AD]2C48:D]4@>^DE@C:6D^65g4c6hdbd65chf_g`hf4f2ec4hb6gggQmq23J=2?5k^2m[” 2 DA64:2= D64E:@? H96C6 E96 =@42= 9@DA:E2=[ |4rF==@F89\wJ56[ @776CD 3FC:2= @7 :?72?ED H9@ 2C6 =@DE 5FC:?8 49:=53:CE9 @C EC62E>6?E]k^Am
kAmp?5 H6 5:D4@G6C65 E92E E96C6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE@CJ>2AD]2C48:D]4@>^DE@C:6D^d`gheb`3_4__cdf`g_dhe35d`53d56a6Qm@G6C c__ >:=:E2CJ G6E6C2?Dk^2m :? E96 46>6E6CJ[ :?4=F5:?8 7@FC 7C@> E96 #6G@=FE:@?2CJ (2C]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ!6@A=6 <?66=:?8[ 4C@F49:?8 2?5 DE2?5:?8 367@C6 C@HD @7 9625DE@?6D[ E2<:?8 :>286D 2?5 ?@E6DQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^f`egdh^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_a_e\de\fIB7_b];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m|:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ DEF56?ED :? E96 2FE9@C’D 25G2?465 vx$ 4@FCD6 4@==64E 9625DE@?6 52E2] |:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ r@>>F?:42E:@?D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\?5^c]_^Qmrr q*\}sk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmp7E6C E9:D AC@;64E[ >J DEF56?ED C6A@CE65 766=:?8 >@C6 4@??64E65 E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ @7 |:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 E96 4:EJ @7 ~I7@C5] %96J 76=E AC@F5 @7 E96 H@C< E96J 925 5@?6 E@ AC6D6CG6 E96 2C62’D =@42= 9:DE@CJ] p?5 >2?J 4@?E:?F65 E@ 5@ C6D62C49 @? E96 72>:=J ?2>6D E96J 6?4@F?E6C65 :? E96 46>6E6CJ]k^Am
kAmpD E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]63D4@]4@>^C6D62C49\DE2CE6CD^D@4:2=\D4:6?46D\2?5\9F>2?:E:6D^46>6E6CJQmC@=6 @7 46>6E6C:6D D9:7ED @G6C E:>6k^2m[ E96J C6>2:? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^D`_fe`\_a`\__e`f\cQmEC62DFC6 EC@G6 @7 =@42= 9:DE@CJ 2?5 72>:=J 4@??64E:@?k^2m] z?@H:?8 H96C6 E@ 7:?5 2 =@G65 @?6 :D A2CE @7 E96 9F>2? 6IA6C:6?46] !2J:?8 9@>286 E@ E9@D6 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD H9@ H@C<65 2?5 =:G65 H96C6 H6 2C6 ?@H 4@?E:?F6D E@ 36 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 5@4F>6?E:?8 @FC D92C65 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmp?5 7@C DEF56?ED[ >2AA:?8 46>6E6C:6D AC@G:565 2 DA246 E@ 3F:=5 4@>>F?:EJ 2>@?8 E96:C A66CD – 2?5 H:E9 E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ 2?46DE@CD]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afb`dcQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^C@33J?\233:EE\adeadfbnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afb`dcQm#@33J? p33:EEk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^>:2>:\F?:G6CD:EJ\`hbcnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afb`dcQm|:2>: &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H@>6?\92G6\366?\>2AA:?8\E96\H@C=5\7@C\46?EFC:6D\2?5\?@H\E96JC6\DA62<:?8\FA\7@C\E96\A6@A=6\=67E\@FE\@7\E9@D6\>2AD\afafdfnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afb`dcQm(@>6? 92G6 366? >2AA:?8 E96 H@C=5 7@C 46?EFC:6D – 2?5 ?@H E96J’C6 DA62<:?8 FA 7@C E96 A6@A=6 =67E @FE @7 E9@D6 >2ADk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7C@>\7=2>>23=6\?6:893@C9@@5D\E@\>@C2=\92K2C5D\7:C6\:?DFC2?46\>2AD\42AEFC6\62C=J\FD\4:E:6D\2?5\E96\=2?5D42A6\@7\5:D4C:>:?2E:@?\af`af`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afb`dcQmuC@> 7=2>>23=6 ?6:893@C9@@5D E@ >@C2= 92K2C5D[ 7:C6 :?DFC2?46 >2AD 42AEFC6 62C=J &$ 4:E:6D 2?5 E96 =2?5D42A6 @7 5:D4C:>:?2E:@?k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^26C:2=\=:52C\>2AA:?8\42?\C6G62=\2C4926@=@8:42=\D:E6D\H9:=6\@G6C=@@<:?8\:?5:86?@FD\A6@A=6D\2?5\E96:C\<?@H=6586\ae`bbanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afb`dcQmp6C:2= =:52C >2AA:?8 42? C6G62= 2C4926@=@8:42= D:E6D H9:=6 @G6C=@@<:?8 x?5:86?@FD A6@A=6D 2?5 E96:C <?@H=6586k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m#@33J? p33:EE C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> =@42= 6?E:E:6D E92E >2?286 E96 46>6E6C:6D E92E 92G6 366? >2AA65] $96 H@C<D 7@C |:2>: &?:G6CD:EJ]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afb`dc^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.