GIS Specialist Intern

I had the privilege and the pleasure of working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern States Office in Washington, D.C, for 11 weeks. I took on this internship in order to expand my GIS skillset and also learn more about BLM and the dynamics of working in a federal environment.

My learning objectives for this internship are data management with land records using GIS, indexing land patents using the Conversion Document System (CDS), create story maps through ArcGIS Online, georeferencing survey plats, and converting analog data into GIS. In order to accomplish these objectives, I took on the opportunity to attend webinars/virtual online classes, attend workshops, and learn from senior leaders in my office.

Throughout the summer, I’ve been helping BLM with their data management for their next year’s move. I have been a critical component in not only improving their efficiency with data management using GIS but also a significant help in completing their tasks that they needed to take off their plate such as:

● Inventory checks with state land office records and make sure these records are digitized in BLM’s GIS database.
● Associating survey plats to the Public Land Survey System grid and digitize them
● Converting analog data (townships and ranges) into a mappable product that is compatible with GIS
● Create a story map about a historic survey plat and publish it into the General Land Office website. I did a story map on Indian Key, FL, which can be found by clicking the button below
● Produce cartographic maps for the Washington Office who analyze the areas for proposed land water conservation funding
● Data organization in their GIS database such as creating data layers, shapefiles, geodatabases.

I was also given the opportunity to embark on a field project in Flowood, Mississippi for a week to learn more GIS applications such as mapping land parcels that have uncertain land titles/ownership, and mapping expression of interests (EOI) for proposed oil & gas leasings inquired by the public that are interested in leasing federal land for oil & gas production. While working on these projects, I had a chance to network with the employees and the District Manager.

Throughout the 11-week period of this internship, I have learned and accomplished more than what I expected and have also expanded my GIS skillset far more than what I came with in the beginning. I’ve improved my efficiency in georeferencing, query, digitizing, converting analog data and creating data layers in ArcGIS. My level of skills wouldn’t be this far if it wasn’t for the everyday guidance I receive from my fellow colleagues. Thanks to them, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the social dynamics of working in a federal environment, understanding the ethics and conduct of behavior, learn the history and significance of Bureau of Land Management to the federal government and the public, and got to improve my interpersonal skills by attending virtual online classes, land status workshops and participate in intern outings to the National Mall, Library of Congress, the Capitol, and the Bureau of Engraving & Printing.

Overall, my learning experience exceeded my expectations and truly earned not only my respect for the federal agency and its employees but also my interest in the importance of maintaining public lands and serving its citizens.