Resume

I am a Certified GIS Professional (GISP) with over 12 years of experience in geospatial data production, quality assurance, and analysis. My work spans a wide range of applications, including geospatial QA/QC, root cause analysis, workflow design and optimization, cartography, remote sensing, and land use/land cover (LULC) classification. I specialize in turning complex geospatial datasets into actionable insights that support informed decision-making across environmental, infrastructure, and planning domains.

Throughout my career, I have contributed to federal and state projects by integrating and managing spatial datasets, creating accurate parcel and facility maps, and performing in-depth geospatial analysis to support infrastructure planning, zoning, and environmental monitoring. I am adept at developing efficient workflows, authoring instructional guides, and training teams to ensure consistent, high-quality GIS product delivery. My approach is rooted in precision, collaboration, and continuous improvement, delivering geospatial solutions that are technically sound and aligned with client goals.

University of Iowa, IA

MS – Geoscience                    

Dec 2011  

University of Mysore, India

MS - Applied Geology  

May 2007

BS – Geology, Chemistry, Botany  

May 2005

• GIS Analysis & Remote Sensing
• Cartography & Geospatial Data Processing
• Land Use & Land Cover Classification
• LiDAR Processing and Database Management
• Geospatial QA/QC
• Research, Training & Workflow Optimization

Geospatial Production Analyst: Fugro Earth Data Inc., Frederick, MD                                         

Aug 2017 – March 2025

3D Hydrography Program (3DHP) | USGS Project | Software: ArcMap with LP360 Extension

• Performed 2D digitization of hydrographic features, including streams, rivers, and waterbodies, over bare earth LiDAR-derived DEMs using LP360 in ArcMap, following USGS and 3DEP Elevation-Derived Hydrography (EDH) specifications to ensure spatial accuracy and hydrologic connectivity.

•  Executed QA/QC workflows to validate topological integrity and feature alignment, delivering high-quality hydrography datasets on time while meeting all client-defined accuracy and production standards.

Engineering Route Study | USACE project | S/W: ArcMap

• Cartography: Created visually engaging and accurate road maps based on client requirements using data from geodatabases, OpenStreetMap, and Google Earth; managed both file geodatabases and cartographic geodatabases; also performed geocoding and Georeferencing.
• Managed parcel-level data, including cadastral and administrative boundaries, hydrography, and road networks, ensuring accuracy through meticulous multi-source alignment.
• Improved workflow efficiency by implementing a faster ArcMap tool for snapping vector points to lines, conducted QA/QC to validate accuracy, and performed root cause analysis to address recurring alignment issues, contributing additional techniques to enhance the existing workflow.

Land Use and Land Cover Classification | NOAA Project | S/W: eCognition, ERDAS Imagine, ArcMap

• Performed unsupervised LULC (Land Use and Land Cover) classification to generate raster outputs with six distinct classes; interpreted satellite imagery and aerial photos for accurate LULC mapping based on client specifications.
• QA/QC’d initial eCognition raster outputs to ensure ruleset changes were reflected correctly; conducted manual editing over NAIP imagery and ancillary data using ERDAS Imagine and ArcMap and designed a workflow to streamline the editing process.
• Created instructional manuals and trained team members on GIS workflows and data editing techniques, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality GIS products aligned with project goals.

Quality assurance and Quality control for federal and state agencies | S/W: Global Mapper, ArcMap and MicroStation

• QCed the DEM files for accuracy – buildings, bridges, break lines, water surfaces, tree canopy, corrupt/incomplete files, correct clipping to the boundary.
• QCed building footprints and other vector layers for accuracy - replaced corrupt files and added new polygons. Also created a “issues” shapefile for files with high level of errors for further analysis.
• QCed lidar point cloud using the S/W MicroStation. Checked for classes such as ground buildings, roads, and vegetation. Corrected misplaced points for a smooth surface.      

Pipeline ECW Export Project | AEP project | S/W: Flip 7

Executed SBET-based flight line reprojection, unit conversion, and ECW exports using standardized workflows and naming conventions.

FFRMS Elevation Project | FEMA project | S/W: ArcPro

• Downloaded and organized multi-resolution DEMs (1m, 3m, 10m) from USGS sources; performed bulk tile management using uGet and metadata review for state/county-based elevation projects.
• Processed and mosaicked DEMs in ArcGIS Pro using WISE Pro, including projection setup, raster prioritization, and ground mosaic building for FEMA terrain mapping deliverables.

Contour Generation and QAQC for Digital Terrain Models | USACE project | S/W: ArcMap

• Conducted quality assurance and control on contour lines generated from Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) using TerraModeler in MicroStation. Utilized ArcMap's Topology tool to thoroughly review and correct spatial errors, including dangles, gaps, and overlaps, ensuring topological accuracy and clean vector data for downstream geospatial analysis.

Geological Technician, Iowa Geological Survey, Iowa City, IA

Mar 2011- Apr 2014

High resolution land cover | Iowa DNR project | S/W: ERDAS - Imagine

• Published a statewide high resolution (1 meter) land cover raster file with 15 different classes.
• Main tasks: Unsupervised Landcover classification, spatial analysis of the classified raster files, Interpretation of aerial photography, LIDAR processing, raster post processing, image editing and QAQC of the processed files. S/W: ERDAS-Imagine.

GIS Assistant, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa City, IA

Mar 2010 – Mar 2011

Iowa flood plain mapping | FEMA project | S/W: ArcMap, Arc Catalog

• Main tasks included Geo-rectification, 2D digitization of hydrography of the streams, rivers, and riverbanks over on LiDAR imagery, satellite imagery and aerial photographs to create a digital stream network map; QAQC of the processed files. S/W: ArcMap, Arc Catalog

Student Employee: Iowa Geological and water survey, Coralville, IA 

Jan 2009 – Mar 2010

• Cleaning, preparation and well-logging of the core samples collected for geological mapping purposes.

Teaching Assistant: 

• Structural Geology 
• Earth History and Resources 
• Natural Hazards

Geospatial Analyst: MapSwipe – American Red Cross (Volunteer)

Apr 2025 - Present

• Analyze satellite imagery to identify and classify buildings and infrastructure in support of humanitarian mapping. Contribute to crisis response and disease control projects by validating and improving geospatial data for under-mapped regions.

Virtual Map Editor: World Resources Institute and Moabi

Feb 2016 –Aug 2017

• Global Forest Watch project: a dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system. Digitizing, logging roads from satellite imagery, verifying and editing the data worked on by other volunteers, tagging logged roads to the year of their first appearance. S/W: OpenStreetMap.

Virtual Map Editor: United States Geological Survey

Jan 2016 –Aug 2017

• The National Map Corps project: Editing geographic data such as schools, hospitals, fire stations, post offices and more through a customized online map editor.

Virtual Cartographer: Days for Girls International

Mar 2015 - June 2015

• Mapping the organization's global teams’ details like locations, team names, team heads, chapter activity, number of feminine hygiene kits produced and other data using Salesforce platform.

• GIS Suites: ESRI ArcGIS: ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ERDAS IMAGINE, MicroStation, Global Mapper, QGIS, OpenStreetMap, Google Earth, Google Earth Pro, Flip 7

• CAD : Autocad.

• Programing:  Basic Python and JavaScripting

• Image editors: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

• Text and spreadsheet editors: Microsoft Office Suites

Journal article and Thesis at University of Iowa:

• William C McClelland; Jane A Gilotti; Thejashwini Ramarao; Lars Stemmerik; Finn Dalhoff, “Carboniferous basin in Holm Land records local exhumation of the North-East Greenland Caledonides: Implications for the detrital zircon signature of a collisional Orogeny”, Geosphere, 2016, Vol 12, No 3.

• Presented posters at GSA annual meeting, Minneapolis and AAPG/SEG student expo, Houston.

 Thesis and Technical Report at University of Mysore:

• Thesis: Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of Yttrium Aluminum Perovskites.

• Technical Report: “The extraction and metallurgical process of gold at Hutti and Uti gold mines, South India”.

• Differences and similarities between Earth- moon Lithosphere” - PLANEX workshop, Ahmedabad, India.