Jennifer Frazer, Web-Based Geospatial Information Specialist Coordinator

As a WebGIS coordinator, I aid others on 10 different forests and grasslands to use technology better to collect the data they need. These data are used for work projects as well as reporting to the American public the work we are doing to manage their public lands.

I thoroughly enjoy my job every day because I am curious and love to problem solve. I work with lots of people and learn what they do in their archeology, botany, forestry, and engineering jobs. Then I figure out how to help them collect data in new ways with mobile tools.

Working with other people who are hesitant about using technology. I love the evolution of seeing them stick a toe in the water and then swimming as we work on a project together.

I mainly use GIS software and applications on computers and mobile devices. On occasion, I aid others in using Bluetooth GPS receivers and rangefinders to use with their mobile devices.

Heavy rains and snowmelt led to record flooding events causing $30 million dollars in damage on four forests. I designed mobile surveys and web-based applications to view the data and pictures of the damage and also created automatic reports. Emergency funds were obtained to make repairs using this information.

I have a biology background. I knew I found my niche with this career when I was aiding land managers in making decisions after bringing their paper records into digital databases.