The internet is a very big place and certainly, we are not able to surf it all. So, it’s hard to have all the resources in one place.
While surfing the internet, one might be looking for possible interview questions that might be asked. It’s hard to get all of this content in one place because different platforms have different kinds of information. In this post, we have curated data from multiple sources which talk about preparing for a GIS interview.
Here we present to you the possible questions and answers that might be asked during the hiring process. In order to keep things simple, we left out questions like “Tell us about yourself,” since we think those are pretty obvious. Here we are mainly focusing on the technical side of things.
A: GIS is a blend of S/W and H/W used to collect, manipulate analysts and produce geographical data
A: Geo-coding is when you associate a place name or an address with map coordinates. When you geo-reference images from a satellite or an airplane, you link them to map coordinates so that they can be put on top of street maps.
A: Commands do not require interaction with the map, they just rely on surface. Tools on the other hand require interaction with the map canvas.
A: Remote sensing is the process of finding and classifying things on or in the earth without touching them. This is usually done with sensors in the sky.
A: You can only make good decisions if you have accurate data. GIS is a great tool for managing data, but using it with GPS helps make sure that the results and analysis of the data are correct.
Q: Where are you? How big is the map compared to the real world? What is north, east, south, and west?
Answer: The equator is far away from any point north or south on the earth’s surface. What do the symbols on the map mean?
A: The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that tells you where you are and what time it is in any weather, on or near the earth.
A: A Global Positioning System receiver figures out where it is by timing the signals sent by a GPS satellite, which is very high in the sky. These distances and satellite location are used to compute the location of the receiver using the Navigation Equations. Although 4 satellites are required for normal operation, fewer apply in special cases.
A: The structure of GPS has three main segments. These are as follows: Page segment, Control segment and User segment.
A: The space segment is made up of 24 to 32 satellites in medium Earth orbit, as well as the payload adapter that connects the satellites to the boosters they need to be launched into orbit.
The control segment has a master control station, an alternate master control station, and many ground antennas and monitor stations that are either single-use or shared.
A: User segment is composed of thousands of U. U.S. and allied military users of the secure GPS Precise positioning service and millions of civilian and scientific users of the standard positioning service
Even though any small GPS device could be called a portable GPS, the term is usually used for units that give driving directions and are meant to be mounted in cars. Others, used for outdoor activities, are generally referred to as handheld GPS units. Still, people might get the terms mixed up sometimes, and a portable GPS and a handheld GPS are the same thing.
A: You can think of a project file as a database management tool. GIS users often must work on the same files for long periods of time, and the . .mxd files are used for management. They keep track of which files you use, where they are stored, what projection they are in, what colors you have set, and so on.
A: Shapefiles are computer files that produce s for users in a GIS environment. There are three basic types of shapefiles: line point and polygon.
A: If you have data with spatial locators (e. g. , census FIPS codes, zip codes, street addresses, etc. ), you can link your data to shapefiles within a GIS environment. Furthermore, you can join tables in a GIS project.
A: In ArcGIS, ArcMap is used to make, view, and change maps, and ArcCatalog is used to browse and organize data files. Arc Toolbox is the application in ArcGIS that contains data management and conversion tools and wizards (e. g. , projection tools).
A: The Spatial Analyst extension can help you find the best places for a new building based on a number of factors, such as slopes and directions, the cheapest routes, and the least expensive paths. This is useful for analyzing raster data as well as feature data.
A: The Geostatistical Analyst extension can help you make statistical surfaces for exploratory spatial data analysis, structural analysis (figuring out the properties of nearby areas), surface prediction and results analysis, and structural analysis (figuring out the properties of nearby areas).
A: ESRI makes a number of scripts and other downloads available for users. Scripts work with the existing software to extend functionality or to automate common tasks. The scripts on ESRI’s site were made by both ESRI and other ArcGIS users. You can even post your own scripts so that other people can download them.
Q: How do you edit a project (.mxd) file? Why do you need to edit a project file?
A: Once you open your project file, editing is simple. The most recent version of your files will show up on your computer screen. You can change the settings to make the file more up-to-date. (Always remember to save it!) Project files must be edited in order for changes to be.
reflected in your work. Often, you work on GIS projects for a long time. As you work, new data, shapefiles, etc. come in. can be added to keep your project current.
This is a new file called an MSD file that is used by the fast map service drawing engine that was added in ArcGIS Server 9. 3. 1. The MSD file always starts with an MXD map document. You use the Map Service Publishing Toolbar to analyze your MXD in ArcMap. You use the same toolbar to either publish the service or save the MSD file once you’ve fixed the problems found by the analysis.
A: The orbits are set up so that at any given time, at any place on Earth, at least four satellites can be seen in the sky. A GPS receiver’s job is to locate four or more of these.
satellites, figure out the distance to each, and use this information to deduce its own location.
A: SA was a technique implemented by the DOD to intentionally degrade a user’s navigation solution. The single largest source of error for SPS users was SA. The net result of SA was about a five-fold increase in positioning error. DOD achieved signal degradation by altering (also known as dithering) the satellite clock. Another means designed by DOD to degrade GPS performance was to broadcast less accurate ephemeris parameters.
A: SA was used to protect the security interests of the U. S. and its allies by globally denying the full accuracy of the civil system to potential adversaries.
A: It is not the intent of the U. S. to ever use SA again. To make sure that possible enemies don’t use GPS, the military is working hard to build and use regional denial capabilities instead of global degradation through SA.
A: The GPS satellites operate in circular 10,900nm (20,200km) 12-hour orbits at an inclination of 55 degrees. They are not in geo-stationary orbit.
GPS satellite signals, like any other navigation signals, are subject to some form of interference. The FAA is actively working with the U. S. Department of Défense and other.
U. S. Government Agencies to find these effects and try to lessen them. They should also make sure that the GPS and any other systems that work with it are always available so that flights can be safely conducted. As with all navigation aids, interference, whether intentional or unintentional, is always a concern.
A: This is not a simple yes/no answer. The answer is that it depends on the service requirements of each user or aviation authority. For many countries, GPS supplies a better capability than the existing ground-based systems or lack thereof. The GPS signal does not meet the accuracy, integrity, availability, and continuity requirements that are important for flight safety in other countries with large infrastructures. Improvements to the Global Positioning System (GPS), like the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and the Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS), make it possible to meet safety-of-life flight requirements.
In the most basic form of DGPS, the location of a reference receiver at a monitoring or reference station is surveyed, which means that the exact location of the receiver is known. There shouldn’t be more than 300 miles between the user receiver and the reference receiver that measures pseudorange. This is true for any user receiver. However, because the reference receiver knows its position accurately, it can determine “biases” in its pseudorange.
measurements. For each satellite viewed from the reference receiver, these biases are found by taking the difference between the measured pseudorange and the geometric range from the satellite to the reference receiver. Biases in the pseudorange measurement process include mistakes caused by ionospheric delay, tropospheric delay, and the fact that the satellite clock isn’t in sync with GPS time. The reference station sends these biases, which are known as differential corrections, to all users in its coverage area so that they can be used in real time. Users incorporate these corrections to improve the accuracy of their position solution.
A: Fleet management involves managing vehicles and personnel available. It also constitutes route planning, route optimization, personnel management, asset tracking, vehicle maintenance, report generation, fuel management, etc.
A: You need to be clear about the benefits of putting a GPS tracking system in the school buses before you start the process. Should you really spend the money and time on it? Does it really do what it says it will do? You might also want to get a full demo run to see how the system works.
A: The budget for each school to implement an effective solution would definitely vary. For this reason, you should consider the number of vehicles, data base needed (e. g. up to street level), additional facilities required, such SMS or PUSH notification facilities, etc. It should be decided whether all the features offered in a system is actually useful for you.
Bus drivers and attendants can enjoy school bus rides more with the help of more advanced systems that even offer voice-guided directions.
A: The Air Force is confident GPS will continue to meet existing service commitments. A few years ago, the Air Force knew there could be a gap in availability and took steps to set up procedures and processes that would help reduce the gap or lessen its effects. Air Force Space Command created important steps for both the operational community and the acquisition community to make sure that on-orbit assets last longer and that capabilities are delivered on time. Users can employ GPS with confidence today and continue to do so in the future. According to what the General Accounting Office (GAO) told Congress, “There have been times when people were worried about gaps, and the Air Force has handled them quite well.” ”.
A: The Department of Defense bought and runs GPS, but the US Government owns and pays for the system, which can be used for many things. S. taxpayer. The outstanding performance of GPS over decades has earned the confidence of millions of civil and military.
users worldwide. The management structure and modernization efforts directed by U. S. policy continue this support for multi-user applications. Any misunderstandings will be cleared up, just like they were in the past, by a track record of service and performance for all users.
A: GPS tracking tells you which employees are on the clock and where they’re located. You’ll be able to see who is closest to a customer when you need to schedule a new job on the spot, better manage employees in different places, find inefficiencies in routes and workloads, and build trust by making sure everyone is held accountable.
A: Different GPS devices offer differing levels of accuracy so always ask the question. When the sky is clear, AVS GPS devices are very accurate, within 5 to 10 meters at most.
A: A GPS locator does not record regular position updates, it will only log its position on command. Simply send a TXT to the tracker and it will TXT back its’ location. Some GPS trackers send GPS coordinates, which are also known as Latitude and Longitude. These can be put into Google to see a map.
It’s not impossible to lose GPS signals, and no GPS hardware can guarantee that position logs will be correct 100% of the time. Because GPS devices need to be able to talk to satellites in space, reception can be lost in crowded places or underground parking lots.
A: GPS tracking is a way of determining the location of a vehicle, person or other asset. A GPS device is attached to, or installed into, the asset you wish to track. The device then uses the Global Positioning System to record the position of the asset at regular intervals.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses trilateration, a more complex form of triangulation, to figure out where it is on Earth’s surface by timing signals from three GPS satellites.
When GPS satellites send out information about where they are and what time it is, trilateration uses distances to figure out exactly where they are on Earth. While triangulation is associated with surveying, no.
angles are actually involved in GPS positioning. Surveyors use triangulation to measure distant points – not GPS receivers.
You want the coveted remote iOS engineer job, and you know that being able to integrate location and GPS is a must. Hold on tight, because we’re about to go over the top 10 interview questions you’ll probably be asked, along with professional answers that will help you shine.
1 Location-Based App Expertise
Question: Tell us about your experience with location-based applications.
Answer
“In my previous role at [Company Name] I developed a location-based app for a retail giant. It used GPS to provide real-time store information, promotions and directions. Through extensive user testing and feedback, we achieved a high user rating and over 50,000 downloads in the first month.”
Key Takeaways
- Highlight a specific project.
- Emphasize GPS integration and real-time features.
- Mention user-centric approach and positive outcomes.
2 Staying Current with Location Technology
Question: How do you stay updated on location technology advancements?
Answer:
“I’m passionate about staying ahead of the curve. I regularly attend conferences like the LocationTech Summit and read industry publications like GPS World. I actively engage in online communities like Reddit’s /r/LocationTechnology and participate in online learning platforms like Udemy and Coursera. Additionally, I’ve completed certifications like Esri’s Technical Certification for ArcGIS Desktop and Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals.”
Key Takeaways:
- Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.
- Mention specific resources and platforms you use.
- Highlight your certifications and achievements.
3. GPS and Indoor Positioning Experience:
Question: Share your experience working with GPS and indoor positioning technologies.
Answer:
“I’ve extensively utilized these technologies in various projects. For instance, I integrated GPS and mapping features in a delivery app, enabling real-time package tracking and efficient customer management. We also developed an indoor navigation system that allowed users to locate packages within large buildings, reducing project costs by 20%.”
Key Takeaways:
- Provide concrete examples of project applications.
- Emphasize the integration of different technologies.
- Quantify the impact of your work.
4. Troubleshooting Location Issues:
Question: How do you troubleshoot location-related issues in apps?
Answer:
“I follow a systematic approach. First, I verify app settings and device permissions. Then, I test in different locations and check server-side components. If needed, I collaborate with the QA team and developers to identify and resolve issues. For instance, I once fixed a GPS issue in a travel app by updating the code to use the correct location source, resulting in accurate location data.”
Key Takeaways:
- Explain your troubleshooting process step-by-step.
- Provide real-world examples of problem-solving.
- Demonstrate collaboration and teamwork skills.
5. Integrating Third-Party Mapping APIs:
Question: Walk us through integrating a third-party mapping API into an app.
Answer:
“First, I research and choose the best API based on project needs. Then, I obtain API keys and implement the API, following the provider’s guidelines. I test the integration with mock and real-world data, optimizing and refining as needed. For example, in a previous project, we integrated Google Maps API, resulting in a seamless delivery tracking feature with accurate location data.”
Key Takeaways:
- Outline the key steps involved in the integration process.
- Mention specific API examples and best practices.
- Highlight the importance of testing and optimization.
6. Optimizing Location-Based App Performance:
Question: How have you optimized location-based app performance and battery usage?
Answer:
“At XYZ Company, I implemented strategies to reduce location update frequency and duration, minimizing battery drain while maintaining accuracy. We also introduced user-adjustable location update frequency and location-based data pre-fetching, further enhancing performance. Additionally, a battery-level monitoring system adjusted location updates accordingly. These efforts resulted in a 25% increase in daily active users and a 20% reduction in average battery usage per session.”
Key Takeaways:
- Quantify the impact of your optimization efforts.
- Explain specific strategies you implemented.
- Provide data-driven evidence of success.
7. iBeacons and Geofencing Experience:
Question: Have you worked with iBeacons or geofencing before?
Answer:
“Yes, I’ve used both in previous projects. In a retail app, iBeacons triggered proximity-based deals and promotions, increasing in-store traffic by 15%. Geofencing sent push notifications with coupons, resulting in a 25% redemption rate. I’m eager to explore these technologies further.”
Key Takeaways:
- Provide specific examples of iBeacon and geofencing applications.
- Quantify the impact of your work.
- Express enthusiasm for future exploration.
8. CoreLocation and MapKit Expertise:
Question: Explain your experience with CoreLocation and MapKit frameworks.
Answer:
“I’ve extensively used CoreLocation for location tracking and services. In a reminder app, it triggered location-based reminders, and in a fitness app, it measured running distances. I’ve also implemented geofencing in a transportation app. For MapKit, I’ve integrated it into food ordering and travel booking apps, displaying locations and enabling real-time services. I’ve also created custom annotations and overlays for enhanced map information.”
Key Takeaways:
- Provide diverse examples of CoreLocation and MapKit applications.
- Highlight your ability to integrate and customize these frameworks.
- Demonstrate your understanding of their functionalities.
9. Turn-by-Turn Navigation Implementation:
Question: Have you ever implemented turn-by-turn navigation in an app?
Answer:
“Yes, in a delivery app, we used Google Maps API to integrate GPS and geolocation services for real-time driver navigation. Turn-by-turn voice navigation helped drivers optimize routes and reduce delivery times by 20%. Driver efficiency increased by 15%, with fewer missed deliveries.”
Key Takeaways:
- Provide a specific example of turn-by-turn navigation implementation.
- Quantify the impact of your work on delivery efficiency.
- Highlight the use of specific technologies and features.
10. Handling Location Data Privacy Concerns:
Question: How do you handle user privacy concerns when using location data in an app?
Answer:
“In a ridesharing app, we clearly stated our purpose for collecting location data and made opt-out options readily available. We implemented industry-standard encryption and only retained data for a limited time. These measures resulted in high user trust and positive feedback. I stay updated on regulations like GDPR and CCPA to ensure future apps maintain high privacy standards.”
Key Takeaways:
- Provide a specific example of privacy-conscious location data handling.
- Explain the measures you implemented to protect user privacy.
- Demonstrate your commitment to staying informed about privacy regulations.
Bonus Tip:
Remember to tailor your answers to the specific company and role you’re interviewing for. Research their products, technologies, and values to demonstrate your alignment with their goals.
By mastering these top 10 location and GPS integration interview questions, you’ll be well-equipped to impress potential employers and land your dream remote iOS engineer position. So, go forth and conquer those interviews with confidence!
FAANG System Design Interview: Design A Location Based Service (Yelp, Google Places)
FAQ
How to answer an interview question about geographical preference?
What questions should I expect when interviewing for a GIS specialist position?
When interviewing for a GIS specialist position, you can expect a series of standard questions related to your general background, education, experience and the specifics of the field. Related: 13 Competency-Based Interview Questions and How to Prepare for the Interview
What are the most common Google Maps interview questions?
Most frequently asked important Google Maps Interview Questions are described below: 1) What is Google Maps? Google Maps is a web-based mapping service that is designed and developed by Google. It contains geographical data and provides routes and information to the client. 2) What are the main features of Google Maps?
How do you prepare for a geographic information system interview?
Interviews are an important part of the job application process. Geographical information systems candidates should prepare for interview questions specific to their education, experience and training. Adequate preparation ensures that the interview will go smoothly and hopefully result in a job offer.
Why do interviewers ask about your geographic preference?
If the business has locations in multiple countries, the interviewer may also want to know about your geographical preference because a position is available in a branch overseas. Sometimes, this question is simply a screening tool if the company needs someone who can move to another part of the country or world.
