MW Cartography and GIS
Consulting
Empowering people with strategic pathways
"If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else."
- Yogi Berra
My Vision
My vision is to help people navigate the modern landscape using the most effective data acquisition technology, analysis and mapping techniques. My core mission is to empower people and organizations, with training opportunities, GIS-based analysis and customized multi-platform mapping services, to make more informed decisions based on integrated facts that support their personal purpose or organizational business practices.
Expertise for
Cartographic
Communication
With a proven track record of acquiring and integrating data to effectively communicate information with maps, paired with my experience with educating students about how to utilize industry standard cartographic design software and implement design principles to create effective map products I have become a trusted Cartographer.
Expertise for
Remote Sensing &
Spatial Analysis
My demonstrated ability to create innovative, purpose-driven solutions and apply advanced GIS analysis to support a wide range of conceptual research-based and real-world applications, across the public and private sector, paired with my role in educating students about applied analysis methodologies has made me a trusted Analyst.
My Story
I am a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional specializing in data acquisition (i.e. field survey ranging from Total Station to GPS to Mobile App data collection and desktop methods including digital data acquisition via ETL methods, georeferencing and digitization and other remote sensing techniques such as land use classification), spatial data analytics (i.e. geocoding, linear referencing, network analysis, geostatistical analysis, least cost path analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis), workflow automation (i.e. Esri ArcGIS Pro ModelBuilder workflows extended with Python and Extract Transform Load ETL data methodologies), the development of innovative business practice driven spatial analysis methodologies and creation of cartographic information products that are designed to be delivered in a multi-format, multi-platform environment (report maps, large format wall maps, map books, brochures, interactive digital dashboards, customized Web Maps, Esri ArcGIS StoryMaps). I have been trained to provide classroom, special event and on-the-job training to support GIS data acquisition, software utilization, mapping, analysis, innovation and migration in an ever-evolving technological landscape.
While I am a graduate of the University of North Texas, I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, maintain a dual-citizenship and I have worked internationally during the past 30+ years in the United States, Australia and Canada. I have been GISP certified by GISCI since 2008 and I have 25 years of experience in the field of GIS. My GIS related work experience includes providing GIS services to support Municipal Operations and the Engineering Consulting Industry, as well as, educating College students about various aspects of GIS in my role as a Professor. I joined Fleming College, as a GIS Professor in 2014, and have both developed and delivered cutting edge curriculum for the courses that I have taught through the years which include: Spatial Analysis I and II, Geovisualization I, II, and III (Cartographic design techniques), Municipal Mapping and GIS, Geomatics in Surveying (field survey techniques), Intro and Advanced Remote Sensing, Fundamentals of Geomatics and GIS Applications in Urban Forestry. I seek to build awareness around data acquisition techniques, spatial data analysis and mapping technologies to deliver spatial information that supports business practices in both public and private sectors. I can help you map the path that makes sense for you.
Marikka Williams, M.Sc., GISP
Cartography and GIS Consultant
I provide GIS training and create customized map products that are designed for multiple platforms to support decisions related to everyday activities, recreational activities, special events, and professional business practices. I am an expert at data acquisition, integration, spatial analysis and map production designed to help clients make informed decisions to navigate through the modern landscape and optimize strategic planning.
My Skillset
Explore my skillset and associated range of Data Acquisition, Mapping, Spatial Analysis and GIS Training Opportunities to discover how I can tailor my expertise to support your situation or business practice.
Advanced Spatial Analysis
My Background
Academic Experience
I started working in the Academic Community at the University of North Texas, in 1993, at UNT Libraries in a part-time Student Assistant role, while working on a BFA in Art History. I shifted to a full-time Student Services roles from 1997-2000 and continued in a part time capacity at UNT Libraries until 2007. I also served as an Archaeology and Earth Science Lab Instructor from 2000-2004 while working on my MSc Degree in Applied Geography.
Municipal Mapping and GIS Experience
While I was working on my Masters Degree I commenced on my GIS career path by providing GIS services to support Municipal Government for the City of Highland Village from 2002 to 2008. My primary task was to build and maintain a Municipal Geographic Information System for the City which involved the following:
- Implementing a centralized GIS (software installation, system design and maintenance);
- Data collection with GPS, Ortho-photography, and conversion of AutoCAD files;
- Liaising with City Departments to provide GIS support services for existing business practices;
- Developing GIS solutions to facilitate fulfilment of legislative requirements (e.g. GASB34);
- Maintenance of centralized GIS (data collection, editing and database management);
- Analysis of spatial and attribute data to generate maps, and other technical documents;
- Creation of representative and analytical maps to facilitate municipal operations.
When I was recruited by an Australian Engineering Consulting Firm into a Senior Spatial Analyst role, in 2008, I provided mapping and GIS analysis services for both municipal and state government agencies as well as the private companies listed in the GIS Consulting Project Experience Section.
GIS Consulting Project Experience
While I worked at GHD Australia from 2008 - 2011 and GHD Canada from 2011 - 2013, as a Senior Spatial Analyst, I acquired a highly diverse skill-set due to the volume and range of projects that I worked on. During my tenure I had the opportunity to work on 300+ projects to achieve the following:
- Develop relationships with clients to gain an understanding of their business processes and develop practical GIS-based solutions that provide cost-effective implementations aligned with their business processes including user needs analysis; process design;
- Facilitate client workshops to develop consensus among various project stakeholders to inform the design process and to connect GIS solutions to the specific business requirements;
- Collaborate with work colleagues and clients to develop innovative GIS-based multi-disciplinary solutions;
- Deliver GIS services including: GPS support, data management, data integration, report mapping, QA/QC of maps; LIDAR processing; ArcServer Web GIS development and iOS Mobile GIS services; ArcSDE administration;
- Provide technical GIS services to develop advanced GIS analysis methodologies such as multi-criteria analysis to support decisions related to engineering design, land use planning, urban planning, environmental impact assessments, vegetation mapping, risk management, water infrastructure asset management and maintenance for local, regional and state government organizations.
- Write in-depth technical methodological reports to communicate GIS based methodologies and analysis results that integrate with discipline specific business practices and methodologies;
- Manage Projects from end-to-end including the process of developing scope, budget, priorities, establishing benchmark deliverable goals, scheduling tasks, quality assurance, proactively managing risk and other tasks associated with delivering a quality product that fulfils client expectations; and
- Provide leadership in problem solving and technical support, training, and mentoring for colleagues.
I had the opportunity to work with colleagues across 5 Business Sectors (Environment, Energy and Resources, Transportation, Water, Built Environment), to gain an understanding of the business practices of their clients in order to determine how GIS technology could create efficiencies and/or add value to the services that their service group provided. As a result, I effectively provided GIS Services for a wide range of GHD clients which I have highlighted in this GIS Consulting Project Experience Section.
Environmental Sector Project Clients
Regional Office Winzler & Kelley
Department of Employment, Economics, Development and Innovation
Department of Infrastructure and Planning
Energy and Resources Sector Project Clients
Transportation Sector Project Clients
Regional Office
Winzler & Kelley
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Water Sector Project Clients
Regional Office
Perunding Sdn Bhd
Department of Environment and Resource Management
Built Environment Sector Project Clients
Department of Employment, Economics, Development and Innovation
Department of Infrastructure and Energy
Department of Infrastructure and Planning
Department of Transport and Main Roads
GIS Teaching Experience I
I resumed working in an Academic role from 2014 - 2024 when I was hired to work for the School of Environment and Natural Resource Sciences (SENRS) at Fleming College as a GIS Professor, primarily teaching Spatial Analysis I and II, Geovisualization I, II and III (cartographic design techniques), Municipal Mapping and GIS, GIS Survey Camp Total Station or Levelling modules, and Remote Sensing (for a few semesters) for the GIS Post Diploma Program. I also taught for other programs at the College including: Geomatics in Surveying (field survey techniques) for the Environmental Technician Program, GIS Applications in Urban Forestry for the Urban Forestry Program and Fundamentals of Geomatics for the Common First Semester.
Municipal Mapping and GIS
Micro-Project
One of the courses that I was assigned to teach at Fleming College was a Municipal Mapping and GIS course. In 2017, to further support the course learning outcomes of Municipal Mapping and GIS, within a real-world context, I created a Municipal Mapping Micro-Project to foster a learning environment for students and orient them with how Municipal GIS works in the real world. In order to do so, I connected small groups of students with municipal GIS professionals, whom they selected from a pool of Ontario municipalities that had availability to support the project. They gathered data via a survey that I created to assist students in acquiring comparable data related to what GIS software is utilized; how GIS services are delivered, in what format, to whom and for what purpose. Following receiving the survey feedback, a face-to-face meeting was organized, either on-site or virtually, to give the students an opportunity to ask questions , learn more and meet a real-world GIS professional. Once the students met with the municipal GIS professional I supported them in the delivery of a map product of their choice. In some instances, this involved innovation in creating a map product that had not been created for the municipality in the past and in others, the students were asked to improve upon an existing map or series of maps. Between 2017 and 2024, I collaborated with the Municipal Mapping students and numerous GIS professionals, who worked with the twenty Ontario Municipalities which are highlighted in this Municipal Mapping and GIS Micro-Project Section.
GIS Teaching Experience II
After a brief Sabbatical from teaching I am excited to begin a new Chapter of my GIS Career as a GIS Professor for the School of Construction and the Environment at BCIT starting in May 2025.
Stay Tuned!
