Trailblazers, a local non-profit organization in Northwest Arkansas that collaborates with the U of A Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, has an opening for a paid internship (10-20 hours per week) for a GIS analyst, who would work locally in-person and need transportation for fieldwork.

Trailblazers partners with the U of A Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies in researching active transportation in Northwest Arkansas and co-managing a trail infrastructure database for the region. "We continue to support regional trails database development and geospatial technologies as a small part of our university outreach mission," said Brian Culpepper, senior research assistant for CAST. "We also feel that many of our UA students enrolled in GIS courses offered within the geosciences, engineering and architecture departments are well positioned for this internship."

Description
Trailblazers is a nonprofit formed in 2021 through the merger of NWA Trailblazers, an organization that has developed over 300 miles of multi-use trails in Northwest Arkansas, and BikeNWA, a bicycle advocacy and education-focused organization that has led Northwest Arkansas in advocating for active transportation. The organization and its predecessors have been committed for over 20 years to creating healthier, more connected and safer communities.

This part-time position will support the GIS director to collect, process and submit geospatial data relevant to trails and active transportation infrastructure in Northwest Arkansas to various online platforms for public use.

Please apply by submitting a cover letter and resume to info@wearetrailblazers.org.

Preferred Qualifications

• B.S. in geography or another of the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics (can still be pursuing degree)
• Aptitude for learning new skills and software
• Experience in a GIS software such as ESRI ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, QGIS, etc.
• Able to analyze and process geospatial data
• Ability to walk 3-5 miles of trails with occasionally steep terrain

Preferences

• Pursuing master's degree in associated field
• Experience with field data collection using GPS or other survey equipment
• Experience with Open Street Maps (OSM)

Please apply directly to the Trailblazers email address at info@wearetrailblazers.org with your cover letter and resume.