Emily Frazier, M.S. GIST 2014
A month before defending my thesis for the USC GIST Program, I was offered a job with Nokia’s HERE Maps in Los Angeles. I literally defended my thesis at the end of August and began my new job as a Geographic Analyst the first week in September 2014. Within the first month, the company sent me to Sunnyvale, California and Chicago, Illinois to meet and train with Nokia Corporate.
As a Geographic Analyst for Nokia’s HERE Maps, I assist in finding sources for new and updated map content, ensuring accurate representation of the real world conditions within the database for defined geographic areas, as well as planning, scheduling, and performing field data collection for the Southern California region and Hawaii.
A large part of my job is field data collection. My team and I drive to different locations with a multi-camera, GPS receiving vehicle to take video of new roads and areas in need of updates. We do this to not only update our system, but to enhance the connected car driving experience for our customers including BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes. This is the most exciting part of my job since I get to travel frequently and not have to be stuck in an office in front of a computer all day. It’s like a mini road trip every week!
I enjoy my job because it has something new to offer every day I come in. No two days are the same and being able to work on projects similar to what I spent my entire academic career on definitely keeps me excited and intrigued for the future.
