Will cartographers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Cartographers score 52 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 90%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 7% outright, and 3% stays with people.
- 7% AI can do it
- 90% AI helps
- 3% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 79% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 14 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 12 and leaves 1 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Build and update digital databases. Routine database building and updating is highly digital and repeatable. | 65% AI can do it |
| Identify, scale, and orient geodetic points, elevations, and other planimetric or topographic features, applying standard mathematical formulas. Geodetic math largely done by existing survey software. | 55% AI helps |
| Examine and analyze data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare topographic maps, aerial-photograph mosaics, and related charts. Synthesizing survey, report, and imagery data into map drafts. | 55% AI helps |
| Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps. Gathering and summarizing source documents; physical archive retrieval stays manual. | 50% AI helps |
| Collect information about specific features of the Earth, using aerial photography and other digital remote sensing techniques. ML classifiers automate feature detection; ground truthing stays manual. | 50% AI helps |
| Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy. AI flags inconsistencies; a person signs off on accuracy. | 45% AI helps |
| Revise existing maps and charts, making all necessary corrections and adjustments. Digital edits to existing maps are fast; verification remains human. | 45% AI helps |
| Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment. Graphics and 3D model output assisted; stereo plotting stays manual. | 40% AI helps |
| Study legal records to establish boundaries of local, national, and international properties. Reading deeds and legal descriptions; boundary conclusions need legal accountability. | 40% AI helps |
| Determine map content and layout, as well as production specifications such as scale, size, projection, and colors, and direct production to ensure that specifications are followed. Layout and spec choices need design judgement; AI drafts options. | 40% AI helps |
Show the other 4 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments. Manual stereo instrument tracing; AI aids feature extraction. | 35% AI helps |
| Select aerial photographic and remote sensing techniques and plotting equipment needed to meet required standards of accuracy. Choosing techniques for accuracy standards needs expert judgement. | 30% AI helps |
| Determine guidelines that specify which source material is acceptable for use. Source acceptability rules reflect organizational policy and judgement. | 25% AI helps |
| Travel over photographed areas to observe, identify, record, and verify all relevant features. Physical field travel to observe and verify features. | 8% Needs a person |
How cartographers compare
All occupations (923)
Architecture and engineering (56)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $81,390 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 14,260 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +7.4% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Verify mapped features through field ground truthing surveys
- Set source acceptability rules for survey and imagery data
- Sign off accuracy of final ESRI ArcGIS compositions
- Read deeds and legal descriptions to fix property boundaries
- Hold the GISP certification from GISCI
- Design GIS data structures and attribute schemas for mapping systems
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about cartographers and AI
Will AI replace cartographers?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly building and updating digital databases and calculating geodetic points from survey data. What stays with people is field verification, choosing acceptable sources, and signing off accuracy.
Which cartography tasks is AI taking over?
Building and updating digital databases comes first, with an exposure score of 65, because the work is repetitive and highly digital. Geodetic calculations follow at 55, since survey software already applies the standard formulas. ML classifiers also pick out terrain and cultural features from aerial photographs and satellite images, scoring 50.
Which cartography tasks stay human?
Field travel is the least exposed task, since someone must physically observe and verify features on the ground. Setting rules for which source material is acceptable reflects organizational policy and judgement. Choosing photogrammetric techniques to meet accuracy standards also needs expert judgement.
How can cartographers stay valuable as AI spreads?
Take responsibility for the tasks AI leaves with a person. Schedule field checks on features that classifiers flag as uncertain, and write the source acceptability rules your team follows. Sign off accuracy on final ESRI ArcGIS compositions yourself, and read deeds when boundary conclusions need legal accountability.
Related jobs
Next steps for cartographers
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