Michael Yake
Waterloo
Summary
Dynamic Geomatics professional with expertise in GIS, remote sensing, and data management. Skilled in ArcGIS Pro and FME to improve environmental data accuracy and accessibility. Experienced in field research and invasive species mapping to support ecological management. Developed innovative methods using satellite data to monitor forest health and growth over time, enhancing long-term planning. Strong background in automating workflows and improving data quality through creative solutions. Dedicated to applying analytical and technical skills to deliver impactful environmental outcomes.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Forestry GIS Analyst
York Region – Forestry
09.2024 - 12.2025
- Georeferenced property plans to create accurate boundary layers for York Region forests.
- Designed and implemented an FME workflow to process shapefile databases, generating automated Excel reports for efficient metadata analysis.
- Migrated end-of-year dashboards from ArcGIS Online to ArcGIS Enterprise, improving functionality and accessibility for staff.
- Supported planning and execution of community events, including York Region’s 100th Anniversary Ceremonial Tree Planting and Take Your Kid to Work Day.
Forestry Project Assistant
York Region – Forestry
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Performed field surveys to identify, document, and monitor invasive species across York Region Forest and properties.
- Mapped invasive species locations in ArcGIS Pro and assigned treatment types to support ecological management.
- Leveraged ArcGIS Pro and FME to query and extract insights from regional spatial databases, improving environmental data quality and supporting forest planning.
- Applied remote sensing techniques by developing innovative methods to use satellite imagery for monitoring forest health and growth over time.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Waterloo
05.2025 - 07.2025
- Analyzed commercial, government, and open-source digital base maps to evaluate data origins, accuracy, and accessibility.
- Developed reference documentation on data provenance and metadata for major mapping platforms.
- Evaluated strengths and limitations of spatial datasets, supporting future comparative analysis and data-driven decision-making.
- Supervisor: Dr. Peter Johnson
Data Analytics & GIS Solutions Analyst
York Region – Data Analytics and Visualization Solutions
01.2024 - 04.2024
- Gained advanced proficiency in ArcGIS Pro, FME, ArcGIS Experience Builder, and WordPress through applied projects.
- Performed monthly data maintenance by improving data quality, implementing schema changes, and correcting geometry for accuracy.
- Automated satellite imagery updates with a Python script, eliminating manual workflows and improving efficiency.
- Designed and maintained WordPress webpages for a data analytics workshop (agenda, sessions, logistics), and enhanced public-facing web content using ArcGIS Experience Builder.
Education
Geomatics Honours Co-op -
University of Waterloo
Waterloo OntarioSkills
- ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder
- ENVI (Focus), remote sensing, satellite imagery analysis
- FME workflows, spatial databases, georeferencing, spatial analysis
- Python scripting, data automation, quality assurance
- Field surveys, invasive species monitoring, forest health assessment
- Metadata analysis, comparative base map research
- WordPress, public-facing dashboards, technical documentation
- Problem-solving, adaptability, collaboration, communication
Websites
Timeline
Forestry Project Assistant
York Region – Forestry
05.2025 - 08.2025
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Waterloo
05.2025 - 07.2025
Forestry GIS Analyst
York Region – Forestry
09.2024 - 12.2025
Data Analytics & GIS Solutions Analyst
York Region – Data Analytics and Visualization Solutions
01.2024 - 04.2024
Geomatics Honours Co-op -
University of Waterloo
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