[20 Test Answers] FEMA IS-103: Geospatial Information Systems Specialist (GISS)

Here are the final exam answers for FEMA IS-103: Geospatial Information Systems Specialist (GISS).

Overview: The FEMA IS-103 course was published on 5/25/2022 for students to successfully assume the role and responsibilities of a Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Specialist (GISS) during a disaster situation.

Primary audience: The IS-103 course is designed primarily for GIS Specialists newly employed with FEMA or other emergency response organizations. Students should already have a basic working knowledge of standard GIS software applications.

FEMA IS-103 test answers

Each time your test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and choices. The test questions are scrambled to protect the integrity of the exam.

Question 1. Given resource capacity, existing projects, and the timeline, not all product requests may be feasible. During which phase of the workflow process does a GIMG/GIUL have to weigh the feasibility of a product request and decide whether it should be taken up?
A. Production
B. Planning and Direction
C. Product Assignment✅
D. Dissemination

Question 2. The FEMA Qualification System (FQS):
A. Serves as the legal justification for hiring decisions
B. Summarizes incident costs and projected expenditures
C. Provides operational direction for incident personnel
D. Establishes a qualification and certification system for the FEMA workforce✅

Question 3. A GISS may be asked to produce any of the following products during a disaster EXCEPT:
A. Reference maps
B. Interactive map products
C. Incident-specific maps
D. Climate maps✅

Question 4. All of the following are true about the GIS Specialist Position Task Book (PTB) EXCEPT:
A. Includes subjective comments about a trainee’s performance✅
B. Documents the tasks a trainee has successfully demonstrated for an FQS evaluator at an incident
C. Serves as the official record of successfully completed tasks
D. Contains all the critical behaviors, activities, and tasks required to become certified as a GIS Specialist

Question 5. To ensure an efficient transition to a replacement, you should:
A. Destroy all previous files so your replacement doesn’t need to deal with them
B. Not do anything; your replacement will want to follow his/her own procedures
C. Plan to leave before your replacement arrives
D. Update all products to ensure they are useable, accurate, and professional✅

Question 6. Which of the following choices ONLY includes examples of authoritative data sources?
A. YouTube, USGS, and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
B. FEMA, Twitter, and Public/Private utility providers such as ConEdison
C. USGS, FEMA, and Twitter
D. FEMA, the State GIS Clearinghouse, and USGS✅

Question 7. During which phase of the remote sensing workflow process is raw imagery acquired?
A. Collection✅
B. Processing
C. Tasking
D. Exploitation

Question 8. Which of the following is true about Metadata records?
A. They are not needed for data that is publicly available on the FEMA Website
B. They make a product identifiable✅
C. They are based on standards developed by FEMA
D. They make data more difficult to locate

Question 9. You have been asked to provide a map that includes Individual Assistance (IA) information and that will be distributed to an outside organization. How should you respond?
A. Provide a map that shows the densities of applicants, but does not show data about specific individuals.✅
B. Give the map to the customer and don’t worry about it; it’s their responsibility now.
C. Release the map to the customer, but ask that they be careful about sharing the map with others.
D. Tell the customer that you are unable to provide them with any information for this task.

Question 10. Two maps that a GISS will need to update intermittently during an incident are:
A. Demographic maps and damage assessment maps✅
B. Declaration status maps and damage assessment maps
C. Declaration maps and city maps
D. Political maps and climate maps

Question 11. GIS supports other components in a JFO in all of the following ways EXCEPT:
A. Providing the Planning Section with maps to support situational awareness
B. Providing calendars for use throughout the JFO
C. Providing decision-makers with data about the status of critical infrastructure
D. Providing products to support a briefing for Congressional staffers.✅

Question 12. Which of the following documents would a GISS use to get information about the organization and management of GIS data and the production of cartographic products and services?
A. Geospatial Incident Management and Support Guide
B. Federal Interagency Geospatial Concept of Operations✅
C. FEMA GIS Strategic Plan
D. FEMA GIS Implementation Plan

Question 13. Once a GIS product is ready to be disseminated, it should always be:
A. Given a final review by the GISS who produced the product
B. Reviewed by a supervisor or another GISS✅
C. Sent out as quickly as possible without further review
D. Put on hold until a formal review can be scheduled

Question 14. Conducting a careful analysis of available GIS data
A. Creates a product that is easier for decision-makers to use✅
B. Is only necessary if enough time is available
C. Is not really important if the final product looks good
D. Is the responsibility of the Incident Commander

Question 15. Remote sensing data can be used to do all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Assess levels and patterns of damage within disaster areas
B. Provide predictive impacts after an incident✅
C. Quickly assess the order of magnitude of an incident
D. Support Situational Awareness in inaccessible areas

Question 16. Common disclaimers for products generated by the GIU include:
A. Privacy Act Disclaimers and Metadata Records
B. Commercial Imagery Markings and Standard GIS Symbols
C. Privacy Act Disclaimers and For Official Use Only Disclaimers✅
D. For Official Use Only Disclaimers and Metadata Records

Question 17. When checking into a Joint Field Office, a GISS will do all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Take additional GIS training✅
B. Complete a check-in packet
C. Check in with a supervisor
D. Fill out a JFO IT Help Desk Request form

Question 18. Qualification and certification within the FEMA Qualification System (FQS) is established through:
A. Seniority, number of years on the job, and position
B. Training, demonstrated performance, and seniority
C. Experience, training, and number of years on the job
D. Experience, training, and demonstrated performance✅

Question 19. All of the following are effective strategies for working within time constraints EXCEPT:
A. Negotiating timelines for production
B. Asking for additional resources
C. Prioritizing geospatial product requests
D. Delivering the product later than requested✅

Question 20. When checking out of an incident, your responsibilities include:
A. Completing the Demobilization Checkout Form and returning any equipment you don’t want to keep for future use.
B. Returning all equipment, obtaining a performance appraisal, and submitting final documents.
C. Returning all equipment, checking out of the Automated Deployment Database, and receiving a follow-on assignment.✅
D. Submitting final documents, signing into the Automated Deployment Database, and obtaining a performance appraisal