Will AI replace Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians?
Estimated risk score: 52 out of 100
Moderate replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (33 to 71).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 30 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 19-4043.00 · Life, Physical, and Social Science
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 7 of its 30 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Assemble, maintain, or distribute information for library or record systems.
- Compile, log, or record testing or operational data for review and further analysis.
- Interview individuals, and research public databases in order to obtain information.
- Plot information from aerial photographs, well logs, section descriptions, or other databases.
- Read and study reports in order to compile information and data for geological and geophysical prospecting.
- Evaluate and interpret seismic data with the aid of computers.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 8 of its 30 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Adjust or repair testing, electrical, or mechanical equipment or devices.
- Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
- Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.
- Operate or adjust equipment or apparatus used to obtain geological data.
- Set up or direct set-up of instruments used to collect geological data.
- Inspect engines for wear or defective parts, using equipment or measuring devices.
What the job is
Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and production activities to obtain data indicating resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes.
Also called: Geotechnician, Materials Technician, Geological Technician, Physical Science Technician, Locater, Observer, Oil Scout, Gas Prover.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate