What does a 'model builder' in GIS do?

A model builder in GIS is primarily focused on designing and implementing workflows for spatial analysis. This involves integrating various GIS processes into a coherent sequence that allows users to automate complex analyses and manipulate geospatial data efficiently. By stringing together different processes, a model builder can create a customized workflow that captures the relationships between various data inputs, processing methods, and desired outputs.

This functionality is crucial for streamlining tasks that involve repetitive analyses, ensuring consistency in results, and enabling users to visualize how different GIS tasks interact. It empowers analysts to explore various scenarios, adjust parameters, and observe how changes in one component can affect outcomes, ultimately enhancing the analytical capabilities of GIS.

While creating visual maps, managing database systems, and generating statistical reports are important components within the GIS field, they do not encapsulate the specific role and functionalities of a model builder. The emphasis on workflow development and process integration distinctly characterizes this role in the context of GIS operations.