Andrew Macias
G.I.S. Modeler & Analyst
Andrew Macias is a Certified Floodplain Manager and dedicated GIS Analyst with a strong background in geo-spatial technology and a passion for precision and efficiency. Through various professional and personal projects he has proven expertise in utilizing a variety of GIS tools to manage, analyze, and visualize geographic data. He strives to find the best solutions for any and all problems and is a collaborative team player experienced in remote work environments. Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Geography & Planning accompanied by a Certificate in Geo-spatial Technology from CSU Chico. His educational career encompassed anthropogenic impacts on the environment, data visualization utilizing GIS, planning fundamentals, and foundational computer science concepts. Andrew is dedicated to developing digital custom tools and continuous learning. He remains passionate about exploring new avenues and refine his skills as he progresses in his professional journey.
National Risk Index v1.20
Contributed to the development and release of NRI v1.20. A national-level FEMA geospatial product that assesses risk for 14 natural hazards across the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories.
County Tax Auction Dashboards
This is a personal project of mine for displaying California tax auctions by each county geographically. The current dashboard displays the 2025 San Diego county tax auction with plans to expand to more counties in the future and include live updates during each sale.
Coordinated Needs Management Strategy
As part of a congressionally mandated FEMA initiative, CNMS requires flood hazard studies to be reviewed and validated to ensure up-to-date flood risk information. I am a member of the GIS team responsible for validating existing flood studies, maintaining legacy flood data, and integrating updated datas into FEMA’s regional geospatial databases.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Pilot ArcGIS Dashboard
This pilot project explores data from the Bureau of Indian Affairs open data portal. Examining the regional distribution and funding patterns of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law throughout Native American communities.
Federal Flood Risk Management Standard
I supported FEMA’s Federal Flood Risk Management Standard by producing 2D flood extent raster datasets from legacy hydraulic models within the National Flood Hazard Layer. This work involved predictive flood mapping across Texas counties and included developing quality control checks to ensure accuracy and compliance with federal risk management standards.
National Hydrography Dataset
I maintained and updated NHD data across California by identifying and resolving duplicate rivers, streams, and waterbodies that crossed multiple watershed boundaries, ensuring data accuracy and consistency for statewide hydrographic analysis.
School Projects
Vail Housing Analysis
This analysis examines the challenge of expanding affordable housing in Vail, Colorado, while protecting critical Bighorn Sheep habitat, highlighting trade-offs between development and environmental conservation.
Mobility Improvement Pilot Project
Our class worked with the City of Paradise to evaluate and improve walking and biking routes to school by conducting user surveys and field assessments, helping identify infrastructure improvements to support safer and more accessible active transportation.
Water Security Analysis
For Advanced Cartography, I analyzed water availability and drought impacts on agriculture in Northern California, with a focus on assessing future water security in Butte County.
Experience
G.I.S. Analyst & Consultant (Remote)
ABS Group Consulting Inc.
2023 – Present
- Currently collaborating with a diverse team of partners from various organizations (AECOM, CDM Smith, etc.) to enhance FEMA’s Federal Flood Risk Management geospatial database by converting flood studies into raster mapped flood predictions.
- Responsible for validating and accessing both existing hydrological data and historical research of FEMA’s flood hazard geospatial database, ensuring the accuracy, reliability, & validity of information crucial to the program’s success.
- Designed a company wide survey aimed to optimize and enhance our use of GIS throughout ABS Group.
G.I.S. Assistant II (Remote)
North State Planning & Development Collective
2022 – 2023
- Contributed to the maintenance and updating of the USGS National Hydrography & Watershed Boundary Dataset utilizing current landsat imagery and elevation data to edit the point, area, and line features and their associated attributes and metadata.
- Demonstrated expertise in utilizing ArcMap to create and edit the point, area, and line features of these datasets and their associated attributes and metadata.
- Developed comprehensive GIS documentation, encompassing detailed procedures and workflows, to ensure clarity and accessibility and ensured deadlines were met for individual and group work.
- Ensured adherence to established compliance standards and data quality by actively participating in thorough quality assurance checks of the datasets and their features.
- Collaborated seamlessly and maintained effective virtual communication with team members to achieve project completion with utmost precision and thoroughness.
Student Assistant & Tutor
California State University, Chico
2022 – 2023
- Provided one-on-one and small group tutoring sessions to students in Physical Geography.
- Assisted students with homework, assignments, and studying for exams.
- Provided tips and strategies for effective studying and test-taking.
- Helped students understand and overcome specific learning challenges.
Geography Club President
California State University, Chico
2022 – 2023
- Planned and organized meetings and events for the club, including social activities, networking events, and practice interviews.
- Collaborated with the city of Chico, other organizations, and departments on campus to promote the study of geography and encourage interdisciplinary connections.
- Managed money with my club treasurer and fund-raised for club events and materials.
- Kept records of club activities and events, and maintained the club’s website and social media presence. Ensuring the next club president could easily transition into the role.
Lifeguard & Instructor
Boy Scouts of America
2017 – 2019
- Planned and conducted swimming and watercraft lessons for groups of various skill levels.
- As a team of lifeguards, emphasized and enforced water safety rules and proper swimming techniques.
- Responded promptly to emergency situations, including rescues and first aid.
- Maintained a positive and approachable demeanor, contributing to a pleasant and safe aquatic environment.