SALLAH YAYA

(763) 688-1669 Minneapolis, MN 55443 sallah101@gmail.com
GitHub: https://github.com/saltcotraining-geoai YouTube: www.youtube.com/@saltcoTraining
Professional Summary

Senior GIS Analyst and Surveying Engineer with 18+ years of experience in geospatial technology, from field surveying to enterprise GIS and open-source automation. Founder of a Sudan-based digital independence movement that trains students in open-source geospatial software, and Google AI Fundamentals certified. Combines deep industry expertise — ESRI ArcGIS, QGIS, PostGIS, Python/PyQGIS — with a proven ability to build curricula, teach, and deliver working automation that works offline and on limited infrastructure.

Core Competencies
Geospatial SoftwareQGIS, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS 10.x, ArcGIS Server, ArcSDE
ProgrammingPython, PyQGIS, GDAL/OGR, SQL, bash, JavaScript
DatabasesPostGIS/PostgreSQL, GeoPackage, MBTiles, geodatabases
AI & AutomationLocal LLM agents (Ollama), prompt engineering, workflow automation
Field MappingQField, KoboToolbox, GPS/Total Station, OpenStreetMap/HOT Mapathons
AnalysisSurface & terrain analysis, hydrologic modeling, image processing, site selection
EducationCurriculum design, train-the-trainer, video instruction, MOOC-style delivery
OtherLinux & open source, AutoCAD, web mapping, report writing
Projects & Leadership
Founder — Digital Independence: Open-Source Geospatial Education (Sudan) 2024 – Present
  • Founded and lead a movement teaching open-source geospatial skills to students with limited resources, from zero digital literacy to professional-level GIS.
  • Designed a 14-week curriculum (Linux 101 → 10-week beginner track → 4-week advanced automation track) delivered via YouTube tutorials, GitHub repositories, and offline-capable "digital library boxes."
  • Built an automated site-selection pipeline in PyQGIS (object-oriented, dependency-free) that replaces a manual multi-step workflow with a single-click process.
  • Developed a local AI spatial agent using Ollama to generate working PyQGIS and PostGIS code fully offline, protecting data privacy and removing cloud API costs.
  • Engineered an office-to-field pipeline combining PostGIS, QField, and offline MBTiles basemaps for data collection in areas with zero network coverage.
Creator — Open-Source GIS Tutorial Library (YouTube + GitHub) 2020 – Present
  • Produce and publish structured video tutorials teaching QGIS, Python automation, and Linux to an international audience, including 10-Week Digital Independence Course.
  • Maintain public repositories with clean documentation, setup scripts, and reproducible workflows so students can rebuild every lesson locally.
Certifications
Google AI Fundamentals — Google · 2026
Professional Experience
Independent Consultant & Educator — Self-Employed, Minneapolis, MN 2017 – Present
  • Instruct QGIS, GIS, and web mapping to working professionals and students.
  • Build websites and web-mapping applications using JavaScript, HTML, and Python.
  • Develop open-source training materials, automation scripts, and local AI workflows deployed on Linux.
Senior Survey Analyst — Fugro Chance, Inc., Houston, TX 2007 – 2016
  • Administered GIS systems and geospatial databases supporting marine construction surveys.
  • Provided hands-on geodata management support, training, and problem solving across offshore projects.
  • Performed data manipulation, transformation, and data modeling; prepared maps and reports for offshore operations.
GIS Technician — GeoSpatial Services, Winona, MN 2005 – 2007
  • Mapped wetlands and updated the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) database.
  • Improved unit productivity through redesigned trend-analysis and database-management methods.
  • Prepared GIS layers for the Alaska Project using ArcScan and georeferencing; conducted stereoscopic image analysis.
Land Surveyor — Armand Corporation, Cherry Hill, NJ 2003 – 2004
  • Trained personnel on software and Geodimeter total stations; led field teams on the Secaucus Project.
  • Established horizontal and vertical controls; deployed Robotic Total Stations, automatic levels, and GPS receivers.
Project Surveyor — Dar Al-Riyadh Consultants, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 1997 – 2002
  • Oversaw contractors on highway construction in southwestern Saudi Arabia; managed a 120 km highway redesign.
  • Developed and managed monthly budgets for materials, supplies, equipment, and labor.

Earlier: Site Engineer, Al-Neil Bureau for Consulting, N'djamena, Chad, and Surveyor, Roads & Bridges Corporation, Khartoum, Sudan (1993–1997) — surveying, cost estimating, training, and AutoCAD.

Education
M.S., Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona, MN · 2007 · 4.0 GPA
B.S., Surveying Engineering
University of Khartoum, Sudan · 1992 · With Honors