Monday, September 1, 2014

Information To Know About Alberta Geomatics

By Mattie MacDonald


Geomatics is a discipline that specializes in collection, storage, integration, processing, representation, analysis, modeling, and delivery of geographically-referenced data. It encompasses all tools, services, and products used in the management of geographical information. The information dealt with describes the appearance of the surface of the earth, in terms of the physical features and man made structures. In Alberta Geomatics also goes by many other names such as geomatics engineering, geomatic engineering, and geospatial technology.

The term geomatic engineering is relatively new although the field has been around for several years. The first usage of this term happened in the year 1969 after being started by Arun and Anand. The main purpose of coining the term was to combine the terms geoinformatics and geodesy. The term encompasses all techniques and tools employed in geographic information systems, cartography, remote sensing, land surveying, global navigation satellite systems, geography, and photogrammetry among other fields.

The coining of the term happened in Canada where it was also used first. Since that time, it has been adopted and made into a standard term by several organizations of international reputation. Among such organizations are the ISO and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS. However, some organizations in USA prefer using the word geospatial technology than geomatic engineering. Most educational institutions have retitled departments of survey science, survey engineering, and surveying, to geomatic engineering or science.

There are many other fields that contributed to the fast growth of geomatic engineering during the 90s. Software engineering, computer hardware, remote sensing technologies, and computer science are among the disciplines that continue to contribute to its fast growth. Geomatic engineers is the name used to refer to specialists in this field. Other countries call them professional surveyors or mappers.

Engineers of geomatic design, operate, and develop systems used for collecting and analyzing spatially-referenced data about man-made structures, natural resources, land, and oceans. Some tasks done by these engineers are closely related to civil engineering. Such tasks include doing control survey and mapping construction projects, and laying out public infrastructure and urban subdivisions as well as designing them.

Becoming an engineer in this field takes several years of training as well as experience. The first requirement is a bachelor degree in engineering. The degree typically takes four years of college work in Alberta, but that period may vary from country to country. Applications to take the course in a college requires applicants to forward their high school diplomas and latest results of standardized test scores.

Many institutions offer this degree and application forms can normally be found on their websites. One can be better prepared for coursework in college if they have some background knowledge in math and geography courses. Students gain skills in production of maps basing on measurements taken on the surface of the earth. This is normally a major skill required in the field of geomatic engineering. Mathematical formulas are also used heavily.

Some institutions include internships as a mandatory requirement while others omit it. All the same, one should seek to gain some practical knowledge because employers base on it when hiring. After gaining the degree in engineering, one must again train for another three years to acquire another bachelor degree in Geomatic.




About the Author:



No comments: