Geomatics

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Geomatics is the discipline of gathering, storing, processing, and delivering of geographic information, or spatially referenced information. This broad term applies both to science and technology, and integrates the following more specific disciplines and technologies:

An alternative view is that geomatics is the measurement and survey component of the broader field of geographic information systems.

The term geomatics is fairly young, apparently being coined by B. Dubuisson in 1969. It is commonly defined to include the tools & techniques used in land surveying, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and related forms of earth mapping. Originally used in Canada, because it is similar in French and English, the term geomatics has been adopted by the International Organization for Standardization, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and many other international authorities, although some (especially in the United States) have shown a preference for the term “geospatial technology”.

The precise definition of geomatics is still in flux. A good definition can be found on the University of Calgary's web page http://www.geomatics.ucalgary.ca/whatisit/index.html:

"Geomatics Engineering is a modern discipline, which integrates acquisition, modelling, analysis, and management of spatially referenced data, i.e. data identified according to their locations. Based on the scientific framework of geodesy, it uses terrestrial, marine, airborne, and satellite-based sensors to acquire spatial and other data. It includes the process of transforming spatially referenced data from different sources into common information systems with well-defined accuracy characteristics."

A Geospatial network is a network of collaborating resources for sharing and coordinating geographical data, and data tied to geographical references. One example of such a network is the GIS Consortium's effort to provide "ready global access to geographic information" in a framework named the Open Geospatial Network.

A number of University Departments which were once titled Surveying, Survey Engineering or Topographic Science have re-titled themselves as Geomatics or Geomatic Engineering.

The rapid progress, and increased visibility, of geomatics since 1990s has been made possible by advances in computer technology, computer science, and software engineering, as well as airborne and space observation technologies.

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International organizations in geomatics

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External links

Geomatics.org.uk - Geomatics.org.uk is the portal to the UK Land and Offshore Survey Industries. We have free geomatics resources and equipment for schools to borrow, links to various websites from the geomatics community and career profiles of people working in the industry. Based at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, this project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the UK geomatics community.

www.AOLS.org - The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors issues licences to Cadastral (Legal Boundary) surveyors and Certificates of Registration (C of R) in other branches of professional land surveying, namely *Geodesy, Geographic Information Management, Hydrography and Photogrammetry. Applicants must comply with the academic requirements, the term of articles and pass the professional examinations set out by the Academic and Experience Requirements Committee for their particular branch. All members are entitled to use the designation OLS or OLIP (Ontario Land Information Professional). Although the C of R branches of surveying are not regulated by law, practitioners in these branches who are members of the AOLS are indicating that they belong to a professional organization and are governed by a code of ethics and standards of practice.