Geomatics Engineering
Course Bulletin(PDF) Download
Curriculum Requirements(PDF) Download
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science
470 Hitchcock Hall
2070 Neil Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1275
614-292-2005
Degree offered
- Bachelor of Science in Geomatics Engineering
Undergraduate program
This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4012; - telephone: 410-347-7700.
Program educational objectives
- Geomatics engineering graduates will demonstrate proficiency in applying analytical tools (mathematical and computational), basic and engineering sciences, and spatial sciences and design, thereby promoting practical professional excellence in engineering practice.
- Geomatics engineering graduates will engage in creative problem-solving activities through planning, design and implementation of a range of geomatics engineering projects within realistic constraints.
- Geomatics engineering graduates will be active professionally and engage in life-long learning. A large percentage will become licensed professional surveyors or engineers.
- Geomatics engineering graduates will demonstrate effective communication skills (oral, written, graphical and electronic) individually and in multi-disciplinary teams.
- Geomatics engineering graduates will demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues, including the need for a diverse workforce, and an understanding of the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context. Professional and ethical responsibility will guide their engineering career.
Geomatics engineering is the study and practice of dealing with spatial data and information in any form in which it may occur. It includes such areas as surveying, geodesy, photogrammetry, mapping, cartography, spatial computing, GIS, LIS, and AM/FM (Automated/Assets Mapping and Facilities Management), but has a more holistic approach to the entire discipline than any one. It also includes areas such as CAD, computer vision, and many other application areas in which spatial data are required. Geomatics engineering is also oriented toward dealing with spatial information throughout its entire life and use, in all the environments of its use and influence, rather being restricted to any one particular area.
The Bachelor of Science in Geomatics Engineering program is designed to provide a background in basic mathematical and physical sciences, a thorough grounding in the measurement sciences, an appreciation of photogrammetry, geodesy, GIS, mapping, cadastral systems and many of the application areas of this field. Course work also includes studies in a wide range of professional skills, legal and ethical matters, the relationship of the profession to other professions, and an understanding of the role of the geomatics engineer in city and regional planning. Basic engineering studies in statics, dynamics, chemistry, and physics are also included in the curriculum.
Students have the opportunity to specialize in a wide range of disciplines within the degree program. Elective courses for at least 22 credit hours are required for the degree, and there are currently 13 suggested tracks of study, as well as the ability for students to tailor their electives to their specific needs. The tracks currently available are: cadastral surveying, which allows graduates to seek registration as professional surveyors; photogrammetry/remote sensing, which provides additional courses in these important and rapidly growing fields; GIS, which allows students to take a variety of courses from across the university in this diverse field; mapping, which allows students to focus on cartography or digital mapping systems; LIS, which concentrates on the legal, administrative, and technical problems associated with the modernization of land records; geodetic surveying, which devotes additional time to geodesy topics and methods; city and regional planning, where students study in additional courses devoted to planning issues; transportation, which can be taken in the transportation areas of civil engineering, geography or both; geophysics, which provides students with a strong geological and geophysics background so they can integrate their geomatics studies with geophysics; urban and regional systems, where the focus is on understanding how these systems work and how the geomatics engineering can work in these systems; mathematics, where students study additional mathematics, with a view to entering the geodesy track of the graduate program; statistics, where students expand upon the statistical studies already undertaken in the program; and business, where students work toward a general business minor to support running a business.
Honors program in geomatics engineering
An honors program in geomatics engineering is also available. Students are strongly advised to enter the program from the Freshman Engineering Honors Program, a special honors program for freshman engineering students. The geomatics engineering honors program includes special honors courses, seminars, and project work. More details may be obtained from the office of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science.
Dual degree program with civil engineering
A student may earn both the Bachelor of Science in Geomatics Engineering and the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degrees by satisfying the requirements of both degrees. Due to scheduling constraints, students should plan their dual degree program prior to the beginning of the third year. The civil engineering curriculum is shown in an earlier section of this bulletin. A list of courses required for the dual degree program can be obtained at the office of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science. This dual degree program normally requires five years to complete. Additional dual degree programs are currently under development.