What does a geomatic engineer do in his career and what are the future prospectus of this career - Essay Example

?What does a geomatic engineer do in his career and what are the future prospects of this career? Geomatics engineers, mappers, and land surveyors are terms used for the same profession interchangeably. As these terms imply, geomatic engineers design, create, and run systems to gather and analyze spatial information regarding natural resources, the land and the oceans, and other manmade structures. Most of the tasks and activities of the geomatic engineers are integrally linked with civil engineering. Such tasks include but are not limited to mapping for the construction projects, control surveys, and preparation of design and layout of the urban subdivisions and public infrastructure. The graduates of geomatics engineering make use of a diverse array of technologically advanced tools such as the equipment of Global Positioning System (GPS), digital total stations, computer-based geographic information systems (GIS), and digital aerial imagery done with the help of satellites. The level of education required to serve as a geomatic engineer varies from one organization and country to another. However, in general, highly qualified and educated geomatic engineers get more and better opportunities of employment like positions in academic and research organizations. Generally, a four year degree is required to be able to survey the oil and gas sites. Geomatic engineers design systems in order to gather locational data. Design and use of these systems is critical for a wide range of applications including scientific surveys and navigation systems in cars. In the field of geomatic engineering, advanced degrees are also available as geomatic engineering integrates a variety of disciplines like mathematics, geology, and surveying. Locational data includes physical maps’ underpinning so that navigational information and different types of data based on map can be obtained. These maps provide the details of geology, meteorology, and demography of different areas. Using this information, geomatic engineers design systems to obtain and record the information. Many of these systems interact with the systems of GPS as well as other points of reference that are used for accurate recording of the data. Utilization of these systems is often part of the job of a geomatic engineer. Employment opportunities for the geomatic engineers exist in the private companies, government agencies, and other non-profit organizations which are involved in such activities as spatial design and surveying. A geomatic engineer may be required to work as a team member in the operation of exploration of oil and gas. In such tasks, the geomatic engineer is asked to collect the location information, mark the data that is relevant, and make sure that he prepares a map recording all information, materials, and features of interest required to prepared the background on the survey location. These survey teams often get the help and participation of other engineers in the tasks of preparation of the home sites, collection of data for research, and involvement in research and development based on location. In order to achieve this, geomatic engineers require an in-depth understanding of the location data and spatial relations as well as the discipline in which the data would be utilized so that reliable and useful knowledge can be created. As a geomatic engineer, an individual can serve in different sorts of technical positions that include but are not limited to photographic image processing, global positioning, satellite image processing, remote sensing, three-dimensional computer visualization, management of land and natural resources, spatial data infrastructure, surveying, and mapping. There is a variety of career pathways for a geomatic engineer to select from. They can choose to specialize in cadastral or land surveying, engineering surveying, positioning, mining, remote sensing, and topography. In addition to them, a variety of other areas of specialization are available. A cadastral or land surveyor marks the boundaries of areas and properties and notes the data over the maps and plans. Doing this work requires licensing because of the legal significance of the plans provided by the cadastral or and surveyors. Engineering surveyors carry out surveys of the routes for roads, railways, canals, pipelines, tunnels and sewers. They have a special role to play in the construction projects since they do detailed surveys of dam and construction sites, towers and other different kinds of engineering projects. Geomatic engineers that specialize in positioning use signals from different kinds of sensors that include GPS, WiFi, inertial units of measurement, and electronic distance measurements like LIDAR and SONAR to make accurate identification of positions in different kinds of environments. Mining surveyors do detailed analysis of the open-cut and underground mines. They provide the mining organizations with assistance in the location of new mines, avoidance of the previously identified and used mines, and development of connections between different passages underground. In addition to that, mine surveyors establish mining claims’ boundaries in certain territories and states. The remote sensing surveyors use digital data obtained from airborne systems of imagery and satellites with high resolution in order to supervise the changes in Earth’s surficial features. The information provided by the topographic surveyors is used to compile maps of the features over the surface of the Earth like valleys, lakes, hills and rivers. They go to the field and take measurements as well as photographs from the air. They work at all levels, including both over land and in the sea to obtain the required information, measurements, and images. Graduate geomatic engineers have the option of teaching at colleges and universities across the world. This is a wonderful opportunity particularly if the individual is more interested in the field of academia as compared to the industry. Whether an individual is more inclined toward academia or industry should be established as early after the graduation and the start of the professional life as possible because each year spent in either of the two fields is considered to add to the individual’s experience. None of the two fields is better or worse as compared to the other; both are equally important. While the industrial experience provides the geomatic engineers with an opportunity to put the theoretical concepts they have learnt in their degree to work and apply them to real-life situations, the academic experience as a faculty member of a reputable engineering college or university is a way of developing the skills and knowledge of the future geomatic engineers and to keep updated with the latest research and developments in the field of geomatic engineering. Certain geomatic engineers are interested in getting enrolled in a research higher degree (RHD). This may be a wonderful option particularly for the individuals that have passion for a certain field and want to develop their research skills in that field. These RHDs enhance the tendency of the geomatic engineers to solve the problems, think about matters creatively and autonomously, and assess better. There is a wide array of careers in research and generally include research positions at organizations from the public sector, academic positions in the universities, research in the private sector, policy-making, self-employed positions of consultancy on the policy or technical problems related to the area of experience, and research at the development projects. Work environments in which the geomatic engineers are required to perform vary depending on what type of work is done by the geomatic engineer. Some geomatic engineers get employed in the lab settings primarily and are required to contribute to the development of the systems design. Other geomatic engineers spend time on the site in order to test the survey equipment and to gather information that is of value for the ongoing scientific research. For a geomatic engineer, one of the most critical skills required is the ability to work as part of a team and cooperate with others. This is a critical skill because these teams are composed of members from diverse fields and may include designers, engineers belonging to other fields, biologists, as well as researchers that require the location data being collected by the team. Another challenge in front of the geomatic engineers is that the job is never as stable or permanent as it is in some other professions like for medical doctors or physicians. This specifically pertains to the geomatic engineers that work in the field in the industry. Most of the times, geomatic engineers’ services are required as part of a project, so the job lasts as long as the project. After the completion of the project, geomatic engineers remain employed if the company has another project at hand but if they are not fortunate enough, they might have to look for another job. However, there are also opportunities associated with it as geomatic engineers get the opportunity to diversify their experience and learn the practical factors affecting work better when they work with different companies at different points in time. This is also a way to gain exposure to different kinds of settings so that an individual can get qualified enough to render consultancy services and establish a personal business. The key to become a qualified and knowledgeable geomatic engineer is practical experience and the more diverse the practice experience, the better it gets. Read More