Geomatics

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A surveyor's shed showing equipment used for geomatics Survey instruments-2.png
A surveyor's shed showing equipment used for geomatics

Geomatics is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as the "discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information". [1] Under another definition, it consists of products, services and tools involved in the collection, integration and management of geographic (geospatial) data. [2] Surveying engineering was the widely used name for geomatic(s) engineering in the past. Geomatics was placed by the UNESCO Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems under the branch of technical geography. [3] [4]

Contents

History and etymology

The term was proposed in French ("géomatique") at the end of the 1960s by scientist Bernard Dubuisson to reflect at the time recent changes in the jobs of surveyor and photogrammetrist. [5] On June 1, 1971, 'geomatics' was first employed in a French Ministry of Public Works memorandum instituting a "standing committee of geomatics" in the government. [6]

At the centennial congress of the Canadian Institute of Surveying (now known as the Canadian Institute of Geomatics) in April 1982, the new classification was further popularised in English by French-Canadian surveyor Michel Paradis in keynote address. [7] [8] Paradis claimed that at the end of the 20th century the needs for geographical information would reach a scope without precedent in history and that, in order to address these needs, it was necessary to integrate in a new discipline both the traditional disciplines of land surveying and the new tools and techniques of data capture, manipulation, storage and diffusion. [9]

Evolving from its Canadian origins, the term has since been adopted by recognized governmental groups, like the International Organization for Standardization and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors [10] [11] . Many other international authorities, such as those in the United States, have shown a preference for the term geospatial technology, which may be defined as a synonym of "geospatial information and communications technology".

Types of geomatics

Geomatics is an umbrella term that includes the tools and techniques used to analyze the Earth's surface. These can range from land surveying, remote sensing, nautical charts, geographic information systems (GIS), and several other related forms of earth mapping. Some scientists and researchers intend to restrict geomatics to the perspective of surveying and engineering toward geographic information in order to avoid forming a vague concept. [12] Geoinformatics and Geographic information science has been proposed as alternative comprehensive term; however, their popularity is, like geomatics, largely dependent on country.

Hydro geomatics

The related field of hydrogeomatics covers the area associated with surveying work carried out on, above, or below the surface of the sea or other areas of water. [13] The subfield is otherwise, and more commonly, known as hydrography, which was coined in the mid-16th century. [14]

One pioneer of hydro geomatics is Alexander Dalrymple, the first hydrographer and was appointed by the British navy in 1795. His job was to prep and print charts for travel, thus contributing to naval and merchant shipping. [15] [16] Dalrymple's history ties directly into the foundational militant ties that the field possesses, and its modern-day scope has widened to include more aspects of hydrogeography from military surveillance to oceanic habitat conservation. [17] [18] After the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) was founded in 1795, the U.S. Naval Observatory and Hydrographic Office (USNO) was officially instituted in 1854, paving the way for safe navigation, global shipping, and defense. [19]

A U.S. governmental agency called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is one example of how hydro geomatics/hydrography is applied. Underwater topography (or bathymetry) is sought after, and common geomatics technology like multibeam sonars are used to accomplish seabed mapping [20] .

Health geomatics

Health geomatics can improve our understanding of the important relationship between location and health, and thus assist us in Public Health tasks like disease prevention, and also in better healthcare service planning. [21] An important area of research is the use of open data in planning lifesaving activities. [22]

Mining geomatics

Mining geomatics is the branch of geomatics dedicated to mining. It focuses on acquiring, processing and analysing spatial data about objects and phenomena in mining environments to support monitoring, modelling, prediction, visualisation and decision-making in mining operations. [23] Its development is increasingly linked with specialized education and the formation of professional competences adapted to the needs of modern mining. [24]

A growing number of university departments which were once titled "surveying", "survey engineering" or "topographic science" have re-titled themselves using the terms "geomatics" or "geomatics engineering", while others have switched to program titles such as "spatial information technology", and similar names. [25] [26]

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

Global navigation satellite systems are a collection of geospatial systems that provide global coverage. The technology has a variety of purposes from communications to mobile navigation. [27] [28] The six GNSS constellations in operation are the U.S. GPS Operational Constellation, GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS) stemming from Russia, the European Galileo GNSS, China's BeiDou/Compass, Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

Geomatics engineering

Surveyor using a total station TS by The sea.jpg
Surveyor using a total station

Geomatics engineering is a rapidly developing engineering discipline which focuses on spatial information (i.e. information that has a location). [29] The location is the primary factor used to integrate a very wide range of data for spatial analysis and visualization. Geomatics engineers design, develop, and operate systems for collecting and analyzing spatial information about the land, the oceans, natural resources, and manmade features. [30] [31] Geomatics engineers apply engineering principles to spatial information and implement relational data structures involving measurement sciences, thus using geomatics and acting as spatial information engineers. Geomatics engineers manage local, regional, national and global spatial data infrastructures. [32] Geomatics engineering also involves aspects of Computer Engineering, Software Engineering and Civil Engineering. [33]

See also

References

  1. ↑ ISO/TR 19122:2004(en) Geographic information/Geomatics — Qualification and certification of personnel
  2. ↑ "About Us". Applied Geomatics Research Laboratory. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Haidu, Ionel (2016). "What is Technical Geography – a letter from the editor". Geographia Technica. 11 (1): 1–5. Bibcode:2016GeogT..11....1H. doi: 10.21163/GT_2016.111.01 .
  4. ↑ Sala, Maria (2009). Geography Volume I (1 ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom: EOLSS UNESCO. ISBN   978-1-84826-960-6.
  5. ↑ "ACSG - Association canadienne des sciences géomatiques (Section Champlain) /// Des références utiles en géomatique". acsg-champlain.scg.ulaval.ca. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  6. ↑ Arrêté du 27 décembre 1994 relatif à la terminologie de la télédétection aérospatiale , retrieved 2019-11-04
  7. ↑ Bédard, Yvan (2008). ""Geomatics"". Encyclopedia of Geographic Information Science: 195–197 – via ResearchGate.
  8. ↑ "Geomatics: fancy word or the future of all geo sciences?". 50 North | GIS blog from Ukraine. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  9. ↑ Paradis, Michel (September 1981). "De l'arpentage à la géomatique". Le Géomètre Canadien (in French). 35 (3): 262.
  10. ↑ "ISO/TC 211 - Geographic information/Geomatics". ISO. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  11. ↑ www.rics.org https://www.rics.org/join-rics/sector-pathways . Retrieved 2025-10-13.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ Krawczyk, Artur (2022-11-09). "Proposal of Redefinition of the Terms Geomatics and Geoinformatics on the Basis of Terminological Postulates". ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 11 (11): 557. Bibcode:2022IJGI...11..557K. doi: 10.3390/ijgi11110557 . ISSN   2220-9964.
  13. ↑ Communicatie, FIZZ Marketing &. "Home | IHO". iho.int. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  14. ↑ "Hydrography | Definition & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  15. ↑ Cook, Andrew Stanley (1993). Alexander Dalrymple (1737-1808), hydrographer to the East India Company and the Admiralty, as publisher: a catalogue of books and charts (Thesis thesis). University of St Andrews. hdl:10023/2634.
  16. ↑ read, Short. "The only known painted portrait of Alexander Dalrymple". National Museums Scotland. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  17. ↑ "Navigation | Definition, History, Measurements, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  18. ↑ admin (2025-03-14). "How Hydrographic Surveying Supports Environmental Conservation - Trail Surveys" . Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  19. ↑ "About us". ADMIRALTY. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  20. ↑ "What is Hydrography?". NOAA Ocean Exploration. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  21. ↑ Kamel Boulos, M. N; Roudsari, A. V; Carson, E. R (2001-06-01). "Health Geomatics: An Enabling Suite of Technologies in Health and Healthcare". Journal of Biomedical Informatics. 34 (3): 195–219. doi: 10.1006/jbin.2001.1015 . ISSN   1532-0464. PMID   11723701.
  22. ↑ Gianquintieri, L.; Caiani, E. G.; Brambilla, P.; Pagliosa, A.; Villa, G. F.; Brovelli, M. A. (2019-08-23). "Open Data in Health-Geomatics: Mapping and Evaluating Publicly Accessible Defibrillators". The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. XLII-4 –W14: 63–70. Bibcode:2019ISPAr4214...63G. doi: 10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-4-W14-63-2019 . hdl: 11311/1121207 . ISSN   1682-1750.
  23. ↑ Krawczyk, Artur (2023). "Mining Geomatics: Definition, Scope and Applications". ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 12 (7): 278. doi: 10.3390/ijgi12070278 .
  24. ↑ Krawczyk, Artur (2025). "Competencies in Mining Geomatics: Challenges and Perspectives". Geosciences. 15 (10): 374. doi: 10.3390/geosciences15100374 .
  25. ↑ "Geomatics engineering & geographic information systems (GIS)". University of Colorado Denver- College of Engineering. University of Colorado Denver. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  26. ↑ "White Mountains Community College- Spatial Information Technology Transcript Checklist". PDFFiller. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  27. ↑ "What are Global Navigation Satellite Systems?". novatel.com. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  28. ↑ Earth Science Data Systems, NASA (2024-09-12). "Global Navigation Satellite System | NASA Earthdata". www.earthdata.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  29. ↑ Hazelton, N W J (September 2005). "Surveying, Geomatics, and Engineering: A 'Structure' for a Rapidly Evolving Profession". Surveying and Land Information Science. 65 (3): 211–222. ProQuest   202972772.
  30. ↑ "Department of Geomatics Engineering | Kathmandu University". Department of Geomatics Engineering. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  31. ↑ Lam, Steve Yau-Wah; Yip, Tsz Leung (February 2008). "The role of geomatics engineering in establishing the marine information system for maritime management". Maritime Policy & Management. 35 (1): 53–60. doi:10.1080/03088830701848896. hdl: 10397/27671 . S2CID   154941027.
  32. ↑ Ghosh, Jayanta Kumar; da Silva, Irineu, eds. (2020). Applications of Geomatics in Civil Engineering. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering. Vol. 33. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-7067-0. ISBN   978-981-13-7066-3.[ page needed ]
  33. ↑ "Marshall, Wesley". engineering.ucdenver.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-16.


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