Geomatics Engineering Technology

The Geomatics Engineering Technology program provides training in the collection, analysis, storage, distribution and application of spatial and three-dimensional data used in land development.

The Canadian Institute of Geomatics defines geomatics as "a field of activities, which, using a systematic approach, integrates all the means used to acquire and manage spatial data required as part of scientific, administrative, legal and technical operations involved in the process of the production and management of spatial information." It goes beyond commonly known or traditional areas of surveying and mapping and includes a much wider range of activities and technologies that relate to collecting and managing information.

The economic growth of any country involves the development of natural resources, construction of large public works projects and the expansion of urban centres. This growth requires trained personnel to:

• Locate and map physical features on the land.
• Determine property boundaries for property titles.
• Perform surveys to locate and build transportation systems.
• Lay out large industrial complexes such as refineries, dam sites, power, pipelines, and surface and underground mining operations.

The Geomatics Engineering Technology program emphasizes the use of new technologies for data collection, including electronic equipment for measuring, earth circling satellites for positioning and computers for processing data and generating plans for use in a wide variety of professional disciplines.

Industry Partnerships
A major contribution was made in October 2006 that will help NAIT integrate the latest technology into the classroom.

Spatial Technologies Inc. gave NAIT eleven Leica System 1200 Dual Frequency geodetic-grade RTK-GPS receivers on a no-charge rental basis for at least three academic terms. Included in this commitment to education is technical support and training for our instructors. As well, Spatial has co-ordinated with others who have also provided donations that relate to the use of their RTK-GPS equipment. Leica Geosystems has provided NAIT with a network licence for Leica Geo Office processing software, and Pleiades Data Corp. has provided NAIT with three years of DGPS data supplied from one of their reference stations.

For more information, click on this link: NAIT-Spatial Technologies RTK-GPS Donation.

We also have a partnership with Stantec Geomatics Ltd., in conjuction with Cansel Survey Supplies and Trimble Navigation. This group is currently providing state-of-the-art global positioning system equipment and technical support staff for our RTK-GPS "camp."

For more information, click on this link NAIT - Stantec/Cansel/Trimble RTK-GPS Camp.