Surveying is the science of measuring the physical world around us to determine the shape and position of objects or features. Surveying skills are applied to a wide variety of activities, from exploration for natural resources such as oil and natural gas to determining the boundaries between parcels of land to controlling the layout of buildings and highways. This program delivers the practical measurement skills and techniques, as well as the theory behind them.
Remote Sensing is the study of earth observation systems and applications. In practice, it is usually associated with applied computer analysis of digital geospatial imagery. Remote Sensing is a rapidly expanding discipline with multiple applications in: forestry, geology, defence/intelligence, disaster management, conservation, oceanography, meteorology, urban analysis, and agriculture.
How do you find an optimal location for a new shopping centre, hospital, school, or restaurant? How do you determine a service area for a grocery supermarket? Where are potential customers for a new banking service? With the skills you develop in this concentration, you're able to address many business, socio-economic, and demographic challenges from a spatial context and present solutions visually on a map. You hone your GIS skills with a focus on enterprise solutions.
In this concentration you study the programming and application of geographic information systems (GIS) or geospatial technology. In addressing geographically based problems, analytical and technological tools (including hardware and software) are applied to create solutions. Geospatial information links locational data (where things are) with descriptive data (information that is associated with each location). You use points (utility poles, mine sites), lines (river centrelines), and polygons (land parcels, counties) to model reality and provide geographic information.
This advanced diploma is an intensive, 1-year, post-graduate level program, designed to provide you with a sophisticated set of tools to work in the field of geographic sciences. In the 1st term you explore the geomatics tools and technology (GPS, GIS, remote sensing) that support the geographic sciences, and how each of the individual disciplines fits into that process. In the 2nd term, you can choose between concentrations in Remote Sensing, GIS, or GIS for Business with options to customize your course selection around specific geomatics interests.
Remote Sensing is the study of earth observation systems and applications. Remote Sensing is a rapidly expanding discipline with multiple applications in: forestry, geology, defence/intelligence, disaster management, conservation, oceanography, meteorology, urban analysis, and agriculture.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is one of the fastest growing technology sectors in the world. With GIS, technical users link and analyze spatial data sets to model the real world in support of the decision-making process. This concentration prepares you by giving you indispensable GIS skills and how they apply to environmental, municipal, and resource management projects.
If you're interested in learning how you can make a difference by helping to apply environmentally sustainable approaches to community and regional planning, then the Community and Environmental Planning Concentration will appeal to you. You learn how to work in a team environment providing a variety of mapping, research, and other technical functions to support community, regional, and environmental projects and policy development. Building expertise in data analysis, problem solving, and the use of geomatics applications to support decision-making is a primary focus.
Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography is the study and practice of making maps. As a cartographer, you are a visual communicator, building and illustrating maps that are attractive yet functional, so they can be quickly and easily used and understood. Your work may go on to stand as a valuable cartographic information source for many years. Some of the areas you study are open source mapping, animated and interactive cartography, map production and research techniques. You enjoy hands-on learning and detail-oriented work and use the latest data software and equipment.
This program gives you the foundation you need to start a successful career in geographic sciences. You gain an understanding of the world of geographic sciences and the skills that are required. In the 1st year you learn the basics of geographic sciences, how to use geomatics tools and technology (e.g., GPS, Geographic Information Systems [GIS], remote sensing), and explore the individual disciplines and their interdependence.
