Future of Surveying:

Educating the future geospatial expert –

A Newcastle University perspective

Henny MillsSchool of Civil

Engineering &

Geosciences

Newcastle University

Future of surveying:

Do we still need higher education of surveying?

Future of surveying: Perceptions:

UAS, Drones etc.

http://www.remoteaerialsurveys.co.uk/

Future of Surveying Technology

Mobile Mapping

• http://www.3dlasermapping.com

/

Future of Surveying Technology

http://www.geoslam.com/

Education: is it needed?

Is education in Surveying still

needed?

Student Learning

Future of Geomatics

- some perceptions

• Google Earth / Maps means we no longer need maps

• Precise surveying can simply be undertaken with GPS

• Building surveys and models can just be conducted

using laser scanning

• Network RTK GNSS provides cm accuracy everywhere

across the country in real-time whilst mobile

• Precise point positioning GNSS means we always know

where we are offshore to cm in real-time

• Observations from different systems can be seamlessly

combined

So why do we still need to teach

Surveying?

• Or

• What role does Surveying teaching in

Higher Education still play?

Laser scanning

Laser scanning

Scale Factor

#NUFC

Understanding Geospatial data

#MUFC

Understanding Geospatial data

Understanding Geospatial data

#swans

Understanding Geospatial data

Understanding Geospatial data

Geomatics degree programmes

at Newcastle University

• At Newcastle University

• BSc in Surveying and Mapping Science

• BSc in Geographic Information Science

• Surveying, GIS, GNSS, Geodesy, Photogrammetry,

Laser Scanning, Remote sensing, Offshore surveying

• Underpinned by maths, IT, study skills

• Enhanced by law, professional practice, research

methods, presentation/communication skills

• Fieldwork and team work throughout all 3 years

• Substantial investigative individual project in final year

Obsolete geomatics degree components?

• Theodolites?

• Use of tapes √

• Manual booking √

• Hand computations √

Fundamental principles:

Coordinate systems • Understand different types of height and specify

• At Newcastle, difference between heights above geoid

and ellipsoid is 50 m

• Vital to use orthometric height for water to flow downhill

[ from kartoweb.itc.nl]

Fundamental principles: GNSS

• RTK suitable everywhere?

• Geometry and combined GNSS systems (but how)?

Fundamental principles: Laser scanning

• Laser scanning collects fantastic quantities of data

• But how to analyse? Processing time? Registration of

point clouds

Fundamental principles: GIS

• Four different methods of interpolating the same data

• Must teach understanding and appreciation of the

different methods

Teambuilding, Organisation,

Communication

Life During and Beyond Geomatics

• Raise industrial awareness

• Evening event

• Prize giving

• Attendance from Leading organisations e.g. Shell,

BP, TSA, RICS, ICES, Leica, Topcon, Trimble, ESRI,

AutoDesk

• Fact finding, internships, job hunting, networking… http

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Stage 1 – GIS and Surveying

• Basic Survey theory,

instrumentation and

computation

• Introduction to GNSS

• Principles of Remote Sensing

• Quantitative Methods

• Programming for Scientists

• Tutorial Study Skills

• Maths

Stage 1 Fieldcourse

• Residential Fieldcourse

• Borrowdale, Lake District

• 8 Day consolidation of theory

and practice in Surveying

• Triangulation

• Traverse (2D/3D)

• Levelling

• Detailing

• Computation & Plotting

• By hand/software

Stage 2 SMS/GIS

SMS

• Observation Processing and Analysis

• Survey Maths

• GNSS Theory and Practice

GIS

• Database Systems

• Optional 10 credits

Common Modules

• Digital Data Acquisition

• Map Projections and Geodetic Datums

• Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning

• Geographic Information Systems

• Remote Sensing Data Acquisition and Processing

• Law and Land Use

• Research and Practice in Geomatics

• BIM and Geospatial Modelling

Stage 3 GIS/SMS

SMS

• Surveying Fieldcourse

• Geohazards and Deformation of

the Earth

• Advanced Geodesy

• Photogrammetry and Laser

Scanning

• Optional modules (20 credits)

GIS

• GIS Fieldcourse

• Environmental Informatics

• Geohazards and Deformation of

the Earth

• Optional Modules (30 credits)

Common Modules

• Individual Research Project

• Aspects of Applied Geomatics

• Professional Practice

Teaching of Surveying at Newcastle

University• Understanding of:

• Data

• Methodologies

• Errors and Accuracy

• Coordinate System

• Limitations

• Graduate attributes:

• Thorough grounding in principles (NOT button pushers)

• Problem-solvers, communicators and team players

• Adaptable to ever changing technology and industry

demands

Desired entrants

• Excellent science A levels

Maths essential (underpins almost all of what we do)

Geography and IT desirable

• Geomatics becomes a selecting discipline (cf medicine,

law), not a recruiting one

• Huge ‘league table’ and financial pressure from the

University to have only high A level grade entrants

• Formerly a government cap on student numbers, no longer

a limit on entrants with ABB or better

• Students are in demand everywhere!!

The reality: Applications and entrants

Future of Geomatics at Newcastle

University

• BSc: Surveying and Mapping Science

• BSc: Surveying and Mapping Science with Year in

Industry

• BSc: Geographic Information Science

• BSc: Geographic Information Science with Year in

Industry

• Master of Geomatics from 2018

• 4 year degree course, SMS + GIS

• Business module

Future of Geomatics at Newcastle

University

• School of Engineering

• (no visibility of Geomatics to outside world)

Spatial Analytics and Modelling.

SAM@Newcastle• New £2.25million research investment by Newcastle University

• 4 new professorial appointments in Engineering, Maths, Geographyand, Architecture and Planning.

• University entre of excellence in Geographical Information Science:• New spatial data handling approaches including ‘Big Data’.

• New spatial analysis and simulation modelling methods.

• New approaches to spatial data visualisation.

• Focus on ‘Urban Sciences’ – improved monitoring, analysis,modelling and visualisation of the physical and social structure ofcities.• Data capture via Newcastle University Urban Observatory sensor network.

• Spatial analysis of behavioural response to environmental risks and hazards.

• Simulation modelling future population dynamics, development and infrastructure requirements of cities.

• Integrated GIS and BIM data management for smart buildings, neighbourhoods and cities.

SAM@Newcastle - Education

• establish a new 1-year Masters programme on spatial data

analytics and modelling that combines spatial analysis,

computing and modern statistical approaches to address the

complex problems faced by cities today and into the future.

• provide a new suite of ‘research-led’ modules to

undergraduate programmes in Geomatics, Civil Engineering,

Maths, Geography and, Architecture and Planning.

• provide new opportunity for CPD – training both future

researchers and school to university level teachers.

Summary

• Geomatics industry continually evolving, in response to

technological and political developments

• Fundamental skills and understanding of geomatics

principles taught on a degree will be more important than

ever

• Perennial problem in attracting both sufficient quality and

quantity of people to study, and hence enter the geomatics

profession