|
|
|
Institutions | Training | Online Education | Papers / Articles
Proposed Syllabus of Geomatics Course Towards Civil Engineering Degree - Some Guiding Thoughts
BOX-1
Specializations within Geomatics
The discipline of Surveying Mapping has transformed into a large number of specializations or sub-disciplines. These can be grouped under the title of Land-Information Technologies. The profession of Geomatics will naturally embrace all these technologies.
- Ground Surveys, Field Control
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing
- Aerial Photography, Photogrammetry and Digital Terrain Model (DTM)
- Geographic Information System (GIS)
Other technological frontiers:
- Air Borne Laser Terrain Mapping Systems
- Radar Interferrometry for Heights
It is quite natural that a combination of these subjects may be required for a given project.
|
This appears to be a `tall order’ for the fresh graduate but it is not difficult to follow provided the syllabus contains the requisite rightly balanced and well designed exposure to the above mentioned technologies.
5. Knowledge About Geomatics – Resources
The fresh graduate should also be able to access the desired information regarding `Geomatics – resources’, namely the Institutions, Consultants and other sources connected with the delivery of Geomatics – services / products (example – satellite imagery) in India and to some extent from abroad. This knowledge is necessary because his Geomatics related project will need these inputs at the early stages of the main project.
6. Idea About The Accuracy And Cost of Geomatics Operations
No geometric project will succeed unless a clear idea of the `accuracy’ is established. The accuracy will be crucial to the cost. He should, therefore, have an adequate idea of accuracy and its associated cost pertaining to any major activity falling within the realm of Geomatics (refer to Box 1).
Sufficient reference material, real project details about the cost and accuracy should be provided to the student so that he can make a good beginning.
7. Capability Towards Undertaking Feasibility Report of a Project
A fresh graduate should fully understand the implications of Geomatics for the preparation of Feasibility Report which is required for almost all civil engineering projects. He should also, partially, help his employing organization towards preparation of the Detailed Project Report, if needed. It should be clearly understood that work on Geomatics is like an `infrastructure’ to all the other infrastructure projects.
8. Books and References
It is highly desirable that CE graduate should be generally aware of the Geomatics related books, journals, magazines and web-sites etc. This will help him in knowing the state-of-art of the technology, its status in India (and also abroad !) and broaden his technical comprehension. It will be a good practical idea that this information could be compiled by the faculty as a reference material for the student.
9. Designing The Course
The above mentioned guide lines help to formulate the major features of the course and how to go about deciding the contents. It is suggested that basic features of the Course should be completed in three phases. These are:
- Exposure
- Analysis
- Consolidation of concepts developed in first two phases.
- The concepts of these phases are briefly described further.
9.1 Phase – One
Exposure of Geomatics Concepts
In this phase, the student will learn, in-depth, about the professional practices in different land information technologies mentioned in Box-1. These practices will be those which are generally adopted in tackling projects in (Geomatics) surveying and mapping in India and abroad.
Student should be exposed to the essential theoretical underpinning of Geomatics.
The contents of this phase should follow the traditional teaching methodology through:
- Lectures-requisite edited theoretical base is taught at this stage
- Demonstrations e.g. GPS, Photogrammetry etc
- Special lectures by theme professionals-by invited faculty / or organization.
- Seminars and workshops based on specific topic organized by in-house or invited faculty.
9.2 Literature Search And Practicals
- Literature search by the student on specific topic. This will pertain to the professional topics and tutorials. A good source for gathering this information is Internet. Almost all sites connected with Geomatics have tutorials. A convenient site, which can be recommended, is gisdevelopment.net of India.
- Practical Exercises involving handling of equipment e.g. GPS, Photogrammetry and Total Station are highly desirable. Alternatively, the students could be taken to the organizations where such equipment is in use. Further, special videos / film available on these subjects can be shown to the students.
|
|
|