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Dr Gary Hunter Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne, Australia garyh@unimelb.edu.au  In Australia we tend to use the term 'geomatics' to refer to the range of disciplines traditionally associated with collecting, manipulating, analysing and presenting spatial information. Thus, geomatics includes surveying, cartography, GIS, photogrammetry, geodesy and remote sensing - which is quite different to the way it is interpreted in some other countries where it can simply mean GIS. Where do Geomatics graduates come from? For several decades now these different topics were taught at Australian universities by surveying departments - with the nine universities still teaching geomatics courses. However as GIS, remote sensing and other new spatial technologies emerged, the various surveying programs moved quickly to add them in their programs because of their obvious relevance to students. Furthermore, over the past 20 years all of these former surveying departments have since changed their names to reflect the broader content now offered -and so we see new department names such as geomatics, geospatial science and spatial information systems now being used. Another popular concept has been for geomatics students at these universities to take a second degree in fields such as computer science, information systems, geology and environmental science- which gives them very strong multi-disciplinary skills. These combined degree programs have been so popular that, at the University of Melbourne for example, approximately 70% of all students are taking them. New postgraduate courses were also established by these universities to cater for surveying graduates who had not received education in the new technologies, as well as for graduates from a wide range of other disciplines. Finally, two universities offer distance education courses in Geomatics, these being Curtin University of Technology and the University of Southern Queensland. At the same time, other university departments in Australia teaching courses such as ecology, botany, environmental science, geography and geology also starting to teach GIS and remote sensing. However, the fundamental difference is that their goal is not to produce Geomatics specialists as such-but instead to provide their own professions with discipline-specific graduates who have some knowledge of these new spatial technologies. What do Geomatics students learn? While the content of geomatics degrees varies between universities in Australia, the subjects typically taught include surveying and mapping, positioning, computational methods, adjustment/analysis of observations, photogrammetry, GIS, remote sensing, spatial data presentation and visualisation, mapping/cartography, computer programming, and statistics. Between the degrees differences can be observed in the remaining subjects taught, with some having a strong emphasis on surveying, engineering and geodesy while others have strengths in computer science, databases and information systems. In any case, all of the geomatics-degree granting institutions still provide for students to take subjects that will allow them to become licensed cadastral surveyors-that is, subjects relating to land law and regulations, property development, subdivision design and cadastral surveying. However, several of the courses also allow students the option of replacing subjects that would lead to licensing with those in areas such as multimedia cartography or GIS. Overall, current view in Australia is that the broader spatial information sector is well served by Geomatics graduates able to work in fields using GIS, remote sensing, computer science and information systems. However there is a drastic shortage of graduates who wish to become licensed surveyors-even though the property and construction industries are experiencing 'boom' times. With the average age of existing licensed surveyors in most Australian States being about 55 years, there is concern that not enough graduates are coming through the ranks to replace them and to move into middle and senior management positions as the 'baby boomer' surveyors retire over the next 10 years. Action is now being taken in at least one State, Victoria, to address this concern and an industry taskforce has been established which has brought together the professional associations, the public and private sectors, and academia to address the problem through m ore effective marketing and promotion of surveying to 'generation X' students. Where do Geomatics graduates work? Graduates who want to become licensed surveyors once entered mainly the public sector, but outsourcing of government services over the past 20 years has meant that the private sector is now the primary employer of surveyors. Furthermore, there has been a trend now for a number of years for small surveying practices to be bought out by larger companies which now offer a full range of services to clients covering surveying, engineering, planning and design. In the broader spatial information areas, graduates are attracted to both the public sector where organisations create, maintain and distribute a variety of key spatial data products, as well as to the private sector where a wide range of bureau, consulting and service business opportunities exist in a country that has firmly embraced the age of digital spatial information over the past 30 years. It is in this broader area of spatial information that the majority of graduates are employed since they see it as a more vibrant sector with excellent remuneration and strong and exciting career growth prospects. Page 1 of 1
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