Surveying and Spatial Sciences are rapidly growing disciplines. Nearly all aspects of industry, science and society are finding an increasing need for high quality information in order to make reliable decisions. Much of that information has a spatial component, a location on Earth, and involves an integrated approach to the science and technologies of measurement, mapping, analysis and visualisation of data.

Rachael Hurd surveying at Davis Station in Antarctica.

The science of Surveying and Spatial Sciences is concerned with the acquisition, management, analysis and presentation of spatial information. That is, information about the size, shape or location of most aspects of our physical environment.

Nick Davies determining the volume of raw material using a terrestrial laser scanner near Mt Isa in Queensland.

The Spatial Science discipline within the School of Geography & Environmental Studies offers a four year course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Surveying and Spatial Sciences . The degree is available in two streams: a Spatial Information Systems stream and a Land Surveying stream.

Natasha Adam determines vegetation boundaries on Macquarie Island using the Global Positioning System.

Graduates are professionals involved in activities such as:

• Computer management of spatial information ( Geographic Information Systems, GIS ).
• Measuring and defining land ownership boundaries ( Land or Cadastral Surveying ).
• Measurement, mapping and analysis from satellite imagery ( Remote Sensing ).
• Spatial measurement from ground and aerial photography ( Photogrammetry ).
• Measuring and mapping in the marine environment ( Hydrographic Surveying ).
• Defining the shape and dynamics of the Earth's surface ( Geodetic Surveying ).
• Providing spatial control for roads, mines, bridges, and other engineering works ( Engineering Surveying ).

Industry demand for graduates is extremely high. Graduates have a wide choice of diverse careers in both the private or government sectors, and in different work environments - working individually or in a team. Graduates have the flexibility to work in urban or rural areas, or in remote areas such as Antarctica or in developing countries. Graduates may choose a career based in the outdoors, working in field in your chosen location. Others choose an office environment - or a combination of the two.

What makes us distinctive?

• Special features of our undergraduate Bachelor of Surveying and Spatial Sciences include:
• A choice between specialisations in Land Surveying or Geographic Information Systems.
• A six-month paid professional experience component - working within Tasmania or in other parts of Australia .
• A young and dynamic lecturing team made up of people actively involved in research.
• Small year groups leading to an improved learning environment.
• A ranking amongst the very top of such courses in Australia on the national graduate satisfaction surveys.
  

Christopher Watson with the GPS equipped buoy used in his research to calibrate a satellite radar altimeter.

Digital data within a Geographic Information System (GIS) shows an urban environment. Note the location of all infrastructure important to asset management within local government.

Surveying and Spatial Sciences students surveying coastal change using a theodolite or "total station".

Crustal velocities in the horizontal direction determined using continuously operating GPS receivers.

The "Turf Management System" - a customised Geographic Information System used to manage sports stadium infrastructure.

3-D model of a quarry determined using a terrestrial laser scanner.

For more examples of spatial information science visit the following Spatial Science discipline links:

• Spatial Science showcases
• Graduate profiles
• Industry snapshots
  

What is Surveying?

Since the beginning of recorded history, people have needed to measure and map the world about them. The profession of Surveying has grown from this history.

Ancient map makers used tools and instruments which were simple, laborious and not very precise. Advancing technology has seen the art and science of spatial measurement develop to what it is today. Today's surveyors have at their fingertips a wide range of instruments, techniques and mathematical methods which they can use to measure, model and map objects ranging in size from the head of a pin to the entire surface of the Earth.

A surveyor may be involved in many different activities:

• Land or Cadastral Surveying is one well known area. Surveyors who do this are involved in the legal definition of land ownership - for boundary definition when land is bought, sold or subdivided. In the subdivision process, Surveyors are key professionals in the design, approval processes and the project management of the land development.
• Engineering Surveyors are involved with the development of Civil Engineering projects such as dams, roads, multi-story buildings and other structures. They measure and map the environment prior to the project being designed and approved, and then control the spatial accuracy of the project during construction.
• Hydrographic Surveyors are usually associated with marine authorities and consultancies (such as the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) and various Ports Corporations) and are responsible for mapping the sea floor, marine habitat, coastal erosion, shipping channels, ports and other marine features.
• Mine Surveyors are responsible for measuring and controlling mining operations in both open cut and underground environments. Mining surveyors are also required for exploration surveys, controlling tunnelling operations, computing volumes and other underground works.
• Geodetic Surveyors use advanced techniques and highly sophisticated equipment to measure to millimetre accuracies over long distances. Geodetic networks are used to provide the spatial control required by cadastral, engineering, hydrographic and mine surveyors. They also provide information that is used by scientists to monitor large scale phenomena such as continental drift and sea level changes.

Surveying student Michael Bevan working with a total station theodolite at the University.

What is Geodesy and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)?

Geodesy is concerned with the study of the size and shape of the Earth and its gravity field, together with their variation over time.

Today, many of the fundamentals of geodesy are accomplished using advanced space techniques such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). These techniques are capable of measuring distances up to thousands of kilometres with an accuracy of just a few millimetres.

Areas of study that require Geodesy cover global problems such as monitoring vertical and horizontal movements of the Earth (tectonic plate motion, for example), measuring change in sea level due to global warming and measuring variations in the rotation axis and rate of rotation of the Earth. Geodesy is also applied to more local problems such as monitoring volcanoes, measuring the movements of bridges, and the real-time alignment of roads and railway tracks.

Map showing global tectonic plate motion.

GPS observations on the Amery Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

The Global Positioning System is used by geodetic surveyors to measure the shape and deformation of the Earth, by hydrographic surveyors to map the position of boats at sea, by mining surveyors to map mining lease boundaries, and by land surveyors for cadastral and engineering applications. Photogrammetrists use GPS on board the aircraft to measure the position of the aerial camera when acquiring photographs for maps. GPS is also an important tool for people gathering field data for entry into a Geographic Information System (GIS).

What is a Geographic Information System (GIS)?

Spatial Information Science is not just an academic subject, it is a serious discipline with multibillion dollar implications for businesses and governments. Choosing sites, targeting market segments, planning distribution networks, responding to emergencies, or redrawing country boundaries - all of these problems involve questions with a spatial component.

Information collected in the field by surveyors, or from aerial photographs, satellite images, or using GPS, is almost always represented on some type of map. In the past the printed map was the final product used to analyse the information and to make decisions. Nowadays maps are stored as layers of spatial information in a geographic information system (GIS) allowing manipulation, analysis and display of spatial data. GIS links location to information (such as people to addresses, buildings to parcels, or streets within a network) and layers that information to give you a better understanding of how it all interrelates. You choose what layers to combine based on your purpose.

A GIS is most often associated with maps. A map, however, is only one of three ways a GIS can be used to work with geographic information. These three ways are:

• The Database View: A GIS is a unique kind of database of the world - a geographic database (geodatabase). It is an "Information System for Geography". Fundamentally, a GIS is based on a structured database that describes the world in geographic terms.
• The Map View: A GIS is a set of intelligent maps and other views that show features and feature relationships on the Earth's surface. Maps of the underlying geographic information can be constructed and used as "windows into the database" to support queries, analysis, and editing of the information. This is called geovisualization.
• The Model View: A GIS is a set of information transformation tools that derive new geographic datasets from existing datasets. These geoprocessing functions take information from existing datasets, apply analytic functions, and write results into new derived datasets.

Together, these three views are critical parts of a Geographical Information System and are used at varying levels in all GIS applications ( http://www.gis.com ).

To illustrate the application of a GIS, think about the information that an environmental scientist would need to study landslide hazards in Tasmania . A GIS of the area would contain layers that represent the topography, soil type and land cover and these could be used to derive slope information, direction of water flow, soil stability, and the potential for landslides. The final result of the analysis can then be displayed in a map or interactive 3D terrain model. This type of information could never before be derived from maps that were printed onto paper.

A recent land slip near Hobart under investigation using GPS and GIS.

GPS data covering the land slip loaded into the GIS and a map of the slope over the land slip, darker colours indicate steeper slopes.

A relief shaded view of the 3D elevation model of the land slip site.

What Are Photogrammetry And Remote Sensing?

Remote sensing and photogrammetry are exciting active fields of research and provide a wide range of interesting applications. Developments in satellite and sensor technology have made it possible to detect objects as small as one meter from satellites, and airborne sensors can even provide more detailed spatial information about the Earth surface. Images acquired by satellite and airborne sensors are processed and analysed and used as data sources in a GIS for further analysis or visualisation.

Remote sensing is the science of acquiring information about the Earth's surface without actually being in contact with it. This is done by sensing and recording reflected or emitted energy and processing, analysing, and applying that information.

A LANDSAT mosaic of Tasmania - pixel resolution of 30m.

Photogrammetry is the science of obtaining reliable measurements and maps from photographs. So photogrammetry is a special type of remote sensing. Sometimes the photographs are taken using very expensive, accurate and large film cameras mounted in aircraft; sometimes they are taken using inexpensive hand held cameras. Nowadays digital cameras are often used instead of film cameras.

Photogrammetrists use aerial cameras to photograph the Earth and produce topographic maps. Photogrammetry is also used to measure large structures such as dams, moving objects such as manufactured parts on a production line, or objects that are in dangerous or inaccessible environments such as the deeply submerged parts of an offshore oil platform.

Subject Areas

Teaching areas include surveying, geographic information systems, geodesy (including satellite navigation), photogrammetry and remote sensing. For more information see the Courses page

Jobs

Have a look at the job ads page to get an overview of jobs in the spatial information science industry.

Course Prerequisites:

TCE Satisfactory Achievement (SA) or higher in:

• Mathematics Methods 5C (*MME5C); and
• Physical Sciences 5C (*PSC5C), or their equivalent.

(If applicants do not have these prerequisites they should discuss their qualifications with the degree coordinator. Appropriate University bridging courses may be available)

Course information

Phone  1300 363 864
E-mail :  course.info@utas.edu.au

Contact information

Spatial Science Discipline
School of Geography and Environmental Studies
University of Tasmania
Private Bag 76
Hobart , Tasmania 7001
Tel. +61-3-6226-2463
Fax: +61-3-6226-2989
E-mail: Secretary@geog.utas.edu.au
http://www.utas.edu.au/spatial