Geomatics Engineering

Department of Geodesy & Geomatics Engineering

• Curriculum 
  • Courses 
  • Cadastral Surveying Option within Geomatics Engineering
• Diplomas in Geomatics
• Minor in Geomatics

Faculty

• Church, Ian BScE, MScE, PhD (UNB), Assoc Prof - 2016
• Jabari, Shabham, BScE, MSc (Tehran), PhD (UNB), PEng, Assoc Prof - 2019
• Kingdon, Robert, BScE, PhD (UNB), PEng, ANBLS (Assoc.), Assoc Teaching Professor - 2014
• Langley, Richard B., BSc (Wat), PhD (York) - Prof - 1981
• Santos, Marcelo, BSc (Rio de Janeiro), MSc (National Observatory), PhD (UNB), PEng, Prof - 2000
• Sheng, Michael B., BScE, PhD (UNB), ANBLS (Assoc), Asst Teaching Prof - 2019
• Zhang, Yun, BSc (Wuhan), MSc (East China), PhD (Free University Berlin), PEng, Prof - 2000

Emeritus Professors

• Coleman, David, BScE, MScE (UNB), PhD (Tas), PEng, Prof (1993), Prof Emeritus - 2020
• McLaughlin, John D., BScE, MScE (UNB), PhD (Wis.), PEng, Prof (1972), Prof Emeritus and President Emeritus - 2011
• Nichols, Susan, BSc (Acad), MEng, PhD (UNB), PEng, Prof (1992), Prof Emerita - 2014
• Vaníček, Petr, Geodetic Eng., PhD (Prague), PEng, Prof (1971) - Prof Emeritus - 2001
• Wells, David, BScE (Mt. All), MASc (BrCol), PhD (UNB), PEng, Prof (1980), Prof Emeritus - 1999

Adjunct Professors

• Al-Tahir, Raid, BSc (Bagdhad), MSc (OSU), PhD (OSU), Adjunct Prof - 2012
• Ballantyne, Brian, BSc, MASc (Tor), PhD (Otago), LLB (Cal), Adjunct Prof - 2022
• Bazanowski, Maciej, MEng (Krakow), MScE (UNB), PhD (Warsaw), Adjunct Prof - 2017
• Hughes Clarke, John, BA (Oxford), MSc (S'ton), PhD (Dalhousie), Adjunct Prof - 2017
• Komjathy, Attila, Dipl. Eng. (Miskolc), PhD (UNB), Adjunct Prof - 2012
• McGrath, Heather, BSc (McMaster), MScE (UNB), PhD (UNB), Adjuct Prof - 2020
• Mishra, Rakesh, BSc (Allahabad), MCA (Abdul Kalam), PhD (UNB) - 2021
• Szostak-Chrzanowski, Anna, MSc (Warsaw), MEng (UNB), PhD (Krakow), PEng - Adjunct Prof - 2000

General Information

The Geomatics Engineering program is offered by the Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering. Interesting and challenging professional careers in land or cadastral surveying, engineering surveying, mapping, photogrammetry and geodesy are open to graduates. They can find positions with federal, provincial and municipal government agencies, with the oil, gas and mining industries and with numerous private organizations, such as photogrammetric mapping firms, geological and geophysical exploration companies and consulting engineers, or they can be self-employed as professional engineers or registered land surveyors.

A variant of the concept of co-operative education has been adopted as a requirement of the Geomatics Engineering Program. Co-operative education is based upon the principle that a sound academic program combined with relevant technical experience can provide the most effective professional development during the undergraduate years. With this in mind, undergraduate geomatics students are required to obtain at least six months relevant practical experience prior to graduation. The Department will facilitate identifcation of opportunities for appropriate experience, but students will be responsible for selecting and negotiating suitable placement. Engineering Co-op placements in the Geomatics industry may be counted toward this requirement.

Curriculum

With a minimum of 160 credit hours (ch) in the program, students are required to complete:

a. a core of basic engineering subjects;
b. a minimum of 9 ch of approved technical electives, with at least 6 ch of GGE 5000 level courses.

Credit hours for courses are listed in the course descriptions portion of the calendar.

A minimum grade of C is required for all courses to be used as credit toward the degree.

Students who have previous post-secondary educational efforts are advised to write to the Chair of the Department for information on credits that may be awarded.

Students who wish to academically prepare to become professional land surveyors should follow the Cadastral Surveying Option outlined belowHydrographic Surveying Option outlined below.

Students who wish to academically prepare to become a Cat-A Certified Hydrographer should follow the Hydrographic Surveying Option outlined below.

The program has been designed to be completed in 8 terms, with reasonable course loads. Students may proceed at a slower rate, but all requirements must be completed within 8 consecutive years. All GGE courses (denoted by "GGE" in the course number), and some GGE elective courses will be available remotely through hybrid teaching methods. Some non-GGE coures that can contribute to the degree are also available online. Detailed program information, including remote course availability, is available from the Department.

Courses

Descriptions of courses offered by the various Departments are given in the "Fredericton Courses" Section of this Calendar.

Core Courses (all required):

Technical Electives

GGE 5011 Oceanography, Tides, & Water Levels
GGE 5012 Marine Geology & Geophysics
GGE 5022 Precision Surveying
GGE 5042 Kinematic Positioning
GGE 5083 Hydrographic Field Operations
GGE 5222 Gravity Field in Geomatics
GGE 5242 Global Navigation Satellite Systems for Geodesy
GGE 5311 Advanced Hydrography 
GGE 5322 Computer Vision - Methods and Implementation
GGE 5341 Machine Learning and AI in Geomatics
GGE 5401 Geospatial Development
GGE 5402 Geographic Databases
GGE 5403 Web Mapping Geospatial Web Services
GGE 5404 Online Spatial Data Handling
GGE 5405 Introduction to Big Data & Data Science
GGE 5410 3D Geographic Information Systems
GGE 5415 Real-Time Mobility Data Analytics
GGE 5522 Survey Law II
GGE 5833 Land Use Planning for Geomatics
GGE 5901 Special Studies in Geomatics I
GGE 5902 Special Studies in Geomatics II
GGE 5903 Special Studies in Geomatics III

* Students who have already taken CHEM 1982 and CHEM 1987, or CHEM 1872 and CHEM 1877 may use these in place of ESCI 1001 and ESCI 1026.

Other technical electives may be taken in Engineering, Science, Computer Science, or Forestry, subject to Departmental approval. Students are cautioned that not all technical electives may be offered every year.

In addition to the above list, a minimum of 6 ch of complementary studies electives is also required. These require approval by the Department.

Cadastral Surveying Option within Geomatics Engineering

Students who complete a Bachelor of Geomatics Engineering at UNB with GGE 5833, GGE 5022 and GGE 5521 or GGE 5522, will have the following notation placed on their UNB transcripts: “COMPLETED CADASTRAL SURVEYING OPTION”. This option has been accredited by the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors.

Hydrographic Surveying Option within Geomatics Engineering

Students who obtain a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in Geomatics Engineering at UNB, and who complete a set of five specified technical electives (GGE 5011, GGE 5012, GGE 5042, GGE 5311, and GGE 5083) will have the following notation placed on their UNB transcripts: "COMPLETED HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING OPTION". This option has been accredited as a Category S5-A level program by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), and International Cartographic Association (ICA) International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC). 

Diplomas in Geomatics

The Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering offers programs leading to diplomas in the areas of specialization of Cadastral Studies, Engineering and Exploration Surveying, Geodetic Surveying, Land Information Management, and Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These programs offer an opportunity for practicing surveyors and other technical professionals to gain a thorough understanding of the theory and principles of specific applications of new technologies and methodologies. Each program area consists of selected courses as regularly offered in the undergraduate program. A total of at least 30 credit hours of specified and elective courses is required in each program. All of the courses in these programs are degree-credit courses. Those who successfully complete a diploma program and who are subsequently admitted to a degree program may receive credit for them. Students enrolled in a diploma program will be subject to all relevant university undergraduate regulations and to the General Regulations of the Faculty of Engineering.

It is recommended that applicants to the Diploma program have successfully completed a program of technology, of at least two years, which should have included or have been supplemented with courses in calculus, computer science, and probability and statistics at a level equivalent to first-year university. It is important that applicants have a working knowledge of these three subject areas and have at least three years of relevant work experience (at least one of which should be as a party chief or equivalent).

Cadastral Studies

GGE 2501 Land Administration I
GGE 3342 Imaging & Mapping I
GGE 4513 Survey Law I
GGE 5522 Survey Law II
GGE 5833 Land Use Planning for Geomatics
CE 3963 Engineering Economy
TME 3313 Managing Engineering & Information Technology Projects
Electives: At least 4 credit hours

Engineering and Exploration Surveying

ESCI 4501 Applied Geophysics I
ESCI 4512 Applied Geophysics II
GGE 3022 Survey Design and Analysis
GGE 3111 Introduction to Adjustment Calculus
GGE 3122 Advanced Adjustment Calculus
GGE 5022 Precision Surveying
MATH 1503 Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 2513 Multivariable Calculus for Engineers

Geodetic Surveying

GGE 3022 Survey Design and Analysis
GGE 3111 Introduction to Adjustment Calculus
GGE 3122 Advanced Adjustment Calculus
GGE 3202 Geodesy I
GGE 4211 Geodesy II
GGE 5242 Global Navigation Satellite Systems for Geodesy
MATH 1503 Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 2513 Multivariable Calculus for Engineers

Land Information Management

GGE 3423 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
GGE 2501 Land Administration I
GGE 4423 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
TME 3213 Quality Management or 
TME 3413 Technology, Creativity and Innovation
GGE 5401 Geospatial Development
GGE 5405 Introduction to Big Data and Analytics
Electives: At least 8 credit hours

Mapping and Geographic Information Systems

GGE 3423 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
GGE 3111 Introduction to Adjustment Calculus
GGE 3342 Remote Sensing
GGE 4313 Airborne Mapping Systems
GGE 4423 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GGE 5410 3D Geographic Information Systems
Electives: at least 6 credit hours

Minor in Geomatics

A Minor in Geomatics is offered to students in programs of study other than Geomatics Engineering and comprises a minimum of 24 credit hours (ch) of GGE courses. Normally a background in Calculus (e.g. MATH 1003, MATH 1013 ), Statistics (e.g. STAT 2593), Linear Algebra (e.g. MATH 1503, MATH 2513 or MATH 2213), and Computer Science (e.g. CS 1003 or CS 1073) would be a prerequisite to the Minor. GGE 1001 (5 ch) must be taken for the Minor. The remaining minimum of 19 ch may be chosen from other GGE courses with the following collections of courses as recommended areas of concentration. Other combinations of courses may be arranged with approval by the Department prior to starting the Minor.

Land Administration and Information Management: GGE 3423, GGE 2501, GGE 4513, plus at least 7 ch of approved GGE course(s).

Mapping and Geographic Information Systems: GGE 3423, GGE 3342, GGE 4423, GGE 4313.

Hydrography and Oceanography: GGE 3353, GGE 5011, GGE 5012, GGE 5083, GGE 5311.

Positioning: GGE 2012, GGE 2013 or GGE 2014, GGE 3042, GGE 3202, GGE 4211.