The role of technology in capturing detailed Geospatial Information

Geospatial Technology is remote sensing.

The global positioning system (GPS), and geographic information systems (GIS) are important geospatial technologies.

Remote sensing and the GPS are methods for collecting information about Earth’s surface; GIS ia a mapping tool for organizing and analyzing information.

Geomatics or geospatial technology as it is more commonly known, is such a multidisciplinary tool that you can now undertake advance studies in specific subjects such as GIS. Anyone who works with the landscape from archaeologists, engineers, Surveyors has embraced the new technology and the level of detail it provides.

A quote from Harvard Business Review, sums it up nicely –

“As organizational decisions increasingly become more data driven, businesses need to assure decisions are made with the most accurate data. That explains why so many organizations have made data collection and analysis a strategic and organizational priority and recognize data as a mission-critical asset to manage.”

Geospatial data is not new it was used as early as post World War II, but it wasn’t until the 1990’s as technology was ramping up that companies started to perform “data mining” on their customers. Since that time data mining has gone from raw statistics to incorporating other technologies to help log and track information.

Over the years geospatial technology has evolved and contributes data to a wide range of services including surveying, engineering, retail, food services, healthcare and even financial services, but in reality the use of geospatial technology is infinite.

The data has provided insight into how people live and interact in the world that has important ramifications for our way of life.

Innovation along with research and development in the field of geospatial data, geospatial science, and analytics continues find new ways to incorporate geospatial data into new areas and offer solutions to today’s most challenging problems.

Companies and academic institutions across the country are investing in developing geospatial technologies that will further extend the use of this valuable data outside traditional markets.

Surveyors work alongside other engineers, architects and land developers to define legal land boundaries and provide essential engineering support for urban development, large infrastructure projects, the development and operation of mines and the management of the environment and resources.

The use of new and developing technologies such as GPS, satellite imagery, laser mapping and fast computing to create complex layers of interconnected geographic information.

Today position can be measured very accurately. It is possible to make maps and look down on the world from airborne and satellite platforms, and visualise the natural and built environment in 3D. Geospatial information constantly reveals new insights about our world and our place in it.

Land surveyors play a crucial role in land development, mapping and engineering construction. Registered land surveyors are the only professional who can legally define the dimensions of new or existing property.

Surveyors advise land owners, lawyers, builders, architects, building designers, planners and other engineers.

Geospatial technology has provided another level of detail to the surveying professional.