Geomatics Engineering

Department of Geodesy & Geomatics Engineering

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

Faculty

• Church, Ian BScE, MScE, PhD (UNB), Assoc Prof - 2016
• Cui, Ge BScE, MScE (Wuhan), PhD (Calgary), Assistant Prof – 2025 
• Jabari, Shabham, BScE, MSc (Tehran), PhD (UNB), PEng, Assoc Prof - 2018
• Kingdon, Robert, BScE, PhD (UNB), PEng, ANBLS (Assoc.), Assoc Teaching Professor - 2014
• Langley, Richard B., BSc (Waterloo), PhD (York) - Prof - 1981
• Sheng, Michael B., BScE, PhD (UNB), PEng, ANBLS (Assoc), Asst Teaching Prof - 2019
• Zhang, Yun, BSc (Wuhan), MSc (East China), PhD (Free University Berlin), PEng, Prof - 2000

Honorary Research Professors 

• Santos, Marcelo, BSc (Rio de Janeiro), MSc (National Observatory), PhD (UNB), PEng, Prof - (2000), Honorary Research Prof – 2025 

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
• Vaníček, Petr, Geodetic Eng., PhD (Prague), PEng, Prof (1971) - Prof Emeritus - 2001

Adjunct Professors

• Ballantyne, Brian, BSc, MASc (Tor), PhD (Otago), LLB (Calgary), Adjunct Prof - 2022
• Bazanowski, Maciej, MEng (Krakow), MScE (UNB), PhD (Warsaw), Adjunct Prof - 2017
• Foroughi, Ismael, BScE, MScE (Tehran), PhD (UNB), Adjunct Prof - 2024 
• Hughes Clarke, John, BA (Oxford), MSc (S'ton), PhD (Dalhousie), Adjunct Prof - 2017
• Komjathy, Attila, Dipl. Eng. (Miskolc), PhD (UNB), Adjunct Prof - 2012
• Lichti, Derek, BTech (Ryerson), MScE (Calgary), PhD (Calgary), Adjunct Prof - 2025 
• 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.

Many courses in this degree can be completed off-campus under the GGE Remote initiative. For some courses, industry partnerships will need to be arranged so students can complete fieldwork. Students are responsible for ensuring they have sufficient technology and internet access to remotely complete courses. 

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 12 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.  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

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 4511, GGE 5032, GGE 5522, and GGE 5802 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 5031, GGE 5321, GGE 5332, GGE 5342, and GGE 5353) 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 2502 Land Administration I
GGE 3302 Imaging & Mapping I
GGE 4511 Survey Law I
GGE 5522 Survey Law II
GGE 5802 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 3021 Survey Design and Analysis
GGE 3112 Introduction to Adjustment Calculus
GGE 3122 Advanced Adjustment Calculus
GGE 5032 Precision Surveying
MATH 1503 Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 2513 Multivariable Calculus for Engineers

Geodetic Surveying

Land Information Management

Mapping and Geographic Information Systems

GGE 3403 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
GGE 3112 Introduction to Adjustment Calculus
GGE 3302 Remote Sensing
GGE 4333  Photogrammetry
GGE 4413 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GGE 5431 3D Spatial Data Processing
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 1093 or CS 1073) would be a prerequisite to the Minor. GGE 1022 (3 ch) must be taken for the Minor. The remaining minimum of 21 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 3403, GGE 2502, GGE 4511, plus at least 9 ch of approved GGE course(s).

Mapping and Geographic Information Systems: GGE 3403, GGE 3302, GGE 4413, GGE 3321, GGE 4333.

Hydrography and Oceanography: GGE 3311, GGE 5321, GGE 5332, GGE 5342, GGE 5353.

Positioning: GGE 2001, GGE 2013 or GGE 2014, GGE 2201, GGE 3221, GGE 3212.