- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Average salary $83,000 to $163,000
Career profile
Geomatics engineers combine the practices of land surveying, mapping, computer programming and technological data-mining to gather and use geographic data. They collect and analyse spatial information across different domains, including land, oceans, natural resources, and manmade infrastructure features.
The employ computer modeling techniques, applying them to address a wide spectrum of spatial location-related challenges. They use data from field surveys, laboratory experiments, and various data collection methods, to develop innovative solutions and inform decision-making processes. They also conduct remote sensing operations utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Geomatics engineers collaborate with professionals from different engineering departments, clients, and service providers. The apply a wide variety of advanced technologies and geospatial information systems, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Inertial Navigation Systems, airborne (manned and unmanned) and spaceborne photography, ground-based and airborne laser scanning systems, multispectral data collection and analysis, industrial metrology, computer hardware, software, firmware, and interfacing data acquisition systems.
This professional field allows for specialization in areas such as geodetics engineering (global surveyors), navigation and positioning engineering, photogrammetric or remote sensing engineering, or geographic information systems (GIS) engineering.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing spatial information and data using plans, maps, charts and computer applications
- Monitoring remote sensing data or other geospatial data
- Planning, designing, developing and managing projects related to construction or repairing of extraction activities, facilities and pipelines
As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:
- Communicating with and coordinating outside suppliers and contractors or clients
- Communicating findings and interpretations internally and collaborating with other engineering positions
- Managing the planning and execution of remote sensing products and services
Education
- Geomatics Engineers require a four-year undergraduate degree in engineering with a specialization in geomatics or survey engineering and a license from the provincial engineering accreditation body.
Certification
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the Canada Green Building Council may be required by some employers.
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
Licensing
- To obtain a license as a professional engineer (P.Eng) you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings.
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
- Travel likely required
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
You bring initiative and new ideas, you have strong math skills and can analyze spatial data. You are a problem solver. You also have strong communications skills and can convey complex ideas to others.
- Geography
- Critical thinking
- Quality control analysis
- Computers and electronics
- Engineering and technology
- Customer and personal service
- Programming
- Systems analysis
- Complex problem solving
- Planning and organizing
