Surveying Education
An RMIT Update
Donald Grant
Geospatial Science
RMIT University
RMIT University
• Global university of technology and design
• Strategic Directions:
Global
Urban
Connected
• Our programs must fit within this corporate framework and
be:
Relevant
High quality
Financially viable
Specific nature of RMIT
• Has both Vocational Education* and Higher
Education segments
–Therefore, two parts to this presentation
* Vocational Education is the new name for TAFE
Vocational Education (TAFE)
Sector
RMIT University – School of Engineering TAFE
Building, Civil, Surveying and Spatial programs
• All these programs have a Surveying content to deliver
–Diploma of Building and Construction Year 1 & 2
(8 full time and 1 part time groups - 250+ students)
–Advanced Diploma of Engineering Design (Civil) Year 1
& 2 (8 full time and 3 part time groups - 300 students)
–Certificate 3 in Surveying and Spatial Information
Services (2 groups - 40 students)
–Diploma of Surveying
Year 1 – (2 groups - 65 students; continues 2013 high)
–Advanced Diploma of Spatial Information Services
Year 2 – (1 group - 42 students; up 75% on 2013)
RMIT University©2011
ISV Regional Conference - Sale
5
RMIT University - Surveying pathways (2011 data)
40% from
industry firms
95%
5% not completed
5% exit to industry
5%
95% VTAC or
DIRECT
APPLICATION
90%
5%
50% exit to industry
85%
50% articulate
2013: 20 articulated; 16 to surveying,
4 to geospatial sciences
RMIT University©2012
School of Engineering TAFE
6
RMIT University – School of Engineering TAFE
surveying staff
• Coordinator of Surveying Courses in Building, Civil,
Surveying and Spatial
• Thierry Demathieu LS
• Staff to support programs
–Peter Dunbabin DipBuild
–Stephen Falzon LS
–William Ntuwah MSurvSc
–Trent Rhodes BApSc (Geomatics) Hons 1
–Mihir Soneji Beng
–Plus two more building technology teachers
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Surveying and Spatial Information Services
Major study areas
• CAD Drafting using AutoCAD
• Land Surveying computations using
Excel and HP scientific calculators
• Mapping using ArcGIS
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Data management using Liscad SEE
• Weekly field experience at Yarra Bend Park
• Cadastral and Engineering Surveying
• Building and property set out
Benefits to RMIT students
• 12 months educational license of Liscad v10 for home study
• 36 months educational license of AutoCAD and Autodesk Civil3D for home
study
• 12 months educational license of ArcGIS for home study
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Pathways and Articulation to RMIT University
Higher Education
• The Certificate III part time gives some credit of the
Diploma full time.
• Completion of the Diploma of Surveying will give entry to
the Advanced Diploma.
• The Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) at RMIT
University gives credit of up to 1.5 years to Advanced
Diploma students with excellent Graded Point Average
(GPA). TAFE students generally take three years in
Higher Education to complete the Bachelor program.
• The Bachelor Degree will give the opportunity to enter a
training agreement to become a Licensed Surveyor and
start practicing dealing with land boundaries.
10
Looking for an
assistant?
Willing to join in for a
day?
Ring Thierry on
9925 8359
11
Higher Education Sector
Geospatial Science Staff Profile
• One of two disciplines in the School of Mathematical and Geospatial
Sciences
– 15 Academic staff/ 1 technical officer
• about 14 research staff
Connected
• William Cartwright Immediate Past President ICA, Chair, Joint Boards of
Spatial Societies, UN Panel on Global Spatial Systems
• David Silcock – Surveyors Registration Board Victoria
• Gita Pupedis - Geographic Place Names Committee, Destination Spatial
• Simon Jones, Mark Shortis, Chris Bellman
– ISPRS Congress Committee 2012
• Simon Jones - Co-Chair IGARSS, IEEE International Geoscience and
Remote Sensing Symposium, Melbourne 2013
• Chris Bellman VSC, SSSI Vic Regional Committee, Spatial Education
Advisory Committee (SEAC), Surveying Taskforce
• David Mitchell FIG Commission 7, VCAT Planning Panels
• Nick Chrisman – President Global Geospatial Network, organised Global
Geospatial Conference 2012, etc.
And now Don Grant connections
• Formerly
– Surveyor-General of New Zealand
– Member of NZ Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board
– Chair of Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying & Mapping
– NZIS Councillor
– NZ representative - International Association of Geodesy
• Continuing
– Licensed Cadastral Surveyor (NZ)
– NZ Representative FIG Commission 7 (Cadastre & Land Management)
– Member & Fellow of NZIS
• Future intentions (applications pending)
– Membership of IS Victoria
University Environment
Features and Facilities
• Programs retain a strong emphasis on practical
component
• Survey camps in Years 2 & 3
– 2014, 3rd Year camp continues at Rubicon,
–2nd Year Camp has moved to Yarra Bend
• Dedicated field station at Yarra Bend Park
–Lease negotiated with Parks Victoria for 20+ years
• Multiple computer laboratories
• Variety of software systems available
Equipment grants
• Over the last 4 years
–Trimble CX Laser Scanner
–2 x Trimble VX Robotic Total
Stations
–11x Leica Flexline Total
Stations
–Sokkia Gyro Theodolite (total
station)
–4 x Trimble R8 GNSS rec.
Accreditation
• Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria
–Reviewed our program in 2011
–Granted accreditation for another 5 years
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
–Reviewed our program for the first time in 2011
–Granted accreditation; renewed 2013
–Annual review cycle
• Connected and Global
Key Research Areas
• GNSS/GPS
• Remote Sensing for Resource Management
• Applications of GIS
• Close Range Photogrammetry
• Cartography and Geovisualisation
• Climate change impact and adaptation
• Community response and resilience to disasters
• Land Administration
• Two research centres in the Discipline:
– Satellite Positioning for Atmosphere, Climate & Environment (SPACE)
Research Centre
– Professor Kefei Zhang
– Centre for Remote Sensing and GIS
– Professor Simon Jones
GNSS/GPS Research
SPACE Research Centre
(satellite positioning, navigation and tracking)
• Smart mobility & object tracking
Miniaturised, high precision, GPS monitoring
systems
Breakthrough in sport coaching & training
Indoor positioning/tracking
Robotic control in difficult environments
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
• Space and debris tracking
GNSS/surveying/geodesy
 POD, in-space service,
 debris surveillance & collision warning
 SLR, SKA, VLBI
theory and algorithms
SKA
• GPS atmospheric modeling for
– precise positioning
– space weather studies
– Weather forecasting, climate
change/monitoring, climatic hazards
– Environment both space and earth
22-Nov-2010
Kefei Zhang (RMIT University)
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Satellite-Based RO for Atmospheric
Sounding in the Australian Region
From: http://www. gfz-potsdam.de
From http://geodaf.mt.asi.it
The research investigates space-borne and ground-based radio occultation techniques,
atmospheric sounding technologies and their fusion.
This research is dedicated to developing superior national capabilities in anticipating,
analysing and investigating critical meteorological threats to Australia.
Positive impacts for weather broadcasting model (NWP) and climate monitoring have
been demonstrated
22-Nov-2010
Kefei Zhang (RMIT University)
23
Remote Sensing Research
Components measured within
a forest NVC assessment
large old
trees and
canopy
health
tree canopy
cover / health
patch size &
connectivity
(neighbourhood & core
area)
Logs / CWD
organic litter
understorey life
forms diversity
and cover
recruitment of
woody species
lack of weeds
Remote Sensing for Natural Resource Management
Ground based hyperspectral validation
Crop stress / climate change assessment
790 nm (NIR)
670 nm (red)
Thermal
Forest Structure assessments…
NativeLIDAR
vegetation condition assessment
Continuous waveform LiDAR &
IR-imager
Habitat surveys
Sensor network
Calibration
Laser Scanning/Heritage
Documentation Research
Laser Scanning –
United Arab Emirates
• David Silcock,
• Colin Arrowsmith,
• Lucas Holden
• + students
Student Recruitment
Student Enrolment (2014)
• Undergraduate
–Surveying
–Geospatial Science
205 students
78 students
• Postgraduate (coursework)
–Masters
35 students
• Research (HDR)
–Masters
–PhD
5 students
22 students
• We also deliver service teaching to other Schools in the fields of Surveying,
GIS, Remote Sensing, Geography and Environmental Sustainability
Commencing Students – continued good news
2007 2008 2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Surveying
24
26
28
42
36
48.5
69
Geospatial
Science
18
16
27
23
21
20.5
38
48
25
Carto
11
16
12
Total
53
58
67
65
57
69
107
73
• Second highest in recent memory; placements are improving
• These figures measure student load (our funding base)
• 2013 includes 20 articulating from TAFE into Year 2
• 11 articulated in 2014
• Most first year classes in 2014 have over 70 students
RMIT University©
Surveying and Academia
Complicating factor
Not enough Rachel’s
• 7 female students (2 surveying) in a
first year class of 70
• Targeted scholarships not attracting
much attention.
RMIT University
Surveying Taskforce
• From 1st year questionnaire (2012):
– 53% had seen “a life without limits” website
– 25% had watched the DVD
– 10% had seen the Taskforce at career events
– 50% of commencing students in Surveying had done
work experience in the industry
RMIT University
Summary
• RMIT has a strong base for producing technicians and
professionals for the future
• Student numbers solid (but small by university standards)
• “Surveying” now a very strong brand (most undervalued
discipline in one journalistic report)
• Trending upwards on many measures (including student
satisfaction)
• Support from industry is really appreciated and crucial to
the success of our programs
• Always opportunities for greater engagement with
industry, particularly in research and project activity
RMIT University©
Surveying & Academia
And that’s
Surveying @ RMIT
Thank you!
donald.grant@rmit.edu.au