Diploma in Geomatics Engineering Technology

The Geomatics Engineering Technology program will provide you with extensive practical skills combined with a broad theoretical background to acquire tools and techniques used in land surveying, remote sensing, cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), global navigation satellite systems (GPS), photogrammetry, geography, and digital mapping.

To succeed in the program, you will need to be comfortable with mathematics and enjoy working with computers and instrumentation. In addition, you must be a good team player, have good communication skills, and enjoy working outdoors.

This diploma program is two years in length, consisting of four 15-week semesters.

The program accepts students into the first semester in September.

Accreditation

This program is nationally accredited, at the technologist level, by the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) and Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC). Graduates are eligible for certification by the Alberta Society of Surveying and Mapping Technologies (ASSMT) and the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals in Alberta (ASET).

Transfer Options

The opportunity to advance your education through transfer to, within or from SAIT is available with the following universities and colleges:

• Athabasca University
• British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
• Memorial University of Newfoundland (The Marine Institute)
• NAIT
• SAIT
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of Calgary

Students who enjoy mathematics, are comfortable using computers and instrumentation will experience more success in this program. Additionally, the ideal candidates are methodical and pay attention to detail, have good work ethics and communication skills. Successful students can think visually about geometric forms and can appreciate details in drawings and objects.

Contact time with instructors in lectures and labs is about thirty hours per week. The average student is expected to spend about an additional twenty-five hours per week on assignments, studying, and projects.

A career in Geomatics Engineering Technology typically includes both office and fieldwork. Depending on a student’s particular career path the proportion of office and field exposure can vary significantly. In the GNT program, students are exposed to fieldwork that simulates field activities.

Additionally, the ideal candidates are methodical, and pay attention to detail, have a good work ethic and communication skills. GNT graduates will often work in teams of various sizes. In the GNT program, many courses require working in teams for projects or lab assignments. This requires good communication and interpersonal skills.

Graduates may pursue job opportunities in land surveying, mapping, energy exploration and production, civil engineering and construction, geographic information systems (GIS), mining and natural resources and all levels of government.

Potential positions include:

• surveyor
• mapping technologist

Related careers include:

• geomatics engineer
• engineering design and drafting technologist