Geomatics is the fusion of geography and informatics activities and services involved in the collection, analysis, management, and integration of location-based data to enable improved decision and policy making. The Geomatics program will include courses in geographic information systems, remote sensing global positioning and surveying, spatial statistics, and computer science. The computer science component will give graduates the strongest advantage in the field of Geomatics. Students completing this program will be able to go beyond the competent use of existing Geomatics tools to develop applications involving spatial database development and management, data dissemination, spatial analysis, decision support, and modeling.
The requirements are as follows:
The 40 course (20 units) degree requirements for the Geomatics plan will require a core of 25 courses (12.5 units). Degree requirements common to all Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) academic plans are outlined in the Academic Plans section for the Faculty of Environment. The 25 Geomatics plan core courses include: 18 Geography courses, two (2) Environmental Studies (ENVS) courses, four (4) Computer Science courses, and one (1) Mathematics course.
Legend:
‡ ENGL 109 or ENGL 129R must be completed with a grade of 65% or higher. Please see the English Language Proficiency Requirement section for the Faculty of Environment if you fail to meet this requirement.
Geomatics Four-Year Honours Requirements (Regular and Co-op)
Year One
GEOG 101 Geography and Human Habitat
GEOG 102 Geography and Our Planetary Environment
GEOG 187 Problem Solving in Geomatics
GEOG 281 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
ENVS 178 Introduction to Environmental Research Methods
One of:
ENGL 109‡ Introduction to Academic Writing
ENGL 129R‡ Written Academic English
One of:
CS 115 Introduction to Computer Science 1
CS 135 Designing Functional Programs
One of:
MATH 106 Applied Linear Algebra 1
MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Science
Two Electives
Year Two
GEOG 271 Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing
GEOG 310 Geodesy and Surveying
GEOG 387 Spatial Databases
ENVS 278 Advanced Environmental Research Methods
CS 234 Data Types and Structures
One of:
CS 116 Introduction to Computer Science 2
CS 136 Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction
Students must take at least one course from each of the two following specializations:
- Earth Systems Science: one of GEOG 201, GEOG 209
- Development and Environment: one of GEOG 202, GEOG 203
Two Electives
Year Three
GEOG 371 Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques
GEOG 381 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
CS 338 Computer Applications in Business: Databases
One of:
GEOG 293 Professional and Scholarly Practice in Geography
GEOG 294 Approaches to Research in Physical Geography
One of:
GEOG 316 Multivariate Statistics
GEOG 318 Spatial Analysis
Five Electives
Year Four
GEOG 471 Remote Sensing Project (1.0 unit)
GEOG 481 Geographic Information Systems Project (1.0 unit)
One of:
Electives to fulfill degree requirements
GEOG 490A/B Honours Thesis (1.5 units)
Recommended Electives
GEOG 410 Global Navigation Satellite Systems
GEOG 483 Geoweb and Location-Based Services
GEOG 487 Management Issues in Geographic Information Systems
CS or MATH courses as appropriate for a CS Minor
Other electives, where appropriate prerequisites have been taken
Co-op students, see Note 5 below
Notes
- Minimum Required Units
Total: 20.0 units. Geomatics Plan: 12.5 units (9.0 Geography, 2.0 Computer Science, 1.0 Environmental Studies, 0.5 Mathematics). All courses for which 1.0 units are awarded will count as the equivalent of two courses. All units designated Geography (GEOG) and Environmental Studies (ENVS) are included in the cumulative major average. All Computer Science and Mathematics courses are included in the cumulative overall average (see note 3).
- Course Load
No more than 2.5 units may be taken in a term without the approval of the Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies). Normally, approval for a sixth 0.5 unit will be considered only if the cumulative Geomatics average is 78% or higher.
- Average Requirements
Students in the Geomatics Honours Academic Plans must maintain an overall cumulative average of 65%, a Computer Science cumulative average of 60% and a Major cumulative average of 70%. All required courses must be passed.
- Materials and Costs
For some courses, extra fees may be required to cover field expenses/travel costs, e.g., GEOG 391. Statements on extra costs, where required, will be found with the course descriptions.
- Honours Co-operative Academic Plan
Honours Geomatics Co-op is a five work term Academic Plan in which four satisfactory work-term reports must be written.
Co-op students in the Faculty of Environment are required to complete a minimum of four Professional Development (PD) courses. PD1 and PD2 are mandatory. PD1 must be taken prior to the first work term and PD2 during the first work term.
Professional Development 2 (PD2) requires the submission of a written report. Successful completion of PD2 will be considered one of the four required work-term reports.
Other than PD1, PD courses are normally taken during Co-op work terms. Students are encouraged to take a Professional Development course each work term until the requirement is met.
The first work term occurs in the winter term of the second year.
- Enrolment in Honours Geomatics Co-op
Students are admitted to the Co-op Academic Plan in first year based on secondary school grades. Interested students enrolled in first-year Regular Geomatics at the University of Waterloo may be considered for admission to any remaining Co-op positions at the end of first year based on university academic performance, an interview and work experience related to Geomatics.
The Honours Geomatics Co-op Plan has the same course requirements as the Honours Regular Plan.
- Transfer Courses
It is possible for non-Geomatics students to apply for admission to Year Two. Advanced standing may be obtained through the transfer of courses/units from other Academic Plans and Institutions. Normally, advanced standing will not be granted to transfer students beyond the Year-One level (10 courses/5.0 units). All transfer students are required to complete a minimum of two full academic years before being eligible for graduation.
- Restriction on Number of First-Year Courses
For a four-year Honours degree a student must have at least 13.5 units at or above the 200-level.
- Double Counting Courses
Students may double count courses, i.e., once for the Geomatics Plan and one additional count for a joint honours or concurrent degree, specialization, minor, option, or diploma unless otherwise stated.