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.
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‡ENGL 109 or ENGL 129R must be completed with a grade of 65% or higher. See the Overview of Academic Plan Requirements section for the Faculty of Environment if you fail to meet this requirement.
*Theme courses can be counted towards a specialization.
Geomatics Four-Year Honours Requirements (Regular and Co-op)
Year One
GEOG 101 Human Geographies: People, Space and Change
GEOG 102 Global Environmental Systems: Processes and Change
GEOG 181 Designing Effective Maps
GEOG 187 Geospatial Data Science
GEOG 281 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
ENVS 178 Environmental Applications of Data Management and Statistics
One of:
ENGL 109‡ Introduction to Academic Writing
ENGL 129R/EMLS 129R‡ Written Academic English
One of:
CS 115 Introduction to Computer Science 1
CS 135 Designing Functional Programs
One of:
CS 116 Introduction to Computer Science 2
CS 136 Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction
One of:
MATH 106 Applied Linear Algebra 1
MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Science
Year Two
GEOG 310 Geodesy and Surveying
GEOG 381 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 387 Spatial Databases
CS 234 Data Types and Structures
ENVS 278 Applied Statistics for Environmental Research
One of:
GEOG 293 Approaches to Research in Human Geography
GEOG 294 Approaches to Research in Physical Geography
One of Earth Systems Science* theme:
GEOG 201 Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 209 Hydroclimatology
One of Economy and Society* theme:
GEOG 202 Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 203 Environment and Development in a Global Perspective
Climate Change* theme:
GEOG 207 Climate Change Fundamentals
One elective
Recommended Elective:
CS 231 Algorithmic Problem Solving
Year Three
GEOG 271 Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing
GEOG 371 Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques
CS 338 Computer Applications in Business: Databases
One of:
GEOG 316 Multivariate Statistics
GEOG 318 Spatial Analysis
Six electives
Year Four
GEOG 471 Remote Sensing Project (1.0 unit)
GEOG 481 Geographic Information Systems Project (1.0 unit)
One of:
GEOG 490A/GEOG 490B Honours Thesis (1.5 units) and three electives (1.5 units)
or
Six electives (3.0 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 courses or MATH courses as appropriate for a Computing Option or other credential
Other electives, where appropriate prerequisites have been taken
Co-op students, see note 3 below
Notes
- Minimum Required Units
Total: 20.0 units. Geomatics Plan: 13.5 units (9.5 GEOG, 2.0 CS, 1.0 ENVS, 0.5 ENGL/EMLS, 0.5 MATH). 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 (CS) and Mathematics (MATH) courses are included in the cumulative overall average (see note 2).
- Average Requirements
Students in the Geomatics Honours academic plans must maintain an overall cumulative average of at least 65%, a Computer Science and Math cumulative average of at least 60%, and a major cumulative average of at least 70%. All required courses must be passed.
- Co-op Requirements
Co-op plan requirement details are stated in the Environment Academic Regulations section of this Calendar.
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 (if space is still available in the co-op plan) 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.
- Per Term Course Load Allowance
No more than five courses (2.5 units) may be taken in a term without the approval of the associate chair, undergraduate studies, Geomatics. Normally, approval for a sixth 0.5 unit will be considered only if the cumulative major average is 78% or higher.
- Transfer Students
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).
- General Information Applicable to all Faculty of Environment Plans
The Environment Academic Regulations section of this Calendar contains information, regulations, and requirements pertaining to undergraduate studies within the Faculty. It is students' responsibility to familiarize themselves with the content of this section.
A number of Faculty of Environment options, minors, and diplomas are available. A list along with requirements are outlined under the Faculty of Environment Academic Enrichment Opportunities section in this Calendar.