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 plan includes 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 plan 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.
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:
- 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:
Total of 5.0 units
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:
- 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:
- Electives totaling 0.5 unit
Total of 5.0 units.
Note: Courses used towards a theme can also be counted towards a specialization.
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:
- Electives totaling 3.0 units
Total of 5.0 units
Year Four
- GEOG 471 Remote Sensing Project (1.0 unit)
- GEOG 481 Geographic Information Systems Project (1.0 unit)
- One of:
- Option one:
- Option two:
- Electives totaling 3.0 units
Total of 5.0 units
Recommended Electives
Co-op students, see Note 3.
Notes
- Minimum Required Units
-
Total: 20.0 units
- Core requirements: 13.5 units
- Minimum units at or above 200-level: 13.5 units
- Average Requirements
- Minimum cumulative major average of 70% (all ENVS and GEOG courses);
- minimum cumulative special average of 60% (all CS and MATH courses); and
- minimum cumulative overall average of 65% (all courses).
- Co-op Requirements
For details see the Environment Overview of Co-op Plan Requirements 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 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.
- General Information Applicable to all Faculty of Environment Plans