Geomatics
Geomatic Engineering is the study of the science and technologies of 3D measurement, mapping and visualisation. It is one of the fastest growing IT industries in the world today.
This course provides the opportunity to acquire skills in modern, sophisticated technologies such as the global positioning system (GPS), three dimensional computer visualisations, geographic information systems (GIS), surveying, and satellite and photographic image processing.
Course Planning for a Geomatics Major
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Environments are limited to 125 points of 100 level (1st year) subjects. Students must complete at least 75 points worth of 300 level (3rd year) subjects, including at least one 300 level breadth subject. Students will need to be mindful of this when course planning.
In order to complete a major in Geomatics, you will need to undertake the following subjects:
1st year level
- 880-101 Natural Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
- 880-102 Reshaping Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
- 620-156 Linear Algebra (taken as breadth) (Sem Summer, 1 or 2)
- 620-159 Data Analysis 1 (Sem 1)
2nd year level
- 451-217 Applications of GIS (Sem 1)
- 451-237 Surveying and Mapping (Sem 2)
- 451-238 Residential Field Course (Sem 2 – Intensive)
3rd year level
- 451-352 Programming Geomatics Applications (Sem 1)
- 451-351 Imaging the Environment (Sem 1)
- 451-342 Integrated Spatial Systems (Sem 2)
- 451-350 Land People and Sustainability (Sem 2)
- 451-353 Computational Methods in Geomatics (Sem 2)
Students should familiarise themselves with the Bachelor of Environments Course Structure.
Breadth information for Geomatics major
The Melbourne Model aims to produce graduates who are trained in a particular discipline (depth) as well as knowledgeable across disciplines (breadth). The breadth component of the new degrees aims to build multiple competencies in students by exposing them to different ways of knowing through cross-disciplinary learning and teaching.
In the first year of the Bachelor of Environments, students planning to undertake a Geomatics major will need to complete 620-156 Linear Algebra as a breadth subject. If you have not completed VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 with a study score of 27+, you will need to complete further 100 level mathematics studies. Please refer to the sample course plans provided below for information on how to complete these required subjects.
The other first year breadth subject can be any 100-Level subjects from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science as well as the University Breadth Subjects and the non core subjects available as breadth.
In the second and third years of the Bachelor of Environments, students will choose their major field of study and they must choose breadth studies that contrast with their major. The eleven major areas of study are grouped into four clusters based on the types of knowledge they represent: scientific, socio-cultural, design and business.
For example, a student taking a scientific major such as Geomatics will take breadth studies that contrast with the scientific way of knowing, such as commerce, languages, politics, arts, music and design. Due to the Geomatics major falling under the scientific category, students are not permitted to take maths, science, technology or engineering subjects as breadth.
A search engine of breadth subjects available to Bachelor of Environments students may be found here. Some students may also choose to take breadth study from within the Bachelor of Environments as long as these subjects come from a different cluster to their major area of study – see breadth elective subjects for a list of approved subjects.
Environments Electives
Bachelor of Environments students will undertake 37.5 (3 subjects) of Environments electives within their degree. A list of possible Environments Electives can be found here.
* Available in 2010
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 1 with Specialist Maths 3/4 (study score of 27+)
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
Mapping Environments 880-106 (recommended) | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Applications of
GIS 400-207 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Residential Field
Course 451-238 |
Surveying and Mapping 451-237 |
Data Analysis 1 620-159 | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Programming Geomatics Applications 451-352 | Imaging the Environment 451-351 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Integrated Spatial Systems 451-342 | Land People and Sustainability 451-350 | Computational Methods in Geomatics 451-353 | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 1 with Maths Methods 3/4 (study score of 25+)
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
880-106 Mapping Environments (recommended) | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Applications of GIS 400-207 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Residential Field
Course 451-238 |
Surveying and Mapping 451-237 |
Data Analysis 1 620-159 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Programming Geomatics Applications 451-352 | Imaging the Environment 451-351 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Integrated Spatial Systems 451-342 | Land People and Sustainability 451-350 | Computational Methods in Geomatics 451-353 | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 1 with Maths Methods 1/2
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Introduction to
Mathematics 620-173 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Natural Environments 880-101 | 880-106 Mapping Environments (recommended) | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Applications of
GIS 400-207 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Residential Field Course 451-238 | Surveying and Mapping 451-237 |
Breadth | |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Programming Geomatics Applications 451-352 | Imaging the Environment 451-351 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Integrated Spatial Systems 451-342 | Land People and Sustainability 451-350 | Computational Methods in Geomatics 451-353 | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Geomatics
Sample course plan for students commencing mid-year with Specialist Maths 3/4 (study score of 27+)
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 | Mapping Environments 880-106 (recommended) | Linear Algebra 620-156 | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Natural Environments 880-101 | Applications of GIS 400-207 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Surveying and Mapping 451-237 | Residential Field Course 451-238 | Data Analysis 1 620-159 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Programming Geomatics Applications 451-352 | Imaging the Environment 451-351 | Bachelor of Environments Elective |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Integrated Spatial Systems 451-342 | Land People and Sustainability 451-350 | Computational Methods in Geomatics 451-353 | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Geomatics
Sample course plan for students commencing mid-year with Maths Methods 3/4 (study score of 25+)
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 | Mapping Environments 880-106 (recommended) | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural Environments 880-101 | Applications of GIS 400-207 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Surveying and Mapping 451-237 | Residential Field Course 451-238 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Data Analysis 1 620-159 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Programming Geomatics Applications 451-352 | Imaging the Environment 451-351 | Breadth |
Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Integrated Spatial Systems 451-342 | Land People and Sustainability 451-350 | Computational Methods in Geomatics 451-353 | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
How to Study Geomatics
Students pursuing a career in Geomatics will complete the Bachelor of Environments with a major in Geomatics, followed by the two-year Master of Engineering (Geomatics). The five-year Bachelor-Masters combination leads to professional accreditation by Engineers Australia and the Institution of Surveyors, Australia.
Careers and Graduate Outcomes
The field of employment for Geomatic engineers is very diverse. Some graduates join firms specialising in land management and development and become licensed surveyors – the only people able to perform surveys for land titles. Many join organisations that operate on a broader front in Geomatic Engineering including land and resource management, environmental remote sensing, surveys for engineering construction, surveys to detect structural deformation and hydrographic surveys for dredging operations.
For more information about the Master of Engineering and graduate careers, please visit the Melbourne School of Engineering website.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact the Environments Student Centre on:
Ph: 8344 6432 | 8344 6417 | 8344 8150
Web: envs-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au
Visit: Environments Student Centre
Ground Floor, Old Commerce Building
University of Melbourne