Definition

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• Geomatics engineering is rapidly developing

Geomatic Concept
Dr Mohd Effendi Daud
University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering
discipline that focuses on spatial information (i.e.
information that has a location).
• Geomatics engineers apply engineering
principles to spatial & implement relational data
structures involving measurement sciences, thus
using GEOMATICS and acting as spatial
information engineers.

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GEOMATICS <----> GEOMATICS <---->

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SURVEYING
• Geomatics is a new term incorporating the
older field of SURVEYING along with many
others aspects of spatial data management.
– Following the advanced developments in digital
data processing,
– Information with a spatial position associated with
it becomes more critical to decision-making,
– Both from a personal and a business perspective,
– Also from a community and a large-scale
governmental viewpoint.
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SURVEYING
• Therefore, the geomatics engineers can be
involved in an extremely wide variety of
information gathering activities and
applications.
• Geomatics engineers design, develop, and
operate systems for collecting and analyzing
spatial information about the land, the
oceans, natural resources, and manmade
features.

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 GEOMATICS <---->
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SURVEYING
• Geomatics engineering applications include
integrating science and technology from both
new and traditional disciplines:
– Geodesy, also called geodetic science,
– Cartography, computer & digital mapping,
– Remote sensing, photogrammetry,
– Hydrography,
– Surveying,
– GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and
– GPS (Global Positioning Systems)
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Definition of Geomatic
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• “matic” is drawn from either
“mathematic” or “information”,
indicating that geomatic employs a
methodical and technical approach to
developing information about earth
features.
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Definition of Geomatic
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• Geomatics is an “umbrella” term for a
cluster of activities and technologies
dealing with the locations and identities of
earth features.
• “Geo” represent “geography” - the art
and science of developing and interpreting
graphical representations of the earth.
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Definition of Geomatic
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• Geomatic measurement can be defined
as:
“The science and art of making all
essential measurements in space to
determine the relative positions and
points or physical detail above, on, or
beneath the earth’s surface and to
depict them in usable form, or to establish the
position of points or details”.
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 Overview
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• Land Surveying
– Is a traditional name applied to measuring
features directly in the field with tools such
Areas in Geomatic theodolites, tapes, electronic meters,
levels, and level staff.
– A common use of surveying today is to
Dr Mohd Effendi Daud map site in advance of a design for a
University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia facility to be constructed.
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering – Other applications are for locating land
boundaries and setting stakes to guide
construction.
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Overview Overview
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• Photogrammetry • Remote Sensing

– Is the science of measuring from photos as
opposed to direct field measurements. Most
photogrammetry is done with aerial photos
taken from an airplane with a precise
mapping camera.
– Most topographic maps are made by
photogrammetry today.
– Is a general term about gathering
information about an object from a far-
removed sensor.
– In common usage, the term remote
sensing applies to the acquisition and
analysis of satellite imagery.
– Mapping satellite orbit the earth and sense
the surface with a scanner, sending the
sensed images to earth for further analysis.

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 Overview Overview
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• Geodesy • The Global Positioning System (GPS)

– Is the term applied to the study of earth’s size
and shape. It is a highly mathematical and
scientific study of the earth’s gravity field
along with methods of positioning the latitude
and longitude of points.
– Is a navigational system that uses a
constellation of satellites that were initially
designed and launched by the defense
department.
– Civilian uses of GPS are for hunting, fishing,
and vehicle navigation.
– Precise surveying is done by GPS.

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Overview
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• Geographical Information System

(GIS)
– Is a collection of computer hardware and
Types of Geomatic
software used to house and analyze digital Measurement
maps of the terrain along with information
about the mapped objects.
Dr Mohd Effendi Daud
– Most government agencies have set up GIS
unit within the past several years involving University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
large public expenditure and geomatic Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering
expertise.
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 Types of Geomatic Types of Geomatic
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Measurement www.uthm.edu.my
Measurement

• Geomatic measurement or Surveying has to • The actual survey measurements must be

do with the determination of the relative
spatial location of points on or near the
surface of the earth.
• It is the art of
– measuring horizontal and vertical distance
between objects,
– measuring angles between lines, of determining
the direction of lines, and
– establishing points by predetermined angular and
linear measurements
followed up with some mathematical
calculations.
• Distances, angles, directions, locations,
elevations, areas, and volumes are thus
determined from the survey data.
• Geomatic data is portrayed graphically by
the construction of maps, profiles, cross
sections, and diagrams.

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Types of Geomatic
Measurement
Plane Surveying
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• Geomatic measurement can be generally • Simplifies the survey in that it treats the
divided into two types: surface of the earth as a flat plane.
– Plane Surveying, and • The purpose of this kind of assumption is to
reduce the complexity in the subsequent
– Geodetic Surveying processing of the survey data.
• This simplification of the earth does have an
indirect effect for larger projects.
• In such type of surveying, the effects of
earth curvature is neglected.

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 Geodetic Surveying
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• Encompasses the determination of the size

and shape of the earth and its gravity field.
• Calculation are much more elaborate because Branches in Geomatic
the surface upon which the measurements
are being made and reduced is a curved Measurement
surface.
• Required for large scale projects where the Dr Mohd Effendi Daud
effects of the earth curvature are critical. University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Surveying with GPS requires the engineer to
think in a geodetic surveying mode.
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Branches in Geomatic
Topographic Surveys
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Measurement www.uthm.edu.my

• Either plane or geodetic can be classified by • The uses of topographic survey are for:
their purpose as follow: – Engineering design,
– Navigational,
– Topographic Surveys
– Recreational,
These are surveys where the physical features – Geographical,
of the earth are measured. Maps and plans – Geological,
can be prepared to show their relative – Military, and
positions both horizontally and vertically.
– exploration
Depending upon the size of the survey, they
can be geodetic or plane. The map or plan produced in topographic survey
Has scales ranging from 1:25,000 to 1:1,000,000
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 Branches in Geomatic
Engineering Surveys
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Measurement www.uthm.edu.my

• Engineering Surveys • Some common uses of engineering surveys

These embrace all survey works required are for:
before, during and after any engineering – Architectural work,
works. Before any works are started, large – Building work,
scale topographical maps or plans are used as – Civil engineering works,
a basis for design. – Town surveys, and
– Highway surveys.
• Typical scales range used in this type of
survey are from 1:50 to 1:50,000

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Branches in Geomatic
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Measurement www.uthm.edu.my

• Cadastral Surveys
This kind of survey is specially done for Units in Geomatic
locating the boundaries of fields, houses,
property lines, calculation of areas of land Measurements
properties and preparation of revenue maps
for the state authorities. Cadastral surveys are
Dr Mohd Effendi Daud
plotted to a larger scale than topographical
University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
survey.
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering

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 Unit in Geomatic
Distance Units
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Measurement www.uthm.edu.my

• The standard unit for distance measurements is

• The major quantities measured in meter (m).
geomatic are distances and angle. • Distance measurements are recorded in multiple
• These are obtained by using the surveying units such as kilometers (km) or sub units of
instruments and recorded in some meter such as centimeters (cm) and milimeters
(mm).
measurement units;
• The following conversion factor must be used:
– Distance Units – 1 km = 1000 m
– Angular Units – 1 cm = 0.01 m
– 1 mm = 0.001 m

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Distance Units Angular Units

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• Areas are recorded in square metres (m2).
• In cadastral surveying, the area be
recorded in hectares (ha) when it exceeds
1000 square metres.
• The following conversion factor can be
used;
– 1 ha = 10000 m2
• Degree, Minute, and Second
– It is commonly used system for angular
measuring instruments and for calculation in
engineering and surveying.
– In this system 360 degrees make up a circle,
60 minutes make a degree and 60 second
make a minute.
– Example: 13°36’12”

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 Angular Units
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• Decimal Degrees
– Are the decimal equivalent of degrees, Scales in Geomatic
minutes and seconds.
– Most scientific calculators calculate
Measurements
trigonometric functions of angles expressed
as decimal degrees. Dr Mohd Effendi Daud
• Example: 360° = 360° University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
1’ = 1/60 = 0.017°
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering
1” = 1/60x60 = 1/3600 = 0.0003°
13°36’12” = 13° + 0.6° + 0.0033° = 13.6033°

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Scales in Geomatic Scales in Geomatic

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Measurements www.uthm.edu.my
Measurements

• The scale of a map or plan is the ratio of • The preferred scales for used with the
the ground length to the map or plan metric system are:
length. – Large scale : 1:1000 000 to 1:50 000
• A scale 1:1000 indicates that one meter – Medium scale : 1:10 000 to 1:1000
on the plan represents 1000 m on the – Small scale : 1:500 to 1:50 or larger
ground.
• Small scale surveys cover large areas.

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 Exercise 1 Exercise 2
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• Give the exact definition of Geomatic?
Discuss briefly the various disciplines in
Geomatic.
• Explain the difference between Plane
Survey and Geodetic Survey with respect
to geomatic measurement.
• What is the significant difference between
topographic survey and engineering
survey in terms of their uses and scales.

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Exercise 3
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• What is the equivalent value of 20

hectares in square meters?
• Convert the angular units of 30°35’15” to
decimal degrees.
• A town map with the scale 1:15000 is
considered as what kind of map scale?

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