Geomatics:

Geomatics is a field of activity that uses a systematic approach to integrate all means of capturing and managing spatial data required for scientific, administrative, legal, and technical operations involved in the production and management of spatial information. These activities include, but are not limited to, cartography, control surveying, digital mapping, geodesy, geographic information systems, hydrography, land information management, land surveying, mine surveying, photogrammetry, and remote sensing.

A summary of the hours necessary for graduation is as follows:

I.University Core Curriculum 48

II.Foundations Required for the Geographic Information Science Program

III.Core Required for the Geographic Information Science Program

IV.Geomatics Emphasis

Courses:

• GISC 2350 FIELD CAMP I
  • A one-week field camp with intensive field data collection and computations. Traversing between control points. Digital contour data and leveling control. Detail spatial data by total station. Construction set out using total station and steel band. Taken during the sophomore or junior year.
  • Prerequisite: GISC 2470.
• GISC 3412 PLANE SPATIAL MEASUREMENT II
  • Principles and reduction of observations and errors in spatial measurement. Techniques of horizontal and vertical angle measurement for precise positioning. Trigonometric heighting and vertical staff tacheometry. Setting out of structures. Design and computation of horizontal and vertical curves.
  • Prerequisite: GISC 2470.
• GISC 4320 HYDROGRAPHY
  • Introduction to offshore and inshore hydrographic mapping. Tidal datums and their computation. Review of hydrographic and nautical charts. Electronic position finding and bathymetric data collection. Echo sounding, side scan sonar. Seafloor mapping and underwater locating. Beach (combined land and hydrographic) mapping.
  • Prerequisites: GISC 2470 and MATH 2413.
• GISC 4326 GEOMATICS PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
  • An intensive one-week summer course presented by practicing geomatics professionals covering many of the aspects of operating a professional surveying practice in the State of Texas. Topics cover surveyor responsibility and liability, the surveyor in court, standards of practice, surveying mathematics, Texas coordinate system, celestial observations, and project control.
  • Prerequisite: GISC 2350.
• GISC 4350 FIELD CAMP II
  • A one-week field camp undertaking projects in cadastral, engineering, hydrographic, and geodetic positioning. Reduction of digital field data to produce final plans and reports. Taken during the senior year.
  • Prerequisites: GISC 3412, GISC 2350.
• GISC 4371 HISTORY OF TEXAS LAND OWNERSHIP
  • History of land and legal systems in Texas, including influences by Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and the State of Texas. Nature of land development in Texas. History of surface and mineral land tenure in Texas. Evolution of principles of land ownership boundary determination in Texas.
  • Prerequisite: GISC 4410.
• GISC 4410 CADASTRAL MAPPING AND RECORDS
  • Land ownership recording systems used in Texas and U.S. Investigation and research for artificial and natural boundaries. Title searches at county court house, title plants, and the Texas General Land Office. Other sources for cadastral research. Riparian and littoral boundaries. Boundary marking and preparation of cadastral plans. Metes and bounds descriptions. Writing field notes. Urban and rural cadastral issues. Use of coordinate systems in cadastral mapping.
  • Prerequisite: GISC 3412.