Geomatics Engineer
Geomatics engineers gather, model, analyze, and manage information that is identified according to its location (spatially referenced data).
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Avg. Salary $100,575.00
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Avg. Wage $51.38
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Minimum Education 4 years post-secondary
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Outlook N/A
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Employed 8,300
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In Demand Medium
Also Known As
Geodetic Engineer, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Engineer, Geospatial Engineer, Photogrammetric and Remote Sensing Engineer, Professional Engineer, Remote Sensing Engineer, Surveying Engineer
NOC Codes
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
- 2006 NOC: Civil Engineers (2131)
- 2006 NOC-S: Civil Engineers (C031)
- 2011 NOC: Civil engineers (2131)
- 2016 NOC: Civil engineers (2131)
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
42%
42%
Average Wage
Starting
Overall
Top
Average Wage
| Starting | $37.83 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $51.38 |
| Top | $73.33 |
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Certification Provincially Regulated
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Interest Codes
The Geomatics Engineer is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Civil Engineers
- INNOVATIVE
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Interest in synthesizing information to conduct research in order to determine project requirements, to develop construction specifications and procedures, and to conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses, municipal and regional traffic studies, environmental impact studies and other investigations
- OBJECTIVE
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Interest in precision working to conduct technical analyses of survey and field data for development of topographic, soil, hydrological and other information; in conducting field services for civil works; and in monitoring air, water and soil quality and developing procedures to clean up contaminated sites
- DIRECTIVE
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Interest in supervising technicians, technologists and other engineers; and in overseeing land surveys and construction work, in approving survey and civil design work, in evaluating and recommending building and construction materials, in approving designs, calculations and cost estimates, in ensuring that construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations, and in establishing and monitoring construction work schedules
Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2018
Geomatics engineers use sensors on the ground, in the ocean, in the air, and on satellites to gather data. They use this data to develop information systems. These systems are suitable for land-use planning and landscape analysis. For example, they may acquire and integrate data for:
- spatial referencing networks for environmental monitoring
- deformation analysis
- legal boundary delineation
- precise engineering surveys, scientific studies, and topographic mapping
- real-time and post-mission data acquisition in support of positioning and navigation
- developing and implementing geographic information systems (GIS) and software.
Geomatics engineers use measurement-related technologies such as:
- global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)
- inertial navigation systems (INS)
- airborne (manned and unmanned) and space-borne photography
- ground-based and airborne laser scanning systems (LiDAR)
- multispectral data collection and analysis
- industrial metrology
- computer hardware, software, firmware, and related data-acquisition system interfacing
- electronic distance, angle and height measurement and calibration
- digital cartography and global information systems (GIS)
- unmanned vehicles for survey and data collection.
The data collected is made available through various means. These can include digital data repositories, conventional maps, GIS, or attributed co-ordinate lists.
Geomatics engineers may specialize in several different areas.
Geodetic engineers are global surveyors who help to:
- establish a global net of reference points by satellite and other extraterrestrial positioning methods
- design and develop real-time geospatial information systems
- determine the geoid (the basic reference surface for heights) from gravity and satellite altimetric measurements
- monitor movement in the earth’s crust and measure variations in the shape and gravity field of the earth
- establish positions and water levels on the sea using satellite and radio positioning methods.
Land surveyors plan, direct, and carry out legal surveys. They try to find the location of boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features and understand them. To learn more, see the Land Surveyor occupational profile.
Navigation and positioning engineers:
- develop navigation systems such as GNSS, INS, and use these systems to position, navigate, guide, and control air, land, and sea vehicles
- design and write custom software to help various hardware systems work together
- develop user interfaces for navigation and guidance systems.
Photogrammetric and remote sensing engineers:
- use photographs taken on the ground, from aircraft and from space
- use other digital remote sensing techniques such as ground-based or airborne laser scanning systems to collect information about specific features of the earth
- direct the overall planning and development of mapping projects
- determine aerial photographic and remote sensing requirements
- determine the type of acquisition and plotting equipment to be used
- determine the aerial photography and remote sensing techniques and computer software needed to meet the required standards of accuracy
- create maps based on the information collected.
Geographic information systems engineers:
- organize different types of position-related information into consistent databases
- develop software and analysis tools for using this data in:
- urban planning and management
- resource exploration
- environmental management
- land use studies.
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2018
Geomatics engineers may work in offices and labs. They may also work in the field, often in remote areas. In general, survey technicians do the fieldwork for land surveyors. Experienced engineers tend to spend more time in office settings.
Fieldwork may involve operating off-road vehicles. It can also mean working in severe weather conditions. Engineers may have to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 20 kilograms.
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Skills & Abilities
Updated Mar 31, 2018
Geomatics engineers need to possess:
- math skills
- the ability to think logically and critically
- the ability to study spatial problems and measurements
- the ability to solve problems
- speaking and listening skills
- people skills
- the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
They should enjoy:
- being innovative
- doing precision work
- making decisions
- supervising others
- having variety in their work.
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2018
The minimum requirement is a 4-year bachelor’s degree in geomatics engineering.
Geomatics engineers must have an interdisciplinary background in:
- statistical analysis
- measurement processes
- cartography
- map projections
- information theory
- computer science and programming.
Required Education
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
University of Calgary
Related Education
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
Grande Prairie Regional College
Grant MacEwan University
Keyano College
Red Deer College
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2018
Engineer
Professional engineers design, construct, evaluate, advise, monitor and report on the performance of materials, equipment, systems, works, processes and structures.
Legislation
Under Alberta’s Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act [pdf], you must be a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) to practice as a Professional Engineer or engage in the practice of engineering. You do not have to register if you work under the direct supervision of a professional engineer and do not call yourself a Professional Engineer or use the word “engineer” in your job title.
What You Need
Registration as a Professional Engineer in Alberta requires successful completion of:
- A 4-year bachelor’s degree in a recognized engineering program and at least 4 years of acceptable work experience under the supervision of a Professional Engineer, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- A minimum of 3 acceptable references
- Successful completion of an approved examination in law, ethics and professionalism
A new Provisional Member category has been introduced. For official, detailed information about registration requirements, contact APEGA.
Working in Alberta
Engineers who are registered and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada are eligible for registration in Alberta if the 2 jurisdictions require similar responsibilities and competencies.
For more information, see What if I am already certified in another province or territory in Canada? and the APEGA website.
To learn about certification for internationally educated engineers, see Professional Engineer Registration Process.
Contact Details
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)
1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4A2
Canada
Call: 780-426-3990
Toll-free in North America: 1-800-661-7020
Email: email@apega.ca
Website: www.apega.ca
Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2018
Geomatics engineers work for:
- geomatics, survey, or mapping firms
- positioning and navigation companies
- engineering and other high-tech companies
- building or defense contractors
- petroleum and mining companies
- remote sensing companies
- geographic information companies and software developers
- computer graphics companies
- public utilities
- municipal, provincial, and federal departments.
Experienced geomatics engineers may move up to supervisor or administrator roles. Those with a sound technical background and good management skills have excellent prospects for advancement.
Geomatics engineers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2131: Civil engineers. In Alberta, 83% of people employed as civil engineers work in the following industries:
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services [pdf]
- Public Administration [pdf]
- Construction [pdf]
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
- trends and events that affect overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
- location in Alberta
- employment turnover (work opportunities that come up when people leave existing positions)
- occupational growth (work opportunities that come up when new positions are created)
- size of the occupation.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2018
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
- Low
- High
- Average
- Median
Starting
Overall
Top
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $23.60 | $61.62 | $37.83 | $33.49 |
| Overall | $34.38 | $73.02 | $51.38 | $49.79 |
| Top | $37.73 | $112.50 | $73.33 | $70.56 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Industry Information
| Public Administration | $106,551 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $100,575 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $97,760 |
| Manufacturing | $97,468 |
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
42%
42%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
26%
26%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
15%
15%
Vacancy Rate
4%
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2018
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) website: www.apega.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2018. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
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