This page is UNDER DEVELOPMENT (last update Jan 20 2006).

The University of Arkansas offers some 30 courses at the undergraduate level that provide a solid foundation for professional practice and advanced education in the arena of geomatics. These courses are offered in the departments of Geosciences, Civil Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Math and Bioengineering.

We have selected the term geomatics to encompass these various offerings.

The definition of geomatics is evolving. A working definition might be "the art, science and technologies related to the management of geographically-referenced information." Geomatics includes a wide range of activities, from the acquisition and analysis of site-specific spatial data in engineering and development surveys to the application of GIS and remote sensing technologies in environmental management” (see http://surveying.mentabolism.org/geomatic.htm for this and other definitions).

Terms used by others to cover aspects of the offerings include “GIS”, GI Science”, “geospatial technologies,” “surveying”, “geodesy,” “remote sensing,” "photogrammetry", etc. In addition to encompassing some or all of these topics our understanding of the term is somewhat more expansive, including aspects of public policy, business, etc. the graphic below illustrates a sense of this relationship.

Graphic is in pdf format.*

Course offerings:

We have prepared four “flow charts” to illustrate recommended and required offerings in this area. These flow charts reflect the current (2006) UA catalogue copy. Essential courses are shown in yellow boxes, possible courses in blue. Catalogue required prerequisites are shown with large linked arrows and recommended sequences are shown in light blue. Not all students will desire to take all courses and each student should discuss the specifics with their advisor.

Note that different structures are presented for a student wishing to receive a degree:

• in computer science with an emphasis in geomatics (course graphic 1*)
• in geosciences with a strong quantitative focus in geomatics (course graphic 2*)
• in geosciences with basic quantitative skills in geomatics. (course graphic 3*)

The current graduate offerings are shown here. (course graphic 4*).

*All images are downloadable pdfs, a free viewer is available at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html