Surveying and Geoinformatics as a course and a profession!

Are you an individual with the erratic conclusion that what a Surveyor does is only to measure a piece of land while appearing dirty, or you are totally adrift of knowledge of what they do?

Perhaps you a secondary school student or leaver thinking of choosing an exciting and lucrative professional career that would help secure your future?
Have you heard of Surveying and Geoinformatics before or has it ever crossed your mind or thought to be your dream career?
If yes, that's very good for you and if no, it's never too late.

Or are you the one that find yourself studying Surveying and Geoinformatics by accident; you don't like the course and still intend to change to "better" one. This piece is also for you.
Let's pause a bit, it is important to note that one of the greatest factors that contribute immensely to academic excellence is loving the course you studying passionately.

Now, to those interesting facts about the course/profession.

Surveying and Geoinformatics is one of the best courses and second oldest profession in the world; its application is virtually needed in all walks of life -it is the bedrock to any MEANINGFUL development.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a mistake or a slip of pad  that I wrote "all walks of life" Nah, its not, continue reading this piece and you will concur that I have said nothing but the veracious truth.

Simply put, Surveying is the measurement spatial features around us using mathematics, specialised technology and equipment. Surveyors measure just about anything on land, in space or on the ocean surface and bed. They even measure polar ice-caps
Geoinformatics is the science and the technology which develops and uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geography, cartography, geosciences and related branches of science and engineering with a view to providing dynamic solutions to them.

They are not just the fagged out field men you have drawn mentally; Surveyors work both in the office and in the field – from suits to boots.

The list of the fields that benefit from Surveying and Geoinformatics is endless, this  includes; Urban planning and land use management, In-car navigation systems, Virtual globes, Public health,
Local and National gazetteer management, Environmental modeling and analysis, Military,Transport network planning and management,
Agriculture, Meteorology and climate change, Oceanography (ocean dynamic and atmosphere modelling),
Business location planning,
Archeological and architecture reconstruction,Telecommunications, Criminology and crime simulation,
Aviation, Biodiversity conservation and maritime transport and many more so as not to bug you!

With all the afore listed, it noteworthy to say that Surveying and Geoinformatics is a very important technology to decision makers across a wide range of disciplines.

A well bred Surveying and Geoinformatics graduate that worth his grades fits perfectly into industries, commercial sector, environmental agencies,  government, research and academia, Surveying and Mapping Organisations, International Organisations (UN, ECOWAS etc), emergency services, public health and epidemiology.

He could also pitch his tent with experts in Crime control agengies, transportation and infrastructure, information technology industries, tourist industry, utility companies, market analysis and e-commerce etc.

Can you now imagine how multidimensional and multifaceted the course is, and also the multitudinous opportunities in the profession.

Or is it how exciting the profession is you wanna talk about where climbing the highest mountain, diving into the deep sea, flying up into space, writing programming softwares, scanning unknown caves, establishing your own company is all part of the profession.

Dear reader, with all these facts unleashed, am very sure you will truly agree with me that Surveying and Geoinformatics as a course and a profession is a great and exciting one; it's relevance cannot be underestimated to a sustainable national development. Hence, it goes beyond measurement of only land as many see it and Surveyors ain't bucolic neither bushy, rather they are smart, good looking, informed, enlightened and reputable people.

Thanks for reading and hope to see this piece projected and be given the very loudest publicity.

Adediran Elias Opeyemi,
Surveying and Geoinformatics Student,
University of Lagos.