Surveying

What to expect

Courses in surveying might be found under the ‘engineering and surveying’, ‘spatial sciences’, ‘geomatics’, or a range of other academic banners at different institutions, but the focus is nonetheless clear: ‘the determination and identification of the shape, contour, location and dimensions of land or water masses and their features, or planning and designing maps’ (says the official definition).

If the very last of these pursuits appeals, look at cartography. But this and the various ‘traditional’ surveying specialisations (cadastral, marine, mining) now sit alongside a host of other ‘geoinformatics’ sub-fields like geographic information systems, spatial information systems, global positioning, and photogrammetry, which all exploit high-level technology to collect, analyse, display and manage geographical and spatial information.

That’s one of the good things about the surveying field: technology knows no bounds here. Even cartography courses have enjoyed a facelift lately, with titles like ’multimedia cartography’ making it to some course lists.

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Getting a degree in surveying

Visit the University Ratings section for surveying course ratings.

Courses and specialisations

For what would seem quite a neat little field, there is a broad range of specialisations available in surveying. Some courses are quite transparent and are named specifically after one of the surveying fields (there are bachelor degrees in surveying and cartography, for example), but if a geomatics specialisation is your preference, you will often find it nestled in a general science, applied science, or even an IT degree.

It therefore pays to carefully research courses and available specialisations, as well as the different institutions offering the courses, so that you find the best fit for you.

Which course is for you?

Most courses in surveying will try and prepare students for the broad career options available to them in the different branches of surveying, and the various spatial information disciplines. Courses will typically cover general scientific and IT principles, in addition to the varied specialised surveying and spatial information topics.

Elective subjects are typically available to students in their third and fourth years of surveying degrees, allowing students to concentrate their learning and skills in the area(s) that most appeal to them. It therefore pays to do your homework and look carefully at the course structure and subject offerings of each of the courses and institutions you’re interested in.

Getting in

Entry to degree courses in surveying will usually require prerequisite subjects. In most cases these will be Year 12 maths (methods or specialist), and perhaps English. Non-Year 12 entry to surveying courses may require relevant employment or evidence of experience and/or the ability to satisfy the demands of the program.

On average, surveying courses are tough to get into. Entry difficulty is likely to vary between institutions and campuses.

Where to study

Courses in surveying are offered at university campuses across the country. Some courses focus on a specific area of surveying, cartography for instance, while the focus of other courses may be more broad. Some relevant specialisations may nestled in general science, applied science, or even IT degrees, so it pays to do your research and thoroughly investigate your options.

What to look for

Technology is a key ingredient in the surveying field. Universities throughout Australia are at the forefront of new technologies and most boast impressive facilities to support their innovative programs. Do your research to be sure the courses you’re considering will give you access to the best equipment and facilities.

Vocational experience is particularly important in this field. The best courses in surveying will provide a strong link between theory and practice and provide students with ample opportunities for practical work.

You should also check to ensure that the surveying courses you’re considering are recognised by the relevant professional association in your state, so that you’ll be able to meet the requirements for registration.

Careers for surveying degree graduates

Overall, career versatility is a key selling point in surveying according to the Institution of Surveyors, Australia who claim that, far from wandering the streets nursing a tripod and hammering pegs into the ground, modern surveyors ‘help police at crime scenes, they predict earthquakes, they use computer imaging and satellites to monitor environmental change, they map the ocean floor ... and of course, they tell you where your land ends and your neighbour’s begins’.

It is unlikely that you will have much knowledge of what jobs in surveying are actually like. It may be useful, then, to try to talk to someone who currently works in the field. You could also check out the Institution of Surveyors Australia website .

According to the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey, 2008 graduates in this field were satisfied with the teaching quality in their course, but not as happy with their overall course experience. Unemployment rates are low, with only 9 per cent of graduates still looking for work several months after completing their studies. Around 71 per cent of surveying graduates in 2009 found jobs in private industry, 13 per cent went
into private practice and a further 11 per cent went into the public sector. Starting salaries are another attractive feature; salaries for graduates in 2009 were in the top bracket, at $53,932.

For more information

For more information contact the Institution of Surveyors Australia .

Other fields of study likely to appeal to someone interested in surveying include sciences (especially earth sciences), agriculture , architecture , built environment , environmental studies , and engineering .

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