Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Education for surveyors: a vision for the 21st century
    WILLIAMSON, IAN ; Leahy, Frank ; HUNTER, GARY ( 1994-03)
    The history of surveying in Australia over the last two hundred years has shown the surveyor to have played many roles besides that of solely measuring features on the earth’s surface. These include those of engineer, planner, land manager, land valuer, environmental manager and land developer. What has given the Australian surveyor a competitive edge over other more narrowly defined professions, is the fact that surveyors have always possessed a balance of fundamental skills in measurement science and land management. It should be noted however, that surveying education has taken many different directions in the same period, often being more influenced by overseas trends and models rather than the needs of the practising Australian surveyor - even though the role of the surveyor in the broader community in Australia has not changed to a great extent over the last two hundred years. This paper discusses the historical perspective of surveying education in Australia and draws distinctions between local and international trends. It presents a vision which recognises the surveyor’s primary role is the measurement and management of spatial data in the broadest sense. The vision is based on maintaining a balance between measurement science and land management, on retaining a strong scientific foundation to the discipline but above all else remaining flexible in today’s ever changing world. The paper illustrates this vision by describing the programs at the University of Melbourne.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Educating Surveyors for the Next Century-Issues and Strategies
    Leahy, Associate Prof Frank ; Willimson, Prof Ian ( 1991)
    In designing a degree course for surveyors which will serve their needs in the next century, there are many issues to be addressed. Firstly, the changing requirements of the community regarding professorial skills required from the surveyor need to determined and then translated into appropriate academic courses. Secondly, the ongoing dilemma in surveying education concerning the dichotomy between emphasing land management and land related issues, and the science and technology of surveying, must be addressed. Thirdly, the subject streams must be designed so, that they reflect current developments in technology and the underlying sciences.This paper reviews the vision of the surveying degree programs at The University of Melbourne and discusses some 0: the strategies in addressing the above issues. In particular, the paper reviews the market for surveying skills in the next century, considers the land measurement and measurement science dichotomy, summaries major considerations in designing a land surveying program for the next century and examines how subject or discipline streams should be designed. In this regard it examines the integration of fundamental theory and applications as a logical sequence throughout the course. Finally, the paper indicates how an undergraduate program can be designedto interface with a range of graduate programs from graduate diplomas through to doctoral studies.