
Geomatic vs Geospatial Engineering
What is the Difference?
Geomatics (including geomatics engineering), also known as surveying engineering or geospatial science (including geospatial engineering and geospatial technology), is the discipline of collecting, storing, processing, and providing geographical or spatially-referenced information. Geomatics is the science and technology of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, disseminating, and using geographical information (or spatially referenced). Geomatics also involves processing and conveying spatially referenced information. Technically, geomatics is the science and technology of collecting, manipulating, representing, and using space and geographical data (particularly earth-related data) in a digital form.
Geomatics refers to methods and technologies used for collecting, disseminating, storing, analyzing, processing, and representing geographical data. Geomatics is the art of collecting and governing information that is based on geography, while geographic information systems capture, store, analyze, and display geographic data. Geomatics is measuring, analysing, and controlling data related to land and built environments.
Geomatic engineers apply engineering principles to spatial information and deploy relationship data structures that incorporate the sciences of measurements, thereby using geomatics and acting as spatial information engineers. Geomatics engineers design, develop, and operate systems for collecting and processing spatial information on land features, natural resources (gravel, rock, other non-biological). Geomatics engineers employ a broad array of technologies, such as acoustics, lasers, satellites, and computer science, in applications related to geography, computer systems, law and commerce, land development and planning, and land surveying.
Geomatics uses software engineers in the preparation and management of the information systems, and ensures spatial data transmissions of the land dispositions and portions. Geomatics involves integrating geospatial technologies tools such as ground surveys, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), mapping, and remote sensing. Geomatics includes tools and techniques used in land surveying, remote sensing, mapping, geographical information systems (GIS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Compasses), photogrammetry, geophysics, geography, and related forms of land mapping.
Microgeomatics draws upon the geomatics knowledge in data storage, analysis, and the collection and transmission of spatial information. Geomatics technologies are used as an essential tool for the analysis of ecological information systems, as well as for the analysis of any natural resources. Geomatics is the general term to encompass all methods and tools, including mathematics, computers, and earth sciences, that range from data collection to dissemination.
Wikipedia says, geomatics is a similar used term that covers geoinformatics, but that geomatics is focused more so on geodesy. To better capture the breadth of knowledge used today, the terms geomatics, or geomatic engineering, are used to denote multiple technical disciplines used by surveyors, whereas GIS specifically refers to hardware, software, and databases which store layers of geographical data and allow users to access it. Geospatial is frequently expressed using U.S. terms, Canadians and people in France use the words geomatics and geomatique interchangeably, and many Germans just say GIS — it literally means geographic information sharing management system. In another context, the term GIS may also mean Geographic Information Science, referring to the science behind data structures and the computational techniques that enable geographical information systems to collect, store, and manipulate data.