REPORT ON CARTOGRAPHIC EDUCATION IN OCEANIA

(Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea)
2004

Dr. David Fraser
Co-vice Chair Education and Training Commission, International Cartographic Association
Tuesday, 8 June 2004

Report from Australia for the International Cartographic Association, CET Commission meeting, joint seminar (Education - New Tasks) with the Commission on Theoretical Cartography and the Lithuanian cartographers and geographers, Vilnius, Lithuania, 28-29 June, 2004


Australia is the largest contributor to cartographic education in the region but there is vital input from both New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Many education programs include cartography, GIS, photogrammetry and remote sensing as key courses and some provide majors in these discipline areas. Curtin University in the State of Western Australia and the RMIT University in the State of Victoria, Australia, are the only two remaining bachelors degree programs devoted to cartography.

Provided below is a breakdown of cartography and mapping science related programs available in the region.

Institution

Faculty

Programme

Degree

Australian Defence Force Academy

School of Civil Engineering

Arts - Geography

B A

Canberra Institute of Technology

Engineering and Resource Sciences

Surveying & Mapping.

GIS

Remote Sensing & Photogrammetry

Certificate;

Diploma;

Advanced Diploma;

Central TAFE - Leederville Campus

Western Australian School of Mining, Engineering and Construction

Surveying ( Survey Assistant );

 Surveying and Cartography;

 Cartography;

 Engineering and Mine Surveying ;

 

Certificate II;

Certificate IV;

Diploma:

Advanced Diploma

Curtin University of Technology

School of Spatial Sciences

Cartography  (Honours);

GIS 

(Honours);

Surveying 

(Mine and Engineering Surveying);

Associate Degree in Mine Surveying

 (Honours)

Postgraduate

GIS;

Remote Sensing and Land Information;

Surveying and Mapping;

 

Associate Degree;

B Sc

M Sc

PhD

Grad Cert

Grad Dip

P’Grad Dip

TAFE NSW

 

Spatial Information Services;

GIS;

Surveying;

Certificate II, III, IV;

Assoc. Dip;

Diploma;

TAFE Tasmania

Engineering

Computer Aided Drafting;

Spatial Information Systems;

 Surveying and Mapping;

Certificate IV;

Diploma;

RMIT University

School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences

Cartography 

Geomatics 

Surveying 

Land Data Management;

Urban Development; 

 

B App Sc;

Grad Cert:

PG Dip;

M App Sc;

PhD;

 

University of Queensland

School of Geography, Planning and Architecture

Geographical Information Systems

 

Grad. Cert;

P’Grad Dip;

Masters

Charles Sturt University

School of Environmental and Information Science

Spatial Information Systems (Honours);

GIS & Remote Sensing;

Geographic Information Science;

Bachelor;

GCGIS;

GDipGIS;

Masters;

University of New South Wales

School of Geomatic Engineering

Geomatic Engineering 

 

Bachelor;

PGDip;

Masters;

PhD

University of Newcastle

School of Engineering

Surveying 

 

Bachelor;

PGDip;

Masters

University of Sydney

School of Geosciences, Division of Geography

Geography

Bachelor

(Honours)

Queensland University of Technology

School of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Surveying

Surveying

Bachelor

University of Southern Queensland

Faculty of Engineering and Surveying

GIS 

Surveying

Geomatic Studies (GIS, Surveying)

Bachelor

Grad Dip

University of Adelaide

The National Key Centre for Social Applications of GIS (GISCA)

Spatial Information Science

Grad Cert.

Grad Dip.

Masters

University of South Australia

School of Natural and Built Environments

Geoinformatics and Surveying (Hons);

Geographic Information Systems (& IT);

Geoinformatics

 

 

Assoc Degree;

Bachelor

Master

PhD

TAFE Tasmania

Engineering

Computer Aided Drafting;

 Surveying and Mapping;

Cert. IV

Diploma

University of Melbourne

Department of Geomatics

Geomatics; 

GIS;

Geomatics Science;

Information Technology (Hon);

Geographic Information Technology;

Bachelor

Master

Dip

Grad Dip

PhD

University of Western Australia

School of Earth and Geographical Sciences

Geographic Information Systems

Grad Dip.

 

 

 

 

University of Otago

Department of Surveying

Surveying 

 

Bachelor

DipGrad

PG Dip Sc

Masters

PhD

University of Auckland

School of Geography and Environmental Science

Geographic Information Studies and Spatial Analysis

PG Dip in Sc.

Papua New Guinea University of Technology

Department of Surveying and Land Studies

Surveying Cartography

Land Studies

Land Administration

 

Certificate;Diploma;

Bachelor;

PG Dip;

 

Information for the above table was primarily sources from the following website:

Australasian Surveying and Mapping Education Web Directory  http://www.cage.curtin.edu.au/~asmla/ed/

Further details for these courses and other cartography courses from around the world, can be found at http://lazarus.elte.hu/cet/undergraduate/index.htm. Thanks go to Dr. Laszlo Zentai, Chair of the ICA Commission on Education and Training, for the establishment of this valuable resource. Your input is welcomed to help keep the information at the website up-to-date. 

CAREER PROSPECTS

Employment prospects for cartographer in Oceania cover a wide and varied field. Graduates are involved in developing geographic information systems, designing tourist guide publications, interpreting remotely sensed satellite images, producing topographic and base maps, compiling street directories, operating desktop mapping packages and developing computer mapping systems. They are employed by many private  organizations, local government and State and national mapping authorities, exploration and mining industries, environmental mapping agencies, and private mapping and town planning companies..

 

MAPPING SCIENCES

Professional Organisations in Australia, 2004

 

The members of professional organisations representing individuals and companies involved in the mapping sciences in Australia have decided to combine together and to be represented by the one professional body called the Spatial Sciences Institute. This change will impact on cartographic education in Australia and hopefully will provide new opportunities for the industry. 

 

The following text has be extracted and modified from information available at the Spatial Sciences Institute website  (http://www.spatialsciences.org.au/index.asp).

In April 2003, the members of the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia (MSIA); the Australasian Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (AURISA); the Institution of Engineering and Mining Surveyors Australia Inc (IEMS); the Institution of Surveyors, Australia (ISA) and the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Association of Australasia (RSPAA) voted to become founding members of the Spatial Sciences Institute.

The Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) is the national body combining the professional disciplines of mapping, surveying, engineering & mining surveying, remote sensing & photogrammetry and spatial information. The national structure takes advantage of economies of scale and standardised administrative procedures. Service delivery, however, especially Continuing Professional Development, remains at the regional level to ensure the needs of members are best understood and met.

There are no barriers to membership of the Institute, but all members must adhere to SSI’s Code of Ethics. Members will not be required to hold an academic qualification. However, training, qualification and experience will be recognised and rewarded through formal certification.

The Spatial Sciences Institute represents the professional interests of people who specialise in the spatial disciplines and Communities of Practice that use spatial information to complement and support their business operations or personal activities. Some of the people represented come from the:

Spatial disciplines - surveying, geographic information systems, mapping sciences, remote sensing, global positioning systems, photogrammetry; and

Communities of Practice - land administration, natural resource management, emergency management, forestry, agriculture, defence, marine environment, local govt, health, education, tourism, transport and many more.

The SSI recognises that the Australian and global communities can improve and become more efficient, safer and healthier places to live with the help of spatial sciences applications and services.

 

Education

According to the Spatial Sciences Institute documentation the following aspects of the Institutes activities relate to education. 

 

• SSI will promote and contribute to “spatial literacy” activities across all school-based curriculum

• SSI will have a strong presence at careers days and orientation weeks at relevant universities and tertiary institutions

• The tertiary education sector will recognise the role of spatial sciences in everyday life

• SSI will maintain the lead role in the Spatial Sciences Education and Skills Formation Advisory Committee

• SSI will maintain representation on our industry sector Industry Training Advisory Board (ITAB)

• The term ‘spatial literacy’ will be understood and used by the education sector

• Continuing Professional Development will be recognised by the spatial sciences community as an inherent attribute of the SSI

 

International Relationships

According to the Spatial Sciences Institute documentation the following aspects of the Institutes activities relate to international professional groups. 

 

• SSI Commissions will be recognised by international professional groups as representing Australia in their area of interest, and will participate in their activities

 

By June 2006, SSI members will:

• Have access to on-going CPD programs across all regions and commissions

• Have access to a certification program that is recognised as a valuable addition to their professional standing

• Receive a suite of publications that are interesting, educational, informative, and which promotes innovation

• Participate in regular forums to network and share ideas and experiences

• Recognise the biennial conference as the premier spatial science event

• Access a diverse range of seminars and other events reflecting their business interests and professional disciplines

• Have access to services that meet the particular needs of under-represented groups , including women, young professionals , senior and retired members, Para-professionals, non core users of spatial information services and those in remote localities

 

OTHER MAPPING SCIENCES - PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN OCEANIA

ˇ       Australian Map Circle

ˇ       Map Traders Association

ˇ       Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia

ˇ       PNG Institute of Cartographers

ˇ       New Zealand Cartographic Society (Contact: IgorDrecki igor@envbop.govt.nz)

RESOURCES

MAPPING SOFTWARE IN COMMON USE IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN AUSTRALIA

ESRI products, MapInfo, CorelDraw, Corel Photopaint, Microstation, AutoCAD, Flash, DreamWeaver, MacroMedia Flash

SUMMARY COMMENTS

Cartographic training in Oceania is undertaken through Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges (or equivalent) where student gain skills which allow them to produce the maps required in the region. Students obtain a certificate, diploma, associate diploma or advance diploma on graduating.

 

Cartographic education in Oceania is undertaken through the advance college (AC) stream at a University. Students leave the course equipped to manage cartographic project and to provide future direction for the industry. Students obtain a Bachelors degree and can do an honours year. Higher degree options are available as Master by Coursework, Master by Research and PhD.

 

There is usually an articulation agreement to allow student to move from one sector (TAFE) to the other (AC).

Upon successful completion of an undergraduate or postgraduate course, graduates are academically eligible for admission to a number of professional organisations including the Spatial Sciences Institute.

Cartography graduates are employed in a diverse range of industries. Some specific organisations that employ cartography graduates are presented at the following website,  http://www.gs.rmit.edu.au/courses/c-mp3.htm.

Cartography and cartographers will always be in demand but each will gradually change from year to year. Our challenge as cartographers is to make sure that our profession does not lose its clear definition in the midst of the technological and professional changes we face now and in the future. 

 

For further information please contact:

Dr. David Fraser

Co-Vice Chair – ICA Commission on Education and Training

MSIA Education and Training Program Manager

School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences

RMIT University

Tel +61 3 9925 3265   Fax +61 3 9663 2517

David.fraser@rmit.edu.au