Geomatics Student

What You'll Learn

Oregon Tech will give you the skills to be a land surveyor and/or geospatial professional by teaching you how to use high-performance geographical equipment and systems to analyze the great outdoors of Klamath Falls. At Oregon Tech, the study of Geomatics combines theory, problem-solving, and field work to train students for an exciting career.

The location of the Klamath Falls campus provides great conditions to survey and analyze the Earth around us because of the approximate 300 days of sunshine year-round and includes unique arrangements of physical features and slope differences.

The Geomatics program has two options for students to specialize in: Surveying or Geographical Information Systems.

Students who choose the Surveying Option will:

  • Use computer systems and equipment to find and define property lines in the City of Sunshine
  • Plan out subdivisions to make creative and effective designs
  • Map boundary limits, learn how to write deed descriptions relative to property boundaries, and more

The land surveying option prepares students to pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) examination and pursue licensure as a registered Professional Land Surveyor (PLS).

Students who choose the GIS Option will:

Students who choose the GIS Option will:

  • Map and geodatabase topology
  • Learn how to program functions and procedures into geographic information systems
  • Study the Earth's shape, learn how to project 2D and 3D maps onto its surface, and more

The GIS option will prepare students to become certified geographic information systems professionals.

All students learn the professional responsibility of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and become aware of global and cultural issues related to their discipline.

Student Computer Recommendation

Applicants for both the Surveying and GIS options should review the computer requirements listed further on this page to ensure their systems are compatible. Students will often need to use their laptops to access the software needed to complete course assignments and labs.

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists will employ 29% more people than are employed right now by 2024, which is much faster than average. (bls.org)

Geomatics faculty, worked in conjunction with Sky Lakes Wellness Center to develop a model to identify health concerns within Klamath Falls using a web mapping system to communicate spatial variation in disease incidence.


Geomatics Students
Image
Oregon Tech Graduates Win National Surveying Competition

Two Oregon Tech Geomatics Graduates Win National Surveying Competition

Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) Geomatics graduates Michael Ness and Cameron Smith have been selected by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) as the 2020 NSPS Student Project of the Year winners.

Mapping a Healthy Future for Klamath Falls

Geomatics faculty, worked in conjunction with Sky Lakes Wellness Center to develop a model to identify health concerns within Klamath Falls using a web mapping system to communicate spatial variation in disease incidence.

 

Accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission o

Accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Geomatics - Surveying Option, BS.

The departmental faculty advise students. View the list of academic advisors.

If a student is unsure who their assigned academic advisor is, please contact the department chairperson or the Academic Advising office below.

Admissions

1st Floor, College Union

Jobs and Careers in Geomatics

Today, geomatics professionals use an integrated approach to measuring, analyzing and managing spatial data, employing high-tech equipment like Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), digital photogrammetry, digital total stations, satellite and terrestrial remote sensing to create a detailed but understandable picture of the Earth's natural and constructed features.

Oregon Tech’s curriculum prepares students for employment and licensure. Oregon Tech Geomatics students can apply for the Civil Engineering Cooperative Program (CECOP) for two 6-month internships during their junior year.

A sampling of where our graduates work:

Oregon Department of Transportation
Bureau of Land Management
ESRI
Aspen GIS
Rhine-Cross Group
Klamath Falls
Jeff Maloney
Student, Class of 2025
“It is never too late to learn/earn a degree. I was in the Wildland Firefighting profession for over ten years and loved what I did. As fire season got longer and fires got more dangerous, I decided it was time to change my profession instead of "riding it out" for another 20 years to retirement. It has been a great experience to meet other like-minded individuals who are doing something similar, as well as being a good influence on younger students.”
100%
Employed
$65,590
Medial Annual Salary (2020, bls.gov)

Courses

Students have one-of-a-kind opportunities for projects in their courses. Geomatics students have been asked to find and define property lines in town, survey new territory like rivers and canals and create needed maps for purposes like emergencies and events.

Geomatics majors typically take courses in:

  • Field Surveying
  • Computer Programming
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Satellite and terrestrial remote sensing

The program also offers coursework in the more traditional areas of surveying, including boundary law, construction surveying, and computer-aided drafting.

View the Program Requirements