The future of the geomatics profession and where we fit in by Altus Strydom, Geo-Spatial Consulting Abstract For years now the geomatics profession has been bombarded with a changing environment, volatile business cycles as well as new technology and equipment. Just when you think you have mastered a technique, something new crops up. Just think how it must have felt for the old surveyors who graduated with log books and then had to start using calculating machines. Imagine handwritten property documents and hand-drawn maps and diagrams. Currently, the geomatics profession feels threatened, but is it really? This paper will take a step back and look at the positive side of the profession, try to give some direction to the future of the profession, and answer some of the questions being asked. Keywords geomatics, survey, GIS, future of the profession, new technology, career opportunities, geomatics act Introduction In a developing country like South Africa, we quite often debate which professions our children should follow. A lot of people in the geomatics profession will tell their children not to follow in their footsteps, because it is too difficult to make a living. Ironically, it is one of the few professions where there is always a shortage of personnel and to study in a geomatics profession practically ensures that you will get work, whether here or abroad. Questions that need to be answered or quite often crop up in discussions are: Is there really not enough work, or are we just not looking in the right place what are we doing wrong? What opportunities exist in the geomatics profession? Is the geomatics profession still a profession, or are we just technicians? Is the profession a sustainable profession and is there a future and a career in the profession? Are we as geomaticians really doing our best to make it a successful career opportunity? What can we do to better our standing in the community? Are geomaticians still professionals? In 1987 Roger Sinclair published a book called Marketing in practice for the professions. It was written by a South African, but the phenomenon is global. In it he makes the following statements regarding the changing attitude of clients: Increasing sophistication, rising levels of knowledge and growing concern about value for money are causing increasing numbers of clients to: Question the value of professional services Question the judgment of practitioners Shop around for second opinions Adopt self-help approaches In the Geomatics field, the above attitude is aggravated by advances in computer technology and sophisticated equipment which again add to the do it yourself, give me your best price or off the rack attitude of clients. The result of the above is that the professional: Does not automatically enjoy venerated status anymore. Is regarded as just another vendor of services. Cannot really supply a product that is superior to his competition. 51
The above are facts, and we must work our way around it. What is the attitude of the South African geomatician? Current feelings in the profession Is it: Apathy Arrogance Tunnel vision Or Enthusiasm Excitement : Absence of emotion or enthusiasm : We know what we are doing and you will accept it as is : This is what we do we specialise in one thing : I like my work, enjoy it and am proud of it : There are new exciting developments in the profession I was not sure and then went to our SAGI Annual General Meeting with some of the questions. The Northern Provinces branch consists of 298 paying members and 188 persons attended the AGM. In a question and answer session, questions such as the following were asked: What are the positive aspects of the geomatics profession, what works in our favour? There were 14 different positive catch phrases: A geospatial background open doors We possess scarce skills Spatial knowledge creates work The profession has a good understanding of the geospatial world based on good education in geospatial matters Can use advances in technology, considered experts in field Professional standards set Professional business growth Job satisfaction Well paid Using cutting edge technology Possess scarce technical skills Pride of accurate and tangible results Educate community True profession What works against the profession and what factors negatively impact on the profession? There were not many negative comments about the profession itself, but the following was recorded: Factors that we cannot really control Technology unregistered person can do work Slow/no payment from clients Expensive technology Exchange rate Crime Corruption Politicians make appointments and not pros Inflation Economy business cycles no development Cost of technology and start up Social and political environment Labour laws Lack of economic growth Market expectations Undercutting SPLUMA legislation stops development Failure of municipalities 52
Factors that we can control or should be able to control Unregistered operators as per the Geomatics Act Mentorship for young professionals Education - Quality of education and inadequately qualified students; - Lack of institutional knowledge and interpretation of complex legislation at local government and government departments; - Geomatics Council cannot keep high level of academic standards required because of poor education; - Inadequate practical training. From the above it appears that persons who work in the profession feel quite positive about themselves, but there are other factors beyond their control that negatively impact the profession. If we look at the negative parts, it appears that it is not necessarily industry related, and my personal opinion is that you must live with it and work your way around it. We still think that it is a profession and that technology is there to assist us. What is Survey and GISc In order to proceed, I would like to confirm the basis of our profession for people that are not acquainted with it. In its broadest sense, the term surveying encompasses all activities that measure and record information about the physical world and the environment. The term is often used interchangeably with geomatics, which is the science of determining the position of points on, above or below the surface of the earth. A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data. What is the role of the geomatics profession? To measure the natural environment and represent it in a mathematical environment. This includes inter alia: To create and identify property and determine what real rights (servitudes, mining rights, proclamations, future planning) affect the property and define the boundaries of the cadastral parcel of land affected. To supply accurate data from below, on and above the ground for design purposes. To assist the construction process by setting out and monitoring of civil works and structures. To supply up-to-date as-built plans after construction. To use this data to supply solutions to spatial data users. Which act controls the profession? The Geomatics Professions Act 19 of 2013 (previously the Act 40 of 1984) regulates the profession. In terms of this act there are different categories of surveyors and GISc professionals who must be registered with the South African Geomatics Council before they can practice as surveyors and GISc practitioners. To find information regarding survey, visit www.plato.org.za. It appears that the new act is a good step in the right direction, where the geomatics profession will be clearly identified with certain boundaries and if someone overstep these boundaries there will be consequences. Please note that the new Geomatics Council is still in the process of being formed and the old website is still active. 53
Fig. 1: What our world looks like. In demand All spheres of government, engineers, project managers, architects, planners and various other professionals need up-to-date spatial data for decision making, registration of property, land management, design, construction and hundreds of other purposes. A registered Geomatician is the person qualified to provide this. This can be a surveyor (cadastral, engineering, mining), photogrammatrist, hydrographer and GISc profession. With our background knowledge and skills we can therefor fit in anywhere in the world where spatial data is required. Other Professions Consulting Engineers Architects Town Planners Project Managers PUBLIC Government Parastatals Corporations Central Provincial Municipal Eskom Transnet Sasol Petro SA Fig. 2: Where our work comes from. What positive effects do new equipment and software have on the industry? Traditionally, we used levels, theodolites, total stations and paper-based information systems to do our work. These were tedious, labour intensive and time consuming tools which added to the impression that we are experts in our fields and that our work is difficult. All have now been complimented by or replaced with highly effective equipment which includes GPS, robotic total stations, and 3D terrestrial, mobile and airborne scanners. With technology it is also now possible to connect new equipment with other data gathering devices, such as ground penetrating radar, infrared scanners, heat detection equipment, cameras, echo sounders, and many more. Some of the equipment can be mounted on ground, water, under water and air-based vehicles which increase the opportunities for work. Remotely piloted vehicles including aircraft (UAV or drone) and motor vehicles are the latest exciting new tools in the toolbox. GIS software has developed to the extent that it can now be used by managers, planners and decision makers, and not only by specialised geomaticians. 54
Geomaticians must embrace and realise this, and not see it as a threat but as an opportunity to generate new business opportunities. Where can we find new opportunities? New equipment and advances in software opened up new facets of data gathering that were impossible, very difficult, or time consuming before. Typical examples are: GPS: This technology changed the world. Imagine Google Street View or photo control in the middle of Africa without this. Terrestrial 3D scanners: Think about the impossibility of surveying the inside of a powerplant without this. Terrestrial 3D mobile systems: This an excellent example of a combination of equipment (GPS, IMU, scanner, camera) mounted on a vehicle. RPV: Imagine the possibilities of surveying unreachable sites like vertical walls or dangerous terrain without remotely piloted vehicles. GIS software: Imagine the City of Joburg managing their land information system without it. The point I am trying to make is that there are thousands of opportunities out there, we must just go and find them. What can we (the members) do for the profession? Some of the answers provided at the AGM work session in catch phrase format were: All geomaticians to advertise the profession Better communication to members Better participation in SAGI activities Profession to be more active in community Generate social media presence Profession must sell itself better Market the profession in our offices and to the public Set high personal standards and be an example Employed Geomaticians: More technical in-house meetings on relevant topics Employ registered persons Start inter-governmental relation groups Assist inter-departmental training SAGI focus areas affected were professional development, education, marketing and communication. The way forward Geomatics is a fantastic profession which covers a very wide spectrum. We have the background to do this effectively and we must capitalise on this. Why must engineers do scanning? New technology opens up new opportunities and we must capitalise on this, because we have the know-how and basic training. Embrace new technology it is there and if you do not do it somebody else will. We must think about the opportunities and re-position ourselves in the communities where we work. We, as a profession, must realise our potential and start marketing ourselves and the profession again. Make sure that we are the best. In this regard we must pressurise government for better tertiary education. We have to acquire new skills. Other professions in competition with us are doing it at an alarming rate. SAGI has embarked on an action plan with the following focus areas: Professional development Education Marketing Communication Contact Altus Strydom, SAGI, altus.strydom@telkomsa.net 55