Oregon Institute of Technology Department t of Geomatics A GIS Degree That Merges GIS with Surveying Presented By Presented By John A. Ritter, Ph.D. Oregon Institute of Technology
Presentation Objectives 1. Acquaint you with the Oregon Institute of Technology and specifically with the GIS degree options within the Geomatics Department at OIT 2. Discuss the uniqueness of these degree offerings 3. Outline the Next Steps intended for the program
Timeliness of GIS Degree Option GIS is one of 127 occupations cited for demonstrated growth potential by the US Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration i ti (April, 2009) GIS emphasis areas of interest: Geospatial database creation/maintenance Remote sensing Precision agriculture Homeland security Urban planning Resource management http://www.onetcenter.org/overview.html
Timeliness of GIS Degree Option The overall employment of surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying and mapping technicians is expected to increase by 21 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition Opportunities will be best for surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists who have a bachelor s degree and strong technical skills. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos040.htm#emply
About OIT OIT is one of 7 Schools in the Oregon University System (OUS). Eastern Oregon University Oregon Institute of Technology Oregon State University Portland State University Southern Oregon University University it of Oregon Western Oregon University OIT is located in Klamath Falls, OR; within the Klamath hydrologic basin an environmentally significant location
About OIT Student body of approximately 3200 Only public institution of technology in the Pacific Nortwest Average student t to faculty ratio of 15:1 98% graduate placement rate
About OIT Major areas of focus: Engineering Civil Computer Hardware/Software Electrical Geomatics Manufacturing Mechanical Renewable Energy Systems Health Technologies Nuclear Medicine Pre-Nursing/Med/Vet / Vascular Ultrasound Applied Sciences Applied Mathematics Environmental Science
The OIT Geomatics Department BS Degree in Geomatics Surveying Option GIS Option GIS Minor also available Frequently used by majors in Environmental Science The goal of the Geomatics degree/surveying option is to prepare students for professional licensure and professional practice. Active involvement with industry partners. Participation in real world projects. GIS Service Center (1997) Senior practicum (1948) Emphasis on hands-on lab work. All faculty have a minimum of 10 years of industry experience prior to teaching at OIT.
The OIT Geomatics Department The OIT Geomatics Department is the only ABET accredited professional surveying degree program in Oregon and Washington 60% of cadastral surveyors for U.S. Bureau of Land Management are graduates of OIT s surveying program
OIT GIS Degree Option Courses have been maturing/evolving i since 1996; initially part of Environmental Sciences program Courses transferred to Geomatics Department in 2006 to form GIS degree option ESRI Virtual Campus courses employed as focused segments within courses
OIT GIS Degree Option Uniqueness of the OIT GIS Option The OIT GIS option provides graduates with a strong fundamental background in surveying technology/methods/theory Provides a symbiotic relationship between surveying and GIS options. Integration of surveying and GIS more fully prepares students for the expanding discipline
OIT GIS Degree Option Uniqueness of the OIT GIS Option Course work/examples closely related to recent, and/or current contract work Fire District tax assessment mapping Road Atlas construction City Sewer CAD/GIS conversion and attribution 911 applications
OIT GIS Option Student Projects OIT is located in close proximity it to several local, state, and federal agencies desiring GIS products This close proximity and working relationship results in several opportunities for student GIS projects
OIT GIS Option Student Projects Individual and/or senior projects enable students to delve into complex issues and analysis techniques
OIT GIS Option Map Competition First place in Student/Cartography division at 2009 InterMountain GIS Conference
OIT GIS Option Map Competition First place in Student Division at 2009 GIS In Action Conference
The OIT Geomatics Department Next Steps for the OIT GIS option Intent to offer Master s s degree in GIS, beginning in the Fall term of 2010 Eventual tracks available Quantitative analysis Database development/mobile GIS Programming/Web Applications
OIT GIS Option Curriculum Map Intro to GIS Geog Info Sys Map & Compass/ GPS VB Programming Raster Analy I Vector Analy I GPS/GIS Data Integ Programming I Linear Algebra Vector Analy II Mobile GIS Photogrammetry Raster Analy II Geodatabases MS Access Programming II Web Appl Quantitative Analy GIS Mgmt