Geo-informatics and Surveying

Brief Information of the Department

The Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, University Nigeria is one of the earliest departments established in the University. It is one of the present four departments in the Faculty of Environmental Studies. The Department offers a standard five-year programme of study leading to B.Sc. Degree in Geoinformatics & Surveying which meet the standards of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) and the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC). The department runs postgraduate programmes namely: postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master of Science (M.Sc) and PhD in various areas of Geoinformatics and Surveying.
The Department also offers service courses (theory and practice) to other Departments in the Faculty including the Departments of Architecture, Estate Management and Urban and Regional Planning.

Philosophy

Geoinformatics and Surveying is a professional discipline which is designed to produce manpower for geospatial data acquisition and database management for the production of appropriate geospatial information in various forms including cadastral plans, and site plans; updated cadastral, topographic and thematic maps and charts; earth’s terrain and water level models, and various other geospatial reports, diagrams, and perspectives.  It also involves multiple applications of these to different areas including environmental monitoring and control, physical planning and development, civil engineering design and construction, distribution of utilities, military operations, archaeological and geological operations, and general political, economic, agricultural, population, fiscal and  land administration.

Objectives

The programme objectives include the training and production not only of professional Surveyors registerable by the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON), but also of Geodesists, Hydrographers, Cartographers, as well as Photogrammetrists, Remote Sensing and GIS experts, Database Analysts, Managers and Administrators. These professionals are required by numerous local, national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGO) and agencies involved in land, ocean and space administration research including studies on population, transportation, telecommunication, navigation, etc.

Scope

The programme harnesses appropriate knowledge of Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Electronics, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, and Law to prepare the students adequately to meet the challenges of professional practice and specialist training in Land Surveying, Mining Surveying, Hydrography, Oceanography, Cartography, Geodesy, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Navigation. Â The programme is carefully structured to reflect adequately these areas of knowledge.

Admission Requirements

There are two modes of entry into the programme subject to the candidate satisfying the University minimum entry requirement.
Applicants for admission through UME must be holders of Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC) or its equivalent with five credits including Mathematics, Physics and English Language, who have taken the University Matriculation Examination (UME) and obtained acceptable score.
For admission by Direct Entry (DE) candidates must have one of the following qualifications:
(a) Passes in Mathematics and Physics at the G.C.E. Advanced Level or its equivalent, and have in addition three other credit level passes in SSSC examination or G.C.E. (O/L) or its equivalent.
(b) National Diploma (ND) or its equivalent in Surveying, with pass at Upper Credit level, from an NBTE accredited institution or recognized higher institution.
(c) Bachelors Degree in the Physical Sciences & Engineering Disciplines
DE candidates will be admitted into a four-year programme in which case they start from the second year of the five-year standard programme. Â Candidates admitted by direct entry may be required, where applicable, to take specified courses to make up for deficiencies found in their academic background.

Job Opportunities

Graduates of the Department have the opportunity to work in mapmaking firms both in Nigeria and other countries of the world.
Job opportunities exist in the Federal and State Government Ministries and parastatals, oil prospecting companies, Engineering companies and private surveying and mapping companies/organizations and a wide range of social institutions in the field of demography, forestry, planning etc. Job opportunities also exist in research institutions, polytechnics and universities.
Many of our products also engage in self employment after registration with SURCON (Surveyors Council of Nigeria).