Surveyors and GIS - The professional and educational challenges

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2000

Abstract

The role of surveyors in GIS is one of the hot topics among surveyors and GIS professionals. Surveyors view their role in GIS as essential to ensure the quality and appropriate usage of GIS. This role is consistent with the surveyor's mandate to protect the welfare of the public in land/location matters. Consequently, several states passed (or are in the process of passing) legislation that mandates the participation of surveyors in the GIS process. The GIS community does not view this legislation favorably. Aside from obvious economical consequences and professional issues of such legislation, the GIS community argues that surveyors are not sufficiently educated and trained in GIS. Therefore, sanctioning the participation of the surveyor in the GIS process is deemed inappropriate. Although surveyors around the country support the GIS legislation, very few surveyors get involved with GIS. Lack of participation of surveyors in GIS on the one hand, and making their involvement in GIS mandatory on the other, could prove to be risky for the surveying profession. When the GIS community challenges this legislation, other long established activities that require a surveying license may be challenged as well. The surveying profession must examine why surveyors are not getting involved with GIS and what surveying education adjustment must be made to prepare surveyors to step up to this challenge. This paper presents results of a survey conducted among surveyors on these two questions.

Identifier

0034435408 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Surveying and Land Information Systems

ISSN

10522905

First Page

7

Last Page

12

Issue

1

Volume

60

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