INTRODUCTION TO GEOMATIC

ENGINEERING
Outline
• Definition
• Introduction to geomatic Engineering
• History of surveying and mapping
• Basic terms: GIS, GPS, DEM, DTED
• History of surveying and mapping
• Maps and maps Numbering systems
• Large scale mapping
• Small scale mapping
WHAT IS GEOMATICS?

• The term Geomatics is an acronym formed by

“Geo” that means the Earth, while the term “matics”
refers to the information.

• Geomatics is a new term that formerly known as

surveying.

• Geomatics comprises the science, engineering, and

art involved in collecting and manging
geographically referenced information, which plays
an important role in activities such as environmental
monitoring, management of land and marine
resources
Need of Geomatics Engineering
• Necessity of up-to-date and accurate maps
e.g. 3D maps, images and animations in place of
conventional topographical maps

• Fast transfer of survey data

• Storing and regeneration
IMPORTANCE OF GEOMATICS ENGIEERING
• Civil engineers require these data for planning
and execution of any project e.g. Alignment
survey, earthwork calculations etc.
• Urban planners require details about land
resources in towns and cities.
• Geomatics help in development of proper
disaster management and emergency response
systems.
• Is also helpful to enforcement and medical
professionals.
SOME APPLICATION AREAS OF GEOMATICS

• Natural Resource Management

• Engineering surveys
• Navigation
• Geological mapping
• Environmental studies
• Tourism
• Disaster management
• Land use studies
• Military surveys
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)
GIS is a system for capturing, storing, analyzing
and displaying geospatial data

Components of GIS

• 1. Hardware
• 2. Software
• 3. Data
• 4. People
• 5. Infrastructure/methods
Components of GIS
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
• Global Positioning System (GPS) is a radio
navigation system provided by the U.S
department of defense.
• GPS uses a constellation of 24 satellites to give
accurate positioning on earth.
• A GPS receiver (User) on earth will receive radio
signal from these satellites and from this signal
it is possible to calculate position on earth.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM / DTM)
• A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) or Digital
Terrain Model (DTM) is a digital model or three
dimensional (3D) representation of the land
surface elevation with respect to any reference
datum.
• Technically a DEM contains only the elevation
information of the surface, free of vegetation,
buildings and other non ground objects with
reference to a datum such as Mean Sea Level
(MSL).
Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED)
• DTED (or Digital Terrain Elevation Data)
is a standard of digital datasets which consists of
a matrix of terrain elevation values, i.e., a 
Digital Elevation Model.

• This standard was originally developed in the

1970s to support aircraft radar simulation and
prediction.
 Brief History of Surveying
1. Surveying had it’s beginning in Egypt about 1400
BC
▫ Land along the Nile River was divided for taxation.
▫ Egyptian surveyors created “ROPE-STRETCHERS” to
relocate the land divisions (measurements were made
with ropes having knots at unit distances).
▫ Extensive use of surveying in building of Egyptian
monuments
2. Greeks: expanded Egyptian work and developed
Geometry.
▫ Developed one of the earliest surveying instruments
– Diopter (a form of level).
 Brief History of Surveying
3. Romans: developed surveying into a science to
create the Roman roads, aqueducts, and land
division systems.
▫ Surveyors held great power, had schools and a
professional organization
▫ Developed several instruments:
 Groma – cross instrument used to determine lines and right
angles
 Libella – “A” frame with a plumb bob used for leveling
 Chorobates – 20’ straight edge with oil in notch for leveling
4. Middle Ages: Land division of Romans continued
in Europe.
▫ Quadrans – square brass frame capable of turning
angles up to 90° and has a graduated scale developed by
an Italian named Von Piso.
 Brief History of Surveying
5. 18th & 19th Century in the New World: the
need for mapping and marking land claims
caused extensive surveying, especially by the
English.
▫ 1785: United Stated began extensive surveys of
public lands into one mile square sections
• 30 states surveyed under the U.S. Public Land System
(also called the Rectangular System)
▫ 1807: United States Geological Survey founded
to establish an accurate control network and
mapping
▫ Famous American Surveyors: George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, George Rogers
Clark, Abe Lincoln and many more.
 Brief History of Surveying
6. 20th Century and Beyond: As technology
advanced, population increased, and land
value caused development of licensure for
surveyors in all states.
▫ Educational requirements for licensure began in
the early 1990’s
▫ Capable of electronic distance measurement,
positioning using global positioning systems,
construction machine control, and LIDAR
(scanning) mapping
▫ Involvement in rebuilding of the infrastructure
and geographic information systems (GIS)
▫ Shortage of licensed professionals is projected
well into the 21st century
HISTORY OF MAP MAKING
The history of map making is as old as the history of
mankind itself. The oldest map was found in Mesopotamia
drawn on a clay tablet that belongs to 2,500 B.C.
Greek and the Arab geographers laid the foundation of
modern cartography. The measurement of the
circumference of the Earth and the use of the system of
geographical coordinates in map-making are some of the
significant contributions of the Greeks and the Arabs. The
art and science of map
making was revitalised in early modern period, with
extensive efforts made to minimise the effects of the
transformation of the geoid onto a plane surface. The maps
were drawn on different projections to obtain true
directions, correct distances and to measure area
accurately. The aerial photography supplemented the
ground method of survey and the uses of aerial
photographs stimulated map-making in the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries. Todarmal pioneered land surveying
and map-making as an integral part of the revenue
collection procedure.
Besides, Sher Shah Suri’s revenue maps further enriched
the mapping techniques during the medieval period. The
intensive topographical surveys for the preparation of up–
to–date maps of the entire country, were taken up with the
setting up of the Survey of India in 1767, which culminated
with the map of Hindustan in 1785. Today, the Survey of
India produces maps at different scales for the entire
country.
As the passage of time surveying and
mapping technology has also experienced
change from simple compass and chain
surveys, thorough a period of transits, tapes,
plane table surveying, into another era of
EDM equipments, aerial photogrammetry,
GPS, total stations surveys, Remote Sensing
and GIS.

Collectively all these fall under the

Umbrella of Geomatics Engineering.
Types of Maps Based on Scale
On the basis of scale, maps may be classified into large-
scale and small-scale.
Large scale maps are drawn to show small areas at a
relatively large-scale. For example, the topographical maps
drawn at a scale of 1: 250,000, 1:50,000 or 1:25,000 and
the village maps, the zonal plans of the cities and house
plans prepared on a scale of 1:4,000, 1:2,000 and 1:500 are
large scale maps.
On the other hand, small-scale maps are drawn to show
large areas. For example, atlas maps, wall maps, etc.
Large-scale Maps
Large-scale maps are further divided into the
following types
(a) Cadastral maps
(b) Topographical maps
Cadastral Maps
The term ‘cadastral’ is derived from the French word
‘cadastre’ meaning ‘register of territorial property’. These
maps are drawn to show the ownership of landed property
by demarcating field boundaries of agricultural land and
the plan of individual houses in urban areas.
The cadastral maps are prepared by the government
agencies to realise revenue and taxes, along with keeping a
record of ownership.
These maps are drawn on a very large scale, such as the
cadastral maps of villages at 1 : 4,000 scale and the city
plans at a scale of 1 : 2,000 and larger.
Topographical Maps
These maps are also prepared on a fairly large scale. The
topographical maps are based on precise surveys and are
prepared in the form of series of maps made by the national
mapping agencies of almost all countries of the world.
For example, the Survey of India undertakes the
topographical mapping of the entire country at 1 : 250,000,
1 : 50,000 and 1 : 25,000 scale.
These maps follow uniform colours and symbols to show
topographic details such as relief, drainage, agricultural
land, forest, settlements, means of communication, location
of schools, post offices and other services and facilities.
Small-scale Maps
Small-scale maps are further divided into the
following types :
(a) Wall Maps
(b) Atlas Maps
Wall Maps
These maps are generally drawn on large size
paper or on plastic base for use in classrooms or
lecture halls. The scale of wall maps is generally
smaller than the scale of topographical maps but
larger than atlas maps.
Atlas Maps
Atlas maps are very small-scale maps.
These maps represent fairly large areas and present highly
generalised picture of the physical or cultural features.
Even so, an atlas map serves as a graphic encyclopaedia of
the geographical information about the world, continents,
countries or regions. When consulted properly, these maps
provide a wealth of generalised information regarding
location, relief, drainage, climate, vegetation, distribution
of cities and towns, population, location of industries,
transport-network system, tourism and heritage sites, etc.
DISCIPLINES COVERED UNDER GEOMATICS

• Field Surveying
• Global Positioning Systems
• Geodesy and Field Astronomy
• Photogrammetry
• Satellite Remote Sensing
• Geographic Information System
• Cartography
MAP AND MAP NUMBERING SYSTEM
Definition of Map
A map can be defined as the two
dimensional representation of Earth surface
features at a certain scale using a symbology
and colour scheme.
Map Scale
• The scale of a map is defined as the ratio
of the distance between any two points on
the map to the corresponding distance on
ground.
• The map scales is generally expressed as
Representative Fraction (RF).
• Example, 1 cm = 10 m, RF = 1/1000
Classification of Maps

• Cadastral or Land Revenue Maps 1/500 to 1/5000

• Topographical Maps 1/25,000 to 1/250,000

• Geological Maps 1/25,000 to 1/1,000,000

• Atlas <1/ 1,000,000

Types of Scales in Surveying
A scale is the ratio of the distance marked on the
plan to the corresponding distance on the ground.
A good draughtsman can plot a length to accuracy
within 0.25 mm. 
Types of Scales
Types of Scales are generally classified as large,
medium and small. 
• Large scale : 1 cm = 10 m or less than 10 m.
• Medium scale : 1 cm = 10 m to 100 m.
• Small scale : 1 cm = 100 m or more than 100 m.
 Representation of a Scale
A. Engineer’s scale : 1 cm = 50 m
B. Representative Fraction (R.F) :
• It is the ratio of the distance on the map to the corresponding distance
on the ground taken as same units. Scale of 1 cm = 50 m, 1 cm on the
map represents 50 m (5000 cm) on the ground. Therefore, the
representative fraction (R.F.) is 1/5000 or 1: 5000.
C. Graphical scale :
• A graphical scale is a line drawn on the map so that its map distance
corresponds to a convenient units of length on the ground.
It has the advantage over the numerical scales that the distances on the
maps can be determined by actual scaling even when the map has
shrunk.
Purpose of Survey Scale R.F
Building Site 1 cm = 10 m 1:1000
Town Planning, Reservoir 1 cm = 50 cm to 100 m 1:5000 to 10000
planning, etc
Route Surveys 1 cm = 10 m to 60 m 1:1000 to 1:6000
Longitudional Sections. 1 cm = 10 m 1:1000
1 cm = 1 m 1:100
Cross- Sections 1 cm = 1 m 1:100
Land Surveys/ Cadastral 1 cm = 10 m to 50 m 1:1000 to 1:5000
Surveys
Topographical Maps 1 cm = 0.25 km to 2.5 km 1:25000 to 1:250000
Geographical Maps 1 cm = 5 km to 150 km 1:500000 to 1:15000000
Mine Surveys 1 cm = 10 m to 25 m 1:1000 to 1:2500
Forest Maps 1 cm = 250 m 1:25000
Map Numbering System

• India and Adjacent Countries series

( I and AC series)

• International map of the World series

(CIM series)
India and Adjacent Countries
series
• This is the system followed by the Survey of
India maps.
• Each sheet is bound by 40 latitude and
40 longitude.
• The entire series covers a belt of 40 N latitude to
400 N latitude and 440 E longitude to 1240 E
longitude.
• Sheets falling in the sea are not numbered.
Sheet numbering on Topo sheets:
4 x 4 map sheet on 1:1 M scale
o o
India and Adjacent Countries
series
• Sheets covering India are numbered from 39 to
88.
• The sheets are called 1/M (or 1 Million) sheets.
• The 1/M sheets are further sub-divided into 16
equal parts of 10 x10. The sheets are in 1:25000
scale.
• These sheets are numbered from A to P from
North to South.
India and Adjacent Countries
series
• The 10 map sheet is further sub-divided into 16
equal parts of 15’ latitude and 15’ longitude.
• These sheets are numbered as 1 to 16 and
individual sheets will be designated as 63 A/1, 63
A/2 ............., to 63 A/16.
• Scale of these sheets is 1:50,000.
• These sheets are further sub-divided into four
equal parts each of 7.5’ latitude and 7.5’
longitude.
• These sheets are numbered as 63A/1/NW,
63A/1/NE, 63A/1/SE, 63A/1/SW.
• Scale of these sheets is 1:25,000.
CIM SERIES
• This system is used for international map on 1:1
million scale.
• Each sheet covers an area of 40 latitude x
60 longitude.
• The geographical position of the sheet is defined
by two letters and a number.
• The first letter is N or S depending on whether
the sheet is north or south of the equator.
CIM SERIES
• Next letter after the N or S indicates latitude of
sheet alphabetically with the capital letters in
succession of each 40 band.
• Numbering starts from 1800 longitude and goes
from west to east, the number changing after
60 longitude, i.e. a map showing 00 to 40N and
00 to 60E will have a numbering of NA1.
CIM series sheet NH 43

32oN
A B C D E F
G H I J K L
M N O P Q R
28oN S T U V W X
72oE 78oE
CIM series sheet NH 43 R

30oN 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
29oN 13 14 15 16
77oE 78oE
CIM series sheet NH 43 R 4

30oN

4
29o45'N
77o45'E 78oE
Map published by Survey of India
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