NEW TRAINING MANDATES FOR SURVEYING AND GEOINFORMATICS INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

摘要

Recent advances in computer, satellite, digital technologies and geographic information system have had a tremendous impact on the field of surveying and mapping. It has affected the scope, methods, volume and speed of data acquisition, management and rate of delivery of maps and map products. With the development ion information technology, the world has become a global village. These developments have affected the training of surveyors and mapping professionals all over the world. Some training institutions or departments have had to change their names in order to incorporate these challenges. Names such as Geomatics, Geomatics Engineering, Surveying and Geoinformatics have been common. In Nigeria, the Department of Surveying, University of Lagos has changed her name and degree programmes to Surveying and Geoinformatics while the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo has changed her surveying programme to Surveying and Geoinformatics. Other surveying and mapping training institutions are also giving the issue of change of name serious considerations. The training programmes in some of the institutions have been modified. The new surveying and mapping training curricula now include acquisition and management systems such as global positioning systems, remote sensing, digital photogrammetry, digital cartography and geographic information system. In addition, courses in environmental management and coastal management have been introduced. Furthermore, there is a need to add a course on legal issues in geoinformation technology. In order to meet the goals of the new training mandates, there is a need to train new manpower for the institutions and retrain the trainers. Furthermore, training institutions need equipment and financial support from the international community and institutions.