The entire land surveying, remote sensing, and geomatics surveying industry are usually termed the ‘geomatics industry’ by the layman.
However, with the amount of technology and other intricacies involved, the geomatics industry involves a lot more and hence needs to be termed separately to avoid any confusion and overlap of information.
Two such similar-sounding terms are geomatics and geomatics information systems (GIS). While both share the same first word and tend to be quite identical, there are some vital differences between the two.
Origins of Geomatics & GIS
The two different terms had two separate origin stories.
Geomatics was a term coined in the 1980s by Michel Pardis. The purpose was to unify the separate technical terms under a single umbrella.
With geomatics, the goal was to master the different individual technologies and data collection techniques. Furthermore, it would help in synergizing when working with different technologies and disciplines.
GIS on the other hand was a term coined in the 1960s by Dr. Roger Tomlinson. He developed the first true GIS system in the world as a part of the Canada Geomatics Information System (CGIS). This further aided in the creation of the Canada Land Inventory. This inventory became the primary tool for determining the use of land across Canada. It enabled the decision-makers to determine the land capability across Canada by mapping and analyzing data related to soil, agriculture, etc.
The CGIS became the root of all the GIS today.
What Do Geomatics & GIS Involve?
Both terminologies carry different meanings. This means that while the essence remains the same it’s the working of the two that differentiate them from one another.
Geomatics is a word that’s used for gathering, storing, processing, and delivering geographic information. Also, it tends to act as a generic term for the methods and tools used in data acquisition. Geomatics essentially focuses on products, services, and tools involved in the collection, integration, and management of geographic data.
When looking at GIS, there are a lot of things that differentiate it from geomatics. GIS looks into four essential functions: collecting geographical data, storing and editing it, analyzing it, and visualizing it on a map for better understanding amongst the end users too.
GIS is efficient and tackles real-world problems such as climate change, environmental monitoring, and pipeline networking with ease.
Conclusion: Different Studies, With The Same Goal?
When it comes to geomatics, the area of study has evolved a lot since it was first invented.
With the entry of geomatics information systems into the picture, geomatics has become more seamless and even more effective. While the former helps in collecting the data from different sources, the GIS enables it to store, analyze and process it.
While GIS is a more expensive method than geomatics, when combined together it delivers some quick results overall.
Core Geomatics has been able to work with geomatics since 2009 and has delivered quite accurate and efficient results for its clients. With an experienced team at the helm of things and frequent focus on technological advancements, the team at Core tends to think ‘Outside the box’ for each project that they look into.
Check out Core Geomatics’ services and how they can help to depend on different sets of requirements and industries.
