Geomatics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Geomatics - Essay Example (PLSO) Geomatics tradition in land surveying and mapping science has enabled today's modern era to understand the scientific methods used in the same way as the challenge of representing a round Earth on a flat surface which was the basic confront for map projection; therefore land survey and graphical presentation were standard skills of the geographer as map maker. The principles of good measurement and models have enabled us to understand more or less 'land surveying' as a profession or an industry. Land analysis in surveying, usually done in professional concern is never so much neglected as forcefully rejected by the people. The reason is the perception built by customer, they are not concerned by the analysis and measurement, the only concern, which they possess, is the cost and commercial value of the asset. There are good grounds for most of the realignments, as flaws in analysis are recognised and replaced by very different approaches. Yet the rejection is too all embracing and it is a clear case of 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater'. The best example can be seen by the confusion people possess to accept it in the form of profession. There was a time when physical geography and mapping sciences were largely untouched by these perturbations and the scientific method in its broadest sense continued to serve them well. The question for human geography is now the form in which the heritage of spatial analysis may coexist alongside more recent qualitative methodologies and how both can contribute to the continuing development of the discipline. Some of the inheritance has never really gone away. Qualitative methods compete with the quantitative and each has something of value to offer. Research practices from anthropology such as participatory and observational techniques have a part to play. Although the teaching of Geography still reflects the influence of spatial analysis, it is far less evident in the weight of ongoing research and probably that is to the disadvantage of the discipline. As Turner (2002) pointed out, much of human geography has lost touch with mainstream social science research where positive science remains a strong component. This is not to denigrate the quality of the raft of research in human geography, simply to say that the balance needs to be restored and some of the prejudices removed. (Herbert & Matthews, 2004, p. 28) Increasingly competitive and complex real estate market surveys require international investors to become more knowledgeable about the unique requirements of real estate assets. The demand for the objective counsel of property advisers with technical knowledge of functional areas and products appeared to rise incrementally with the expansion of commercial property investment. Land surveying advisory services covered diverse disciplines within the profession, which includes mostly the real estate: the sale and leasing of property, real estate finance, institutional investment, property and asset management, portfolio investment management, and project management and construction.