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The Geomatics
Program was started in 1973 at the behest of the Surveying Profession in Florida. During the
program's development period, the surveying profession was and still continues
to be of immense support. The program retains geographic distinction as the
only full-service Geomatics program in the
southeast United States,
and is viewed as a program of regional, national and international impact.
The program has developed name recognition nationwide through its research
program, faculty publishing in journals and faculty participation at national
meetings. The strong practice-based undergraduate program has been
supplemented with sponsored research activity that finds direction and
solution to a wide range of issues.
At the time of its inception
the program was housed in the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering. In
2004, the program and 4 faculty members transferred from the College of Engineering
to the School
of Forest Resources and
Conservation in IFAS. Since that transfer, the Program has grown
significantly. We have: (a) Secured funding from the Florida legislature to
deliver the BS degree at UF/IFAS Research and Education Centers in Plant City
and Ft. Lauderdale; (b) Hired 3 new faculty members to help deliver the
degree program ; (c) Doubled undergraduate enrollment from 40 to 80; and (d)
Secured re-accreditation by ABET.
Employers
recognize the need to keep up with rapidly changing technology and have
enthusiastically employed graduates where available. Historically, students
graduating from the program with a Bachelor’s degree receive multiple job
offers with attractive starting salaries. The recent economic downturn has dimished these outcomes somewhat, but the UF Geomatics Degree is still highly valued. Students are
placed in a broad range of private sector and government organizations. More
than 50 percent of the graduates own their own companies and 65 percent
manage or supervise a department in surveying and mapping, either in the
private or public sector. Three-fourths of the graduates are registered in Florida. Masters or
Ph.D. graduates move into academic careers or key leadership positions in
government or industry. Achievements of graduates have been the best measure
of program effectiveness. UF grads have been routinely successful in passing
the registration exam. Their advancements through professional and business
ranks have been most notable. Many firms and GIS/ surveying/mapping
departments now are headed by UF graduates.
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