Using acronyms and abbreviations is commonly practiced in the Geomatics industry and most of the time people just assume that everybody else knows what every acronyms and abbreviation stands for. Well that is obviously not the case most of the time and over the years I have created myself a little digital cheat-sheet of geomatics acronyms and abbreviations that I use with my work in my writing.
Geographic coordinate systems enable us to spatially locate features on the Earth using specified set of two dimensional numbers. The coordinates of each feature represent the horizontal position (and sometimes vertical position when elevation is available) of it and one of the most commonly used coordinates is Geographic with values of latitude, longitude. However many different coordinate systems can be used to map the same area depending on various factors such as map extent, scale, end user etc. Therefore we often find in Geomatics that we can have data from different coordinate systems that we need to use together spatially in one reference system.
I am sure that most of us have run into times when we have features that have defined coordinates of one system that we need to use with a different one. (E.g. your map is in UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) but you have been given GPS points in Lat/Long).
If you ever find yourself in need of quickly getting values converted from Geographic to UTM / MTM (Modified Traverse Mercator) or UTM / MTM to Geographic then here is a free online geographic coordinate convertor tool that I often use provided by Canadian Spatial Reference System
Over the past decade Real Time Kinematic (RTK) surveying with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) has become common practice in geomatics. RTK surveying can allow people to achieve relative positioning with centimetre (cm) precision, however there are several important factors that need to be considered and thus a need for a good guide of best practices …
A color shaded relief (CSR) utilizes chromo stereoscopic techniques to help emphasize the depth of the Z dimension from traditional shaded relief models that already portray the presence of an elevation difference. Using carefully edited …
Canadian GIS and Geomatics Resources is an extension of my web site that I started back in 2005 after I noticed that there was a real need to have one good place on the web to help find Canadian geospatial resources. The site helps provide others with …
Always cool to see Geomatics technology used for non traditional geomatics uses!
Here Radiohead’s new music video was not created with any traditional video cameras but instead they used 3D LIDAR scanning technology.
Actual Radiohead Music Video:
Making the Music Video:
Remote sensing is merely the science of acquiring information about a surface without physically being in contact with it. It involves the use of technical instruments or sensors to record reflected or emitted energy and then processing, analyzing, and applying that information to determine the spectral and spatial relations of distance objects and materials.
This is possible due to the fact that the examined objects (such as vegetation, buildings, water, air masses etc.) reflect or emit radiation in different wavelengths and intensities according to their current condition. Modern remote sensing typically involves digital processes but can also be done with non-digital methods.
Probably the most common example of remote sensing is an aerial photograph but there are probably hundreds of applications related to remote sensing ranging from space-borne satellites to under-ground geophysical systems. It has become a major component in the evolving Geomatics industry. In order to generate maps for GIS, most remote sensing systems expect to convert a photograph or other data item to actual measurable distance on the surface. However, this almost always depends on the precision of the instrument that is being used to capture the data. For example, distortion in an aerial photographic lens can cause severe distortions when photographs are used to measure ground distances. Using sophisticated software like PCI OrthoEngine can convert the photograph into an ortho photo which can be used to measure ground distances.
In order to coordinate a series of observations, most sensing systems need to know where they are, what time it is, and the rotation and orientation of the instrument. High-end instruments now often use positional information from satellite navigation systems. The rotation and orientation is often provided within a degree or two with electronic compasses.
The resolution determines how many pixels are available in measurement, but more importantly, higher resolutions are more informative, giving more data about more points. However, large amounts of high resolution data can clog a storage or transmission system with useless data, when a few low resolution images might be a better use of the system.
Like I mentioned earlier examples of remote sensing are very numerous. I have over the past decade and have used the many projects that I have been involved with along with actual examples of my work to help illustrate the principals of the various topics covered on the web site. I have included basic overviews for each along with images, presentations, papers and links to other related resources.
The two images above represent artificial three dimensional perspective views perspective views from different points of origin featuring color shaded relief models that were created from high resolution LIDAR digital surface models as part of a LIDAR flood modeling graduate research project.
The study area for the project consisted of the coastal Gulf Shore region of southeastern New Brunswick from Kouchibouguac National Park south to Jourimain Island (location of the Confederation Bridge). The coastal zone of New Brunswick is a picturesque fishing region that boasts several kilometers of sandy beaches with some of the warmest salt water temperatures north of Virginia.
Cartography or map making is the practice of creating maps or visual representations of a surface, as you would see it from above it.
Traditionally maps have always been created using pen and paper, but since the introduction and wide spread use of geographic information systems (GIS) better computers, and the Internet cartography practices have evolved more into a variety of digital formats.
Most maps today are now generated using map software that falls into one of three main types; GIS, CAD, or specialized map graphic design software.
These days many consider cartography to be more precise, thanks to advancements in computer technology, satellites and GPS. Earlier maps, though, were created by hand using simple instruments with mathematical equations.
Ptolemy, a Greek cartographer from the 14th century derived a projection consisting of set of geographical coordinates to map the Roman Empire. Eratosthenes, another Greek cartographer was the the first person to determine the circumference of the Earth. Many centuries later, and still some of their techniques are still used by cartographers in map making.
My cartography experience began during my time studying geology at Acadia University. I was involved in several geology field mapping courses creating geology maps. Then while studying remote sensing techniques at COGS, I started to use various GIS and graphic design software packages to create mapping products. These days I create maps on a daily basis for the majority of projects that I am involved in.
A map utilizes a variety of colors, symbols, and labels to represent actual features and provide information on their existence, location, and the distance between them. It can also indicate variation in terrain, heights of natural features, and the extent of vegetation cover.
Maps often function as visualization tools for spatial data which is acquired from actual measurements and can be stored into a database, from which it can be later extracted for a variety of purposes. Current trends in this field are moving away from traditional methods of map making and toward the creation of increasingly dynamic, interactive maps that can be manipulated digitally, often known as Web GIS.
Most maps will contain a scale parameter that will allow the user to convert distance on the map to distance on the ground or vice versa. The ability to determine distance on a map, as well as on the earth’s surface, is an important factor in GIS and the spatial relationships between features. Other important key elements or features that you should find on a good map would be a title, a data frame, a legend, a scale bar, a north arrow, and citation information such as the date, the creator, projection, overview map location etc.
The Canadian Cartographic Association (CCA) was founded in 1975 with the aims of promoting interest in maps and related cartographic materials, furthering the understanding and knowledge of maps, and advancing education in cartography through the use of maps.
Three decades later, the aims remain the same, although the CCA now considers its constituency to extend beyond Cartography to embrace closely related fields such as GIS. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in any aspect of mapping and members are drawn from the ranks of government, industry, and education, and from the general public.
At the 2018 CCA annual general meeting I was elected to the position of Vice President. Membership is open to anyone in the geospatial community, both individuals and organizations interested in cartography. The core group that makes up the CCA area great bunch of people that are constantly encouraging more people to get involved. Click here, to find out how to join the CCA
Much of the material in the cartography part of my website originated from my original online portfolio that I used to further my career.
Since then it has morphed into more of a resources section related to remote sensing that includes helpful information about cartography and maps, including various related books, images, maps, data and much more.
(Use the search tools to find remote sensing related material on this site or browse some of the latest additions using the links below).
