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Study Geographic Information Systems at Otago

Placing the world at your fingertips.

Take a look around you… notice how every feature has its own unique and precise location. These locations can be fixed by geographical coordinates and measured in one, two or three dimensions in space. The process of linking features with geo-referenced coordinates creates spatial data, and these data are stored and managed in geographic information systems (GIS).

GIS have revolutionized the way that spatial data are used – many aspects of our everyday lives are connected with GIS in one way or another, from the obvious Google Earth and mobile location technologies to morning mail delivery, our electricity supply, through to weather forecasts every evening.

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Why study Geographic Information Systems?

GIS are fundamental to urban and regional planning, wildlife management, using business intelligence in commerce, tourism, public health, traffic management, and a host of other applications.

It is a multi-billion-dollar worldwide industry, with opportunities almost anywhere in the global economy. It is an area of study that is truly cross-disciplinary.

GIS combines academic rigour with practical application. Accurate, complete and up-to-date spatial information is an immensely valuable resource for businesses and governments.

Career opportunities

There are diverse opportunities for GIS graduates throughout New Zealand and worldwide. You'll gain the specialist skills needed to work as a GIS or Remote Sensing operator, analyst or manager.

You may end up employed by a large corporation, working in local, regional or the national government, or equally, you could work for a consultancy firm. This kind of work tends to have plenty of variety, and opportunities for domestic and international travel.

You might be identifying the geographical distribution of endangered plant, animal or bird species. You could work for a regional council, analysing the risk of landslips or flood mitigation; or advising on planning issues. You will also be in an excellent position to launch your own business after you have gained some experience in the spatial information industry.

Geographic Information Systems at Otago

What will I learn?

As a GIS graduate you'll have a thorough understanding of spatial data, analysis, and visualisation, and be able to apply GIS techniques. You'll learn about mobile GIS and web mapping as well as remote sensing (including from drones) and GNSS (GPS) positioning. You'll also learn skills in project management, cartographic presentation, database design, and basic computer programming.

Can I combine my GIS study with other subjects?

Yes!

Your first-year course can cover the prerequisites for Software Engineering or Environmental Management and others.

What will I study?

First year

You will study foundation Geospatial Science, Information Science, and Computer Science with the option to back this up with Surveying and Geography. This underpins the specific GIS courses in the following year.

Second year

You'll learn the basics of GIS and their applications – simple spatial data storage, analysis, and visualization; a geographic or surveying topic; the technology associated with GIS: databases, spatial data structures, and information systems.

Third year

You'll be introduced to the basic techniques of satellite and airborne remote sensing/photogrammetry, spatial analysis and GIS programming. You'll have the choice of taking a surveying or geography topic to this level.

Fourth year

For those of you undertaking Honours, there is a full-year dissertation project, a primer on project management, and courses on geovisualisation/cartography, and advanced remote sensing/photogrammetry.

Background required

There is some flexibility in entry requirements, but demonstrated strength in Year 13 mathematics is recommended.

As well as learning theory and applications of GIS in lectures, you'll gain hands-on experience. You'll use cutting-edge software, and you could even be involved in customising GIS tools for specific purposes.

Your studies will also involve field trips, visiting sites for which you have a satellite image or something similar, and confirming what each feature represents.

You'll carry out 6–10 weeks of work experience over the summer at the end of your second and/or third year, make connections between the knowledge you gain in the classroom and the workplace. It will also help you to start building a network of contacts in the industry.

Requirements

Geographic Information Systems as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

LevelPapersPoints
100-levelSURV 120 Surveying and Spatial Science

18

200-levelSURV 220 Geographic Information Science18
Above 200-level, three of

SURV 309 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies

SURV314  3D Reality Capture

SURV 319 Spatial Algorithms and Programming

SURV 320  Spatial Analysis and Visualisation

54

Total 90

SURV papers

Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
SURV120 2024, 2025 Surveying and Spatial Science 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV130 2024, 2025 People, Place and the Built Environment 18 points Semester 2
SURV201 2024, 2025 Surveying Methods 1 18 points Semester 1
SURV202 2024, 2025 Surveying Mathematics 18 points Semester 2
SURV203 2024, 2025 Land Development Engineering 1 18 points Semester 1
SURV204 2024, 2025 Land Development Engineering 2 18 points Semester 2
SURV205 2024, 2025 Statutory Land Planning 1 18 points Semester 2
SURV206 2024, 2025 Land Tenure 1 18 points Semester 2
SURV220 2024, 2025 Geographic Information Science 18 points Semester 1
SURV298 2024, 2025 Introductory Field Camp 0 points 1st Non standard period (5 February 2024 - 23 February 2024), 1st Non standard period (3 February 2025 - 21 February 2025)
SURV301 2024, 2025 Surveying Methods 2 18 points 1st Non standard period (15 July 2024 - 29 November 2024), Semester 2 (14 July 2025 - 28 November 2025), 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 28 November 2025)
SURV302 2024, 2025 Geodetic Reference Systems and Network Analysis 18 points Semester 1
SURV303 2024, 2025 Urban Design 1 18 points Semester 1
SURV304 2024, 2025 Land Development Engineering 3 18 points Semester 2
SURV306 2024, 2025 Land Tenure 2 18 points Semester 2
SURV307 2024, 2025 Cadastral Surveying 2 18 points Semester 2
SURV309 2024, 2025 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies 18 points Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
SURV314 2025 3D Reality Capture 18 points Semester 1
SURV319 2024, 2025 Spatial Algorithms and Programming 18 points Semester 1
SURV320 2025 Spatial Analysis and Visualisation 18 points Semester 2
SURV322 2024, 2025 Hydrographic Surveying 18 points Semester 1
SURV329 2024, 2025 Selected Topics in Surveying 1 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV399 2024, 2025 Third Year Field Course 0 points 1st Non standard period (28 October 2024 - 20 November 2024), 1st Non standard period (27 October 2025 - 19 November 2025)
SURV411 2024 Advanced Spatial Analysis and Modelling 18 points Semester 2
SURV413 2024, 2025 Resource Mapping and Image Processing 18 points Semester 2, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
SURV418 2025 Advanced Geographic Information Science 18 points Semester 2
SURV450 2024, 2025 Professional Practice 18 points Semester 2
SURV451 2024, 2025 Surveying Methods 3 18 points Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
SURV452 2024, 2025 Hydrographic Surveying 2 18 points Not offered in 2024, Semester 2
SURV453 2024 Urban Design 2 18 points Semester 2
SURV455 2024, 2025 Statutory Planning B 18 points Semester 1
SURV456 2024, 2025 Land Tenure 3 18 points Not offered in 2024, Semester 1
SURV457 2024, 2025 Cadastral Surveying 3 18 points Semester 1
SURV458 2024, 2025 Marine Law and the Environment 18 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV459 2024, 2025 Engineering Surveying 18 points Semester 2
SURV462 2024, 2025 Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage 18 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV463 2024, 2025 Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography 18 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV465 2024, 2025 Land Development Management 18 points Semester 1
SURV469 2024, 2025 Selected Topics in Surveying 2 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV470 2024, 2025 Professional Project 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV473 2024, 2025 Special Topic 36 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV474 2024, 2025 Special Topic 36 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV480 2024, 2025 Research Project 36 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (15 July 2024 - 20 June 2025), 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026)
SURV499 2024, 2025 Vacation Employment 0 points Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
SURV509 2024, 2025 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies 20 points Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
SURV511 2024 Advanced Spatial Analysis and Modelling 20 points Semester 2
SURV512 2024 Geovisualisation and Cartography 20 points Not offered in 2024
SURV513 2024, 2025 Resource Mapping and Image Processing 20 points Semester 2, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
SURV514 2025 Advanced 3D Reality Capture 20 points Semester 1
SURV518 2025 GIScience for Postgraduates 20 points Semester 2
SURV519 2024, 2025 Spatial Algorithms and Programming 20 points Semester 1
SURV520 2025 Advanced Spatial Analysis and Visualisation 20 points Semester 2
SURV551 2024, 2025 Advanced Surveying Methods 20 points Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
SURV552 2024, 2025 Advanced Hydrographic Surveying 20 points Not offered in 2024, Semester 2
SURV553 2024 Advanced Urban Design 20 points Semester 2
SURV555 2024, 2025 Advanced Statutory Planning 20 points Semester 1
SURV556 2024, 2025 Advanced Land Tenure 20 points Not offered in 2024, Semester 1
SURV557 2024, 2025 Advanced Cadastral Surveying 20 points Semester 1
SURV558 2024, 2025 Advanced Marine Law and the Environment 20 points Semester 1, Not offered in 2025
SURV559 2024, 2025 Advanced Engineering Surveying 20 points Semester 2
SURV562 2024, 2025 Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage 20 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV563 2024, 2025 Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography 20 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV565 2024, 2025 Advanced Land Development Management 20 points Semester 1
SURV569 2024, 2025 Advanced Topics in Surveying 20 points Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV573 2024, 2025 Special Topic 40 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV574 2024, 2025 Special Topic 40 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV575 2024, 2025 Special Topic 40 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SURV580 2024, 2025 Research project 40 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (15 July 2024 - 20 June 2025), 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026)
SURV590 2024, 2025 Dissertation 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (15 July 2024 - 20 June 2025), 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026)

More information

Contact us

Dr Antoni Moore
Tel +64 3 479 7589
Fax +64 3 479 7686

Email tony.moore@otago.ac.nz

Studying at Otago

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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