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Study Geographic Information Systems at Otago

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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

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Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

    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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