Lagos — A Nigerian company, GeoQinetiq Limited, has urged the Federal Government to introduce capacity building initiatives in geomatics, in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.

The company described geomatics as the sciences and technologies involved in handling geographical data (of both natural and man-made objects) in digital form. Measuring the landscape using land surveying techniques is part of geomatics, as is managing data which has been captured in computer-based information systems such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

It said "another way to understand geomatics is to examine the kinds of questions, which are answered by the study and knowledge of geomatics.

Some of these questions are: How are maps made? How do we capture pictures of the earth from space? How do we locate and track objects from space? How do we know that the earth's continents move? How can we ensure buildings do not collapse? How can we tell exactly where we are in the middle of the oceans or deserts? How can we accurately locate oil/ gas? How do we position structures offshore? How can we accurately track/map people/assets across countries/continents?

Others are, "how do engineers accurately design and build bridges, pipelines and canals? How can we accurately and efficiently complete a national census? How can we provide Land ownership information within minutes? How does a mobile telephone company ensure that its signals cover an entire city, road network or even, an entire country optimally?

"All of the above are investigated and accurately provided by Geomaticians. The main questions of development are thus covered by this new science, which is different from the old science of Surveying in the sense that Geomatics now combines the internet, satellite navigation and telematics, and, has been widened to encompass all the new areas of digital spatial and temporal data collection and interpretation, ranging from the basic mapping of land to the ability to track and map the movement of individuals and objects globally in real time," he said.