CIS M JOURNAL A C S G C

GEOMATICS
AN INTEGRATED, SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO MEET
THE NEEDS FOR SPATIAL INFORMATION
Pierre Gagnon, Ph.D, Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics
Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec
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David J. Coleman, M.Sc. P. Eng, The Cabot Group

Fredericton, New Brunswick

During the 1980s, a number of studies, conferences and events have served to emphasize the fact that
the field of CISM activities has been undergoing some profound changes - changes which have affected
the scientific, technical, and even professional aspects of its activities. These profound changes have
prompted us to redefine the way in which we identify our field of activities, to redefine our objectives for
our field of activities, and to reassess our role within a multidisciplinary context. GEOMATICS has grad-
ually introduced itself into this context.
A resolution to modify the French title of CISM to read "Association canadienne des sciences geo-
matiques" (ACSG) will be introduced at the next CISM conference in Calgary. This article is intended to
provide a background for the changes in the fields of activities which the CISM covers, to define geomat-
ics in terms of its 1990 realities, and to demonstrate the extent to which this approach has come to char-
acterize the scientific, technical, administrative and professional levels.
CISM journal 1990.44:377-382.

Geomatics: The Result of an

Evolutionary Process.
Our Institute covers a wide field of activities
when considered from disciplinary and profes-
sional standpoints. These activities have under-
gone some profound changes during the past
decade - not only due to developments in sci-
ence and technology, but also because of changes
in society. In fact, it is the interelationships that
exist between these three factors which have
themselves caused the field of CISM activities to
be broadened considerably.
Until the end of the 1950s in Canada and in
Quebec in particular, our field of activities was
concerned primarily with the legal aspects regard-
ing the delimitation of land and of property rights,
and with the technical aspects pertaining to vari-
ous aspects of surveys. During the past twenty
years, we have been experiencing an accelerated
pace of change. These changes have been marked
by three main features.
From the technological standpoint, some phe-
nomenal developments have occurred. Improve-
ments in computing and methods of gathering data
have radically transformed the methods of
approaching and solving scientific and technical
problems. The content of educational programs
has also been questioned, and the role of the pro-
fessional has had to be re-assessed.
Secondly, scientific evolution has lead to the
development of specializations or, more to the
point, has forced a "breaking-up" of knowledge. It
is no longer possible for one individual to possess
the necessary competence to work within all the
fields related to "surveying and mapping". The for-
mation of multidisciplinary scientific and profes-
sional teams appears to be the only manner in
which this accelerated development of knowledge
and technology can be integrated to meet current
requirements for spatial information. Traditional
disciplines which defined the field of surveying
have progressively given way to disciplines such
as physics, mathematics, electronics, computers,
information theory, systems analysis and commu-
nications. Scientific and professional organizations
within the field have also noted the requirement to
bring together these various disciplines under the
aegis of a single organization. Ideally, such a
restructuring would promote better communication
and focus the interests of these disparate disci-
plines on the attainment of common objectives
[CIS 1985].
Thirdly, social changes have resulted in a pro-
found alteration in quantitative and qualitative
information requirements. First of all, there is a
steadily increasing demand for information to help
address social, environmental and resource man-
agement problems. In addition, the diverse charac-
ter of these needs has increased the potential appli-
cation of such information in a variety of areas. In

This paper was writen at the request of the executive committee of CISM.
CISM JOURNAL ACSGC Vol. 44, No.4, Winter 1990,pp. 377 to 382
 CIS M JOURNAL
today's era of communications and information,
people want quicker (hopefully instantaneous!)
access to information. As well, they wish to play
an interactive role with the information available
to them [Paradis 1982].
These evolving demands have lent a multidis-
ciplinary character to our field of activities. In par-
ticular, they have caused us to contemplate the
specific nature of our expertise on the basis of
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activities which lead to the production and man-
agement of spatial information. Most important,
they have prompted us to reassess our role and to
redefine our identity. The term GEOMATICS has
emerged in this context - it is now being used to
reflect our current range of activities as well as
those proposed for the years to come.
Within this context, the Montreal and the
Champlain Branches of the CISM will propose the
following motion at the 1991 Annual Meeting in
Calgary:
It is moved that the French title of the Institute
be changed to the Association canadienne
des sciences geomatiques (ACSG).
CISM journal 1990.44:377-382.
This motion from the two Quebec Branches
has been the subject of in-depth discussions during
meetings of branches and of council during the
past few years. The motion expresses the desire of
Quebec members to: (1) have an Association
which now extends beyond the traditional fields of
surveying and mapping; and (2) provide this orga-
nization with a title which much better identifies
the roles and the activities of its members.
What is Geomatics?
Geomatics represents a modern scientific
approach to addressing needs and problems associ-
ated with the production, analysis and manage-
ment of spatially-referenced information.
Geomatics is a field of scientific and techni-
cal activities which, using a systemic approach,
integrates all the means used to acquire and
manage spatially referenced data as part of the
process of producing and managing spatially
based information.
Geomatics is not a new field. Rather, it repre-
sents the evolution of our existing range of activities
within a system-based approach or vision. Geomat-
ics emphasizes the interelationships between tradi-
tional surveying and mapping disciplines -
geodesy, photogrammetry, remote sensing, topome-
try, hydrography and cartography - which deal
with production of spatial information. It does not
rule out the development of more discipline-based
applications, such as using close-range photogram-
mety as a tool in medical or archaeological studies
or applying geodetic principles to the monitoring of
dam deformations or crustal movements.
As part of the process of producing and man-
aging information about spatial information, geo-
378
A C S G C
maties considers all available methods, tools and
techniques and then selects the ones most appro-
priate to the situation at hand. It also is concerned
with determining how these methods, tools and
techniques are interelated and how they can be
made to interact in a manner which balances tech-
nical, economic, and project management con-
straints.
Recently, CISM used the following definition
as part of a study on human resources planning for
the geomatics field:
Geomatics is the field of scientific and engi-
neering activities involved in the application
of computer and communication technologies
to the capture, storage, analysis, presentation,
distribution and management of spatial infor-
mation to support decision making.
[GIACICISM 1990].
In Canada, until the end of the 1950s, our
field of activities was identified almost exclusive-
ly by the term Surveying. During the 1960s, this
title was broadened to become geodetic science.
Beginning in the 1980s, the term "geomatics"
came into more common usage. The term reflects
the increasing need - driven by the growth of
spatially-referenced information systems in the
community - to combine data from different
sources using a systemic approach which better
meets the needs of the information society.
Defined in this perspective, geomatics can be
considered an indispensible component in the pro-
duction, analysis and management of spatial infor-
mation. Consequently, geomatics makes a contri-
bution in a number of fields such as property map-
ping and tax assessment, utility management
(electricity, telephone, etc.), agriculture, trans-
portation, mineral resources, oceanography,
forestry and the environment, among others.
The term geomatics was introduced in France
at the end of the 1960s, and the French scientist,
Bernard Dubuisson, geodesist and photogram-
metrist, was the first to use this term in a scientific
work [Dubuisson 1975]. Since it was first intro-
duced, its meaning has evolved to meet changing
scientific and technological realities. It was recog-
nized by the Comite international de la langue
franr,;aise in 1977. As well, the 1983 edition of the
Grand dictionnaire encyclopedique Larousse
gives a definition which corresponds quite closely
to the current one. This noun has also been includ-
ed in Quebec's Banque de Terminologie by the
Office de la langue franr,;aise, and many organiza-
tions and business firms have adopted its use. A
history of the changes in the definition of the term
"geomatics" was presented by Bedard [1989].
Geomatics, an approach which
has already become practice
Recent efforts which illustrate the shift in pro-
fessional attitudes towards the more integrated,
 CIS M JOURNAL
systemic approach now referred to as geomatics
include: 1) the proposal for an expanded model of
the profession [Raymond and Matthews 1981]; 2)
the CIS Centennial Proceedings, [CIS 1982]; 3) the
study of the industry of surveying and mapping in
Canada [Task Force 1985]; 4) government initia-
tives [O'Donnell 1989; Gouvernement du Quebec
1989]; 5) the creation of the Geomatics Industry
Association of Canada in 1988 [GIAC 1989] and
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6) the restructuring of university-level educational
programs [Bedard et al. 1988].
The expanded model of the profession pro-
posed by the Canadian Council of Land Surveyors
in 1981 (Figure 1) illustrates the direction of
changes to the activities conducted by the survey-
or, which extend from positioning and measuring
to land information and land management.
CISM journal 1990.44:377-382.
Figure 1: CCLS Model of the Expanded Survey pro-
fession [Raymond and Matthews 1981]
In 1981, the CIS published a special issue of
the The Canadian Surveyor dealing with "La pro-
fession elargie d'arpentage(fhe Expanded Survey
Profession". Articles in this issue considered how
changes in technology and spatial information
requirements were leading to a reassessment of the
surveying profession and the role of the surveyor.
In this special issue, Paradis [1981] published
an article "De l'arpentage a la geomatique", which
casts light on the enlarged horizons for surveying
and mapping, and the necessity for a new approach
to meet the need for spatially-related information:
It is evident that geomatics has widened the
field of application of surveying. Why should
the surveyor be limited to the drawing-up of a
cadastre which is to serve solely for registra-
tion purposes if he can master the concepts
and the technology necessary to create a prop-
erty tax, agricultural and forestry cadastre?
Why should he limit himself to preparing con-
ventional photogrammetric maps, when needs
and interest are found, to a greater extent, in
the area of "tailor-made" cartography and spa-
tial information reference systems? Why
A C S G C
should he limit himself to the action of
locating geodetic points when their use is of
greater interest as part of the establishment
of urban information systems? But it is also
evident that geomatics calls on the surveyor
to define himself according to what he does,
and not in accordance with the fields where
his knowledge is to be applied. The "geo-
matician" is not a city planner, he is not a
cartographer, he is not an assessor, he is not
a town planner, etc. Geomaties is his profes-
sion!" [Paradis 1981]. (translation from
original)
This article inspired the theme of the 1982
Centennial Conference: "From surveying to geo-
matics/De l' arpentage ala geomatique", and was
one of the main catalysts which contributed to
making this term generally used in Canada, and
to promoting the modem vision which this term
inspires.
The study on the Canadian Surveying and
Mapping Industry [Task Force 1985] confirmed
the impact of social changes on the surveying
and mapping sectors, and identified the direc-
tions to be taken and the challenges to be met:
We will have to rethink our role to decide
whether we should cling to the traditional
role of collecting and storing information,
or whether we should also become involved
in the management and utilization of infor-
mation... the Task Force believes in fact that
under the circumstances there is no choice,
because if we arc to survive as a viable
industry we must move forward to meet the
challenge and grasp the opportunities being
presented. The transition of the surveying
and mapping industry to the new reality of
information systems is already happen-
ing ... In the opinion of the Task Force, how-
ever, the transition is much too slow, and
we must take determined positive action
immediately and encourage the whole sur-
veying and mapping industry to become
involved in spatial information management
[Task Force 1985 p. 74].
This same study has also pointed out the
disappearance of the traditional boundaries
between various disciplines in the fields of sur-
veying and mapping:
As recently as the decade of the 1940s and
1950s there were very clear lines of distinc-
tion between the disciplines of land survey-
ing, geodetic surveying, photogrammetry
and hydrography. However, in recent years
those lines have become decidedly blurred,
to the point that all of the various disci-
plines in surveying and mapping are closely
related and interdependent. [Task Force
1985, p. 33].
This interrelationship and integration of the
various disciplines have continued to be accen-
tuated, as Bedard [1990] indicated:
379
 CIS M JOURNAL
In this respect, photogrammetry is placed at
the service of image processing, while remote
sensing deals with tridimensional data, digital
cartography provides calculation functions
related to topometry, while Geographic Infor-
mation Systems (GIS's) add geodetic calcula-
tions, photogrammetry software also includes
topometry calculation functions while GIS's
increasingly provide matrix image processing
capacity, and so forth.
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In consequence, every time a GIS is integrated
within an organization, the geomatician must
choose tools to gather and manage data which
are the most appropriate ones, according to the
type of data desired, the steps to be mastered
and the project characteristics, such as the
available resources, the anticipated costs, the
desired degree of accuracy and the deadlines
to be met. The best solution generally consists
of combining diverse tools, techniques and
methods, in such a way as to produce the
greatest amount of synergy among them.
[Bedard 1990]. (translattion from original).
This study has also identified the challenges to
CISM journal 1990.44:377-382.
be met with respect to educational programs, by
formulating the following recommendation,
among others:
That universities and technical institutes
review and revise their undergraduate and
graduate programs to emphasize and focus on
the objective of shifting the role of the survey-
ing and mapping community to one consisting
of the development, maintenance and manage-
ment of spatial information [Task Force 1985,
p. 76, recommendation #31].
At the governmental level, some important
initiatives have been taken to make the geomatic
approach a part of administrative structures and
technical operations. The Department of Energy,
Mines and Resources for Canada has defined,
among other things, a new national geomatics
strategy, in cooperation with industry, the
provinces, educational institutions and the profes-
sional environment [0' Donnell 1989]. As part of
this initiative, the Minister's Geomatics Council
and the Inter-Agency Committee on Geomatics
(IACG) [Government of Canada 1989] have been
created.
Similar action has been taken at the provincial
level to adopt a more integrated approach to coor-
dinate all activities pertaining to the production
and management of spatial information. In
Quebec, for example, the Council of Ministers
approved the implementation of a Geomatic Plan
in November 1988. This plan was intended to
establish the exact conditions for the systematic
implementation of geomatics-based technologies
[Gouvernement du Quebec 1989]. On a broader
scale, provincial and federal organizations across
Canada are now adopting approaches which com-
bine field surveying, photogrammetry and remote
380
A C S G C
sensing to update digital topographic mapping
compiled during the 1980s [Rapatz et al. 1990].
To meet the multidisciplinary demands of
their clients and to remain competitive on the
international market, major Canadian firms must
routinely provide a suite of products and services
requiring expertise in geodesy, surveying, pho-
togrammetry, hydrography, remote sensing, car-
tography and computer science [McLaughlin and
Coleman 1988].
In 1988, a wide-ranging restructuring process
resulted in the formation of the Geomatics Indus-
try Association of Canada (GIAC). As a part of
the expansion plan designed to ensure representa-
tion from all sectors of the geomatics industry in
Canada, the GIAC adopted a proposal which
would allow suppliers of software and geomatic
equipment to belong to this Association, which
now includes over 60 member businesses [Gov-
ernment of Canada 1990].
From the standpoint of academic programs,
significant restructuring has been conducted at the
university and collegiate levels. At Laval Univer-
sity's Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics, such a
restructuring process has led to the establishment
of a Bachelor's degree program in geomatics, in
September 1986 [Bedard et al. 1988], supported
by a completely renewed support infrastructure,
both in terms of human and technical resources
and in terms of scientific equipment.
To Summarize...
A new Context, a new Role,
a new Identification
We live in an information- and communica-
tions-based society. Since the beginning of the
decade, we have been experiencing a phenomenal
growth in information requirements linked to
knowledge, to administration, to the development
and to the rational use of the earth and its
resources. For Canada, this knowledge is even
more important: the country is immensely vast
and diverse, and its natural resources form the
very base of its economy.
Canada's natural resources are no longer con-
sidered to be inexhaustible. With the environment
seriously threatened by problems such as acid rain
and the use of toxic products, governments have
been prompted to implement legislation which
imposes new responsibilities on managers to
ensure the rational development, use and manage-
ment of the land and its resources.
During the past few years, these new respon-
sibilities have emerged in the municipal, agricul-
tural and forestry sectors, to name a few. Address-
ing these new responsibilities requires access to a
much larger database, and managers must seek out
efficient new tools to analyze and to manage the
 CIS M JOURNAL
information gathered. The increasing necessity to
integrate data from various sources, for example,
for environmental studies or land development,
results in the need for an approach which is both
systemic and meets the requirements at hand.
These new demands have resulted in an
increasingly wide-ranging and diversified use of
geomatics methods, tools and techniques. We
must now assume an identity which is no longer
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based on methods, tools and techniques alone -
as was often the case in the past - but which is
based on our role and our responsibilities.
A Definition
Geomatics is a field of scientific and technical
activities which, using a systemic approach, inte-
grates all means used to acquire and manage spa-
tially referenced data used in the process of produc-
ing and managing spatially-related information.
Objectives
CISM journal 1990.44:377-382.
Geomatics is intended to: [Beaulieu et al. 1990]:
• define the bases of the spatial reference;
• develop and use the methods, techniques
and tools to position and measure the
various spatially referenced objects and
phenomenon - existing or planned;
• to integrate or to render capable of being
integrated, the data obtained from the ref-
erence systems selected;
• provide quality data;
• improve their processing, storage and
distribution, through the benefits of com-
puterization.
Characteristics
Geomatics is characterized by the following
four elements:
1) Integration of the means used, that is:
• the methods, by calling on professional
expertise;
• the techniques, by calling on technical
expertise;
• the tools, by using the available instru-
ments.
2) Systemic approach
The synergy re:mlting from the integra-
tion of methods, techniques and tools
allows for optimization of the results
obtained.
3) Spatial reference
Information having a spatial reference asso-
ciated with an object or a phenomenon
A C S G C
includes, in general, the following data:
[Archambault and Bedard 1990]
• geometric data, which serve to deter-
mine the position and shape of the
object or phenomenon;
• descriptive data which serve to
describe the object or the phenomenon.
4) Multidisciplinary character at three
levels
• The disciplines themselves
• The tools used
• The applications.
To avoid confusion...
• Geomatics is an approach which may
be used in the development of a "spa-
tial information system". (Geomatics
can also be used for other purposes -
for example, environmental impact
studies).
• The computer system is a tool which
may be used in the development of a
"spatial information system".
• A spatial information system is
designed to be a means to achieving a
desired result, using an approach which
favors an optimal degree of integration
- an approach such as geomatics.
• The goal is a better knowledge con-
cerning a particular set of spatially
related problems and a better informed
decision making process.
To be distinguished:
A "spatial information system" is not
only a set of software, computers and
graphic peripherals.
A "spatial information system" is a set
of human and material resources coordi-
nated for the purpose of attaining an
objective: better knowledge of the delim-
ited portion of land or sea. This is, in
fact, an organizational structure which
allows for better acquisition and commu-
nication of spatially based information.
The following components are found in a
"spatial information system" [Gravel
and Bedard 1984].
• spatially related data,
• the procedures,
• the equipment, and
• human resources.
381
 CIS M JOURNAL
A GIS (geographic information system) is
often identified as being a software package which
provides digital cartography, database manage-
ment and spatial analysis capacities [Archambault
and Bedard 1990].
To Conclude...
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The initiative of these two Quebec Branches
to propose a change in the name of our Institute
confirms the reality of what the field of activities
for our members, from the scientific and profes-
sional standpoints, has now become. This new
identification is such as to encourage a greater
degree of interaction and a better integration of the
various disciplines and professions involved in the
production, the analysis and the management of
spatial data and information.
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CISM journal 1990.44:377-382.
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