,-\4 " k ,"I G 11'4;1IIII J! 41 All '\" " .... ,

proceeding of the trechnlcQI Session }J9S Ag/VI AJavQ '99

FACING THE CHALLENGES OF SPATIAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INTHE ~EXT MILLENNIUM THROUGH ADEQUATE TRAINING PROGRA~ME

By DR. O. KUFONIYI And SURV. S. A. .\IIBADEFederal School of Surveying, P. M. B. 1024, 0)'0. E-mail: gilab@/ssOJo.anpa.net.ng

AbstractrJ1bis paper focuses on the need for a modern survey curriculum1hi our tertiary institutions with strong emphasis ongeoiDformatics in order to prepare the Nigerian Surveyors for theiDimnation technology driven 21st centUry.

1b. sene as a proper perspective for geoinformatics training, thecomponents and subsystems of a Geospatial Information Systemare reviewed.

'lbe paper also gives the course structure for the new ND, HND,and post-HND programmes in Surveying and Geoinformaticscurrently being run by the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo.

1.0 IntroductionSurveying is often defined as the science and technology of takingmeasurements on, above and/or under the surface of the earth andthe representation of the same on a plan or map using appropriatescale. However, with the advent of Information Technology (11'),the FIG has proposed a more appropriate definition of a SurVeyoras a professional person with the acade@~ qualification andtechnical expertise to practise the science of measurement; assembleand assess land and geographic related information; use thatinformation for the purpose of planning and implementing theefficient administration of the land, the sea and structures thereon;and instigate the advancement and development of such, practices(NIS, 1997).As a result of advances in computer and space technologies,Surveying and Mapping have been totally revolutionized.Conventional methods and instruments in surveying and mappinghave been transformed to analytical and full digital. We now haveat our disposal, the use of Geoinformation '!echnology tools toperform our professional duties in efficient and effective ways.Instead of surveying, we now talk of Geoinformatics which standsfor the,body of knowledge (theory) that deals with the acquisition(using' different methods), processing and management, of geo- .information. Thus the understanding of concept and use ofvarious data acquisition techniques such as Land Surveying/Geodesy,Photogrammetry and Digital Image ProcessinglRemote Sensing foracquiring spatial data as input into a GIS database, the processingand management of such data and production of information fromsuch systems. In short, -the science and technology of theacquisition, storage, analysis, manipulatton and dissemination ofgeoinformation. (Kufoniyi, 1998a).Apart from the establishment of National Geodetic Framework(which also serves as framework for GIS applications) the otheraspects of surveying and mapping activities are now subsumed inGIS applications whose instrumentation and methods are fastbecoming a black box.

Nigerian surveyors must therefore, be necessarily well prepared toface the challenges of the next millennium as astute producers andmanagers of Geospatial Information. This means that appropriate.education and training schemes must be immediately put in placein order not to be left behind with the 20th century.This paper therefore focuses on the training needs of a SlJnqorto be able to face the challenges of the 21st century. 'lb pm thisin proper perspective, some basic aspects of Geo-spatial Iriformad.ODsystem (GIS), which will serve as the main tool of a Surve)ur in thenext millennium are discussed in the following section.

2.0 'Geographic Iofolmatton System (GIS)Geographic (or Geospatial) Information System can be defined ascomputerised tools for capturing, storing, checking, integrating,manipulating, analysing and displaying information which arespatially referenced to the earth. It is normally considered toinvolvea ~y referenced computer database and the appropriateapplication software. (Burrough, 1986)

2.1 Components of a GISA GIS consists' of the follOwingfive components (Kufoniyi, 1998a):

2.1.1 Hardware:These include:(a) Data acquisition hardware e.g. Computer-assisted (Land)

Surveying equipment like GPS, 'lbtal Station, Digital Level,Digital Theodolitej Hydrographic Surveying equipment likeBoat and Echo Sounder; .Analytical and Digitalphotogrammetry; Digitizer; Scanner etc.

(b) Data manipulation hardware such as Pentium based PCjarid(c) Information presentation hardware e.g Printer, Plotters and

Monitors.2.1.2 Software:Software components for data acquisition, database managementand information presentation e.g GISSoftware like ArcIInfo, Mapinfo,Idrisi, llWIS, Arcview etc; CADlike Autocad, Fastcad, Microstationetc; DBMS like dB~E, Access, Ingres and other Stmeyingcomputation software and image processing software.

2.1.3 Spatial Database:Spatial database is the heart of GIS. It contains structured realworld objects pertaining to one or more applications. Spatialdatabase consists of (a) geometric data of objects in forms aspoints, lines, areas and volume or in tesellation (e.g. Raster) form,and (b) attribute data (Kufoniyi, 1998b) (see figure 1) .. Thegeometric data consists of the object's location, the spatialrelationships between pairs of objects and the shape and size ofthe objects. The location data can be give(l in vector ,or rasterform.

proceeding of the tUlchnlcal Session }J9S 74.fjJVl.4kwa '99

Fig. 1. Spatial Object

In vector form we represent a spatial object as point, line or areaobject with X, Y, (,Z) or 4>, ",(,h) while in raster form werepresent a spatial object with its brightness value in cells or pixelswith rows, and columns.Shape and size can be determined from the object's locationalvalue so it is not necessary to represent them explicitly, i.e. oncecoordinates or cells are stored, shape and size are implicitly _stored. Similarly for metric relationships among objects i.e.distance, direction, etc.However, basic topologic relationships must be made explicit invector structure. Topologic relationships (e.g. adjacency andintersection) are those relationships which remain invariant undercertain topologic transformations like rotation, shift and scaling.Coordinate information is not required for their analysis in atopologic structureAttribute data are the observed facts about the objects i.e. non-spatial attributes. They are usually derived through social surveysor observation. Attribute data depend on the application e.g.attributes for land parcel may include owner, user, value and areaof a parcel while road's attribute may include name, nature,hierarchy, etc. The values of the attributes are themselves knownduring implementation. They must be stored explicitly in a spatialdatabase,

t2.1.4 Procedures:Procedures are the rules and algorithms used for the acquisition,management and display of data.2.1.5 Expertise: Expertise include the GISdesigner and operators.

2.1.6 GIS SubsystemsThe five components above can be grouped into three differentsubsystems (Kufoniyi, 1998) namely:-1. Data acquisition subsystem which includes all the hardware,

software, procedure and expertise used to acquire spatialdata for GIS implementation as indicated in Figure 2.

2. Database management subsystem. This will also include allthe hardware, software, the procedure and expertise usedfor the storage, manipulation, analysis and retrieval of thespatial data acquired with the first subsystem.

3. Information presentation subsystem which includes the. hardware, software, procedure and expertise for the presentation

of information derived from the second subsystem.All these subsystems need not be in the same room or location butthey must be configured to facilitate easy data transfer from onesubs#tem to the other.

Data Acquisition !\atabase Management Information PresentationSubsystem Subsystem Subsystem

I Digital Land & ~ Spatial Databasetlydrographic Management System Vi Hard copy

Surveying - Maps

Analytical and digital f / l--{ Screen Display-PhotogrammctrySpatial ./

Remote Sensing Database H Export Data

I'--N ReportsMap Digitising

I'-..N Statistical Data IScanning. r ,

I. Non Spa\ial yrAttribute Datal Entry

. Fig. 2 GIS Subsystems

),0 IMPUCATION FOR SURVEYING EDUCATION AND PRACfICE

From section 2, it is obvious·that additional activities have beenadded to the mandate of a SUrve)ur. Apart from being complRrliterate be must be good in Information Technology in order to berelevant in 1he 21st Century (i.e. be 21st Century compliant!).Unfortunately, it is convincingly clear that surveying education andpractice in Nigeria are lagging behind in the area of moderntechnology. As at now, very little has been done to modernise theeducation and practice of surveying and mapping in Nigeria.It is true that conventional surveying will remain with us forsometime due to low level of computer literacy and poor state ofour economy. For instance, EDM has been around for more than25 years ago, but how many survey offices have a single unit ofEDM today? Many offices are still using log tables for thecomputation of survey parameters.Nevertheless, modem technology must be embraced as a matter ofurgency so that we are not abandoned since many of these oldequipment are no longer produced by their respectivemanufacturers. Moreover, the use of modem technology increasesthe speed, accuracy and reliability of production and it is movingthe world from divergence to convergence. The production ofmaps now depends on the needs and taste of the client, since dataare simply stored in the computer and information are given asand when required (customised mapping).

3.1 Review of Academic Curricula

proceetlbtg of the 'teclualcal Session /tIgS Ag/Vl AIoWa '99. . .

Social, Economic and Lrgallssues

Artificial Intelligence ljfId exPert ~~.

Spatial analysis& .Visualization

Statistics

L Spatial I--Database

TSpatial Data Models

Spatial theory

'.

r.- ~ Mathematics, .Computer Science, Psychology,

Linguistics, Philosophy, etc..

Figure 3: Spatial Information System and Supporting Knowledge.

Fi~ 2 and 3 indicates the' elements that must be ~ intoconsideration when dereloping a Geoinformatics Curriculum.

A close obseIV3lion of the nyo figures indicates that, apart from thebasic knowledge required for surveying as a data acquisition field,other subject.areas are now required to make a surveyor an expertin GIS. Four broad specialised areas can be identified:(a) Spatial data acquisition (instrumentation & methods)

0) Computer-aided Surveying (land and hydrographic)(ii) Analytical and Digital Photogrammetry(ill) Remote sensing(iv) Conversion of analogue map and other geospatial data

into digital from using manual digitizing and scanning.(v) Attribute data collection methods (e.g. social survey)

(b) Spatial data management (instrumentation and methods)which requires knowledge of database design and creation,database management systems, data transfer and exchange,spatial query development, spatial statistics, etc.

(c) Cartography and Geoinformation VISualisation, dealing withdata formats and information presentation; and

, (d) Geospatial Information Infrastructure and Managementdealing with such aspects as spatial data $laodard, GISpolicy, implementation issues, etc.

Relevant to each of.the 'four broad areas are fundamental subjectssuch as mathematics (including set theory, graph theory andalgebraic topology), computer science, artificial intelligence andexpert system.Thus, it is necessary to design new smveying curricula whichwould address the four groups above as well as the fundamentalsubjects to be able to produce Surveyors who will be experts in~informatics and therefore, 21st Century-Compliaot!

./.

It is true that people with little education can use the modemtechnology or black box technology, but without experts, -seriousmistakes can pass unnoticed. For instance, in using GPS,knowledgeof the relationship between the ellipsoid and geoid is essential.Many organisations are producing maps, using GIS which may begood enough for their own use but we need a cartographer whois good in modem technology (digital cartography) to supervisethe production of digital maps for diverse users.~, Surveyors should be trained at conceptual level so that theycan be versed not only in the use of GIS packages but also in GISdevelopment which will go a long way in conserving our foreignexchange, increase productivity and therefore revamp the economy.In short a modem Surveyor should be well trained in the threesubsystems of GIS.Since tertiary institutions are centres for learning and research, theintroduction of modem technology should start from them. So, wejoin Fajemirokun (1998) in calling on UNCto fonow the footstepsof her counterpart in charge of technical education (NBTE) who inMarch, 1998 took a bold step by organising a workshop on thereview of survey curricula in Polytechnics in collaboration with theFederal School of Surveying, Oyo. We are also aware that theDepartment of Surveying at the University of Lagos recently carriedout a review of its survey curricula, JlWaiting approval of therelevant authorities.

3.2 The New Survey Curricula for Polytechnics andFederal School of Surveying, 010.

3.2.1 The New CurriculaAccording to the report on curricula 'review workshop organisedby NBTEin collaboransn with the Federal School of Surveying, Oyoin March, 1998, held at the Federal School of Surveying, thefollowing programmes, were recommended:0) National Diploma (ND) in Surveying and Geoinformatics.(ii) Higher National Diploma (HND) in Surveying and

Geoinformatics(ill) Professional Diploma (PD) i.e. Post HND in SUn'eying and

Geoinformatics.

The course structure for the programmes which took into•consideration the points raised in Section 3.1 are as follows:(a) National Diploma in Surveying and Geo-Informatics

Basic Principles in Surveying I & 11Introduction to Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing I & 11Basic Principles in Cartography I & 11Introduction to ComputerIntroduction to StatisticsLogic & Linear AlgebraMechanics & Properties of Matter & HeatUse of English ICitizenship Education I & 11Cadastral Surveying I, 11& IIIComputer Application IAlgebra & Elementary 'nigonometryCommunication in English I

proceeding Of tit. treclutlcal S••• /oft }IriS A.fj/Vl Akwa '99

Field Astronom~ & nSurveying Instnnnent IControlSurveysElements of Geo-infonnaticsDatabase Creation and UseOptics, Waves, Electricity & MagnetismCalculusIntroduction to SociologyEngineering Sutveying I1bpograpbical Surveying I'Jiigonomeuy & Analytical GeomeuyFmal Projects

(b) lligher National Diploma (HND)Cadastral Surveying IV & VAstronomy ID & IVSurvey InstrumentGeodetic surveying I & n1bpograpbical SurveyingFlectromagnetism; Terrestia1 ~ Plainmeuy phySicsFundamentals of ComputerFlements of PhotogrammMry .Advanced AlgebraCommunication Skill IDEngineering SurveyingAd;ustment Computation I & 11Physical Optics; Atomics & Nuclear PhysicsComputer ApplicationPrinciples of Geo-InfonnaticsAdvanced CalculusHydrograpbic SurveyingAnalytical and Digital PhotogrammeuyDigital MappingAutomated SurveyingGeograpbic Infonnation System ToolsManagement in SurveyingDigital CartographyIntroduction to Environmental StudiesFrench for BeginnersOutline History of AfricaFinal Projects .

(c) Professional Diploma (Post IIND) in Surveying andGeo-InfonnaticsAdvanced Computer ProgrammingComputer Aided SurveyingSatellite GeodesyPnndples of GISRemote SensingAdvanced.Analytical & Digital PhotogrammetryAdvanced Hydrographic Surveying . •Advanced MathsAdvanced Map PrOjection & Co-ordinate SystemsGeometric Geodesy

Physical Adjustment ComputationDatabase Design & CreationGIS Hardware & SoftwareAdvanced Digital MappingProfessional PracticeSurvey & Allied RegulationsDigital Terrain ModellingGIS ApplicationsGIS Project Planning & ManagementSeminarFinal Project

The list of the equipment needed to run the new programme is assho~ in table 1:

Table1: EquipmentRequiredfor the Programme

Equipment Optimum S)Stan RequIredPersonal Computers 4 Students to 1 PC

GPS 3 Sets

1btal Station 6Digital Level 6Digitizer (various sizes) 12

Scanner (various sizes) 6Gravimeter 1

Digital theodolite 6Digilallb10gcunmwx WotkUioo 2

Digital Image Processing System 1

Hydro Positioning Equipment 1

Plotter (various sizes) 3GIS Software (different types) 6

3.2.2 Change in NomenclatureWith the change in the programme name from Surveying toSurveying and Geoinfonnatlcs, the need to change the name of the .department in our institutions from Surveying to Department ofSurveying and Geoinfonnatics is necessary. The renaming shouldbe simultaneously introduced with the new curricula.This will immediately disseminate the modernisation of Surveyingprogramme and consequently, the profession. It will also improvestudents' interests in our profession.

3.2.3 Present Situatton at tbe Federal School' 0/Surveying, Oyo.

In a bold step, the Federal School of Sutveying, Oyo started thenew programmes in the current 199B199 Session. The rate ofdevelopment toward modemisadon at the School is really movingfast.

Proceeding of tlte tr«lutlcal Sasio'"ir }J9S AgM 14kwa '99

At the beginning of the current.Academic Session (199&'99) j the Table 2: Short-Term course and their Iluration.. School bad fully, in a revolutionary way, transformed all its

programmes from analogue to digital in line with the NBTEcurricula.

(a) Available Programmes and Entry RequirementsThe following courses are now available at the school:

(i) National Diploma (ND) in Surveying.andGeoinfonnatics ..4 Semesters

(ii) Higher National Diploma (HND) in Surveying andGeoinfonnatics . .. 4 Semesters

(ill) Pre-Professional Diploma (PPD) in Surveying and. .Geoinfonnatics......... . . 2 Semesters

. (iv) Professional Diploma (PD) in Surveying andGeoinfonnatics .3 Semesters

(v) Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in GIS.... 12 Months

1be following are the admission requirements:(1) ND:- WASCor its equivalent with at least four credits in

relevant subjects, two of which must include Mathematics andJbWcs and the other two in any of the following:- Chemistry,statistics, Biology/Aggc, Economics, Government etc.

(n) HND:- 10 addition to (I) above, ND lower credit fromFederal School of Surveying, Oyo or upper credit from otherNBTEaccredited Polytechnics.

(m) PPD:- B.Sc. with. at least Second Class Lower division incognate subjects (Mathematics, Physics, Civil Engineering,

··Geography etc.).

(IV) ID:- HND upper credit, or PPD from Federal School ofSurveying, Oyo.

(V) . PGD GIS:- Degree holders in cognate subjects with at least. second class lower division or HNDupper credit orProfessional Diploma with Lower Credit in cognate subjects.

10 3.ddition 19 the programmes listed above, a newly a createdHuman Resources/Development Unit (HRDU) of the Schoolcommenced short tenn courses in February ~ years in ComputerApplication and a 6 months Certificate Course in GIS. The shorttenn course that are currently available are in table 2

SIN Course Level Duration1. VVordProcessing. Certificate 3 ~6nths2. Data Processing and

.(\dministrativ~ Management Certificate 3 Months3. FinanCial Management Certificate 3 Months•4. Computer Programming Ce~cate 3 Months5. Computer Programming Advanced Certificate 6 Months6. Computer Centre and

business Management Advanced Certificate 4 Months7. Accounting and Financial

Management Advanced Certificate 4 Months8. Management Information

Systdm Advanced Certificate 6 Months9. Desktop Publishing Advance Certificate 3 Months10. Computer Engineering Advanced Certificate 6·Months11. Geographic Information

System Advanced Certificate 6 Months

(b) EquipmentThe school is reasonably eq!Iipped with the necessary hardwareand software some of which are listed below:

Hardware:GPS,.Total Station, Digital level, Pentium Computers, Digitizes (AO& A3), Scanners, Printers, A4» Plotter, furnished air-conditionedcomputer rooms and geoinfonnatics laboratory, physical laboratoryand well equipped library.

Software:-Various types of software have- been acquired. They include GISsoftware like nWIS ver. 2.2>IDRISI, Mapinfo, ArdInfo, Arcview,ArcCADand Atlas GIS. Database Management ~ e.g dBase(for DOS and Windows) and Access. MaPublisfied and AldusFreehand are also available for Com.pliterAssisted Cartography .(CAC). Also available are Autocad Rek!as(t13 and 14 for ComputerAided Drawing; Word 97, word Perfecrai\4' other related packagesfor word processing and spreadsheetlike Lotus 1-2-3- and Excelfor windows. Of course locally developed software for surveycomputationS and plotting are also available apart from theproprietary software USCAD.

Internet Services:The School is also connected to the world through internet. Ourinternet services at the moment cover www., FTP e-mail to Fax.Arrangement is being made to establish the school's website. Oure-mail addressiscU:lb@fsSO$>.aopa.net.ng. Although the list ofequipment looks impressive, the school still require more modernequipment to improve the present student/equipment ratio.

(c) Futu~e PlansPlans of the school in the immediate future include nmoing ofJoint M. Sc. Programmes, in Geoinformatics with other higherinstitutions. To this end, discussions are being held with the

proceeding of the tfechnlcal Session }J9S "'gM .4.Icwa199

Departments of Stnveying in the. University of Lagos and Universityof Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

In addition, arrangements have almost been concluded with theInternational Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences(ITC), Enschede, The Net~erlands, to add their Geoinformaticsspecialisation modules to the school" PGD GIS as from 199912000session leading to a Joint Professional Master Degree Programme.

The School is also willing to assist organisations in any customisedtraining programme e.g. the mature-candidates' training programmebeing initiated by NiS.

4.0 ConclusionIn the foregoing sections, Geographic Information System (GIS),its components and subsystems ft'ave been discussed. Also,discussed is-the need to change the surveying training systems toreflect modem technology. Review of academic curricula werealso looked into. The course structure recommended by NBTEincollaboration with the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo was alsopresented

Furthermore, the present situation at Federal School of Surveyingwas discussed including the newly introduced short term coursesin computer applications and GIS.

Some of the future plans at the Federal School of Surveying werealso mentioned.

Many people in recent tfmes have made it absolutely clear that itis time to change from analogue to digital to avoid being leftbehind and that Surveyors should retrain themselves in modemtechnology as soon as possible. This call has also been fullysupported in this paper. To achieve this, all institutions(Polytechnics and Universities) must review their academic curriculawithout further delay especially if they want to remain relevant inthe 21st millennium. The department's name must also be changedto reflect the modem technology.

We will end this paper with a posser: what name should we. callourselves in the next millennium?

REFERENCES

Burrough, D. A. (1986): Principles of Geographical InfonnationSystems for Land Resources ,Assessment. Clarendon Press,Oxford, ]94 pp

Fajemirokun, F. A. (1998): Survey Iraining in Nigena in theNext Millennium. The 90th Anniversary Lecture of theFederal School of Surveying, Oyo.

Kufoniyi, O. (1998a): Basic Concepts in GIS. In: Principles andApplications of Geographic Information Systems (C.U. Ezeigbo,Ed.) Department of Surveying, University of Lagos, p 1 - 15

Kufoniyi, O. (1998b), Surveying and Information Technology.Presented at the Quarterly Luncheon Lecture Series of theNigerian lnstitutiorr of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos State Branch.PI - 27

NIS (1997): NIS Newsletter. Vol12 No. 2, 12pp