Symposium Program

In the late ‘70’s, John Wightman was having conversations with Roger Tomlinson , Ray Boyle and CCRS scientists on the expansion of programs and the adoption of new digital technologies at the Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute (NSLSI). Subsequently, I was recruited in 1980 to teach Scientific Computer Programming (the language and the application). My background was Computer technology and Geographic Science. In 1986, NSLSI was renamed the College of Geographic Sciences (COGS). It included technical education in both GIS and Remote Sensing at the post-graduate diploma level. In 1989, the college was incorporated into the NSCC. It became the Centre of Geographic Sciences with a focus on programming and industry training. The author returned to COGS in 2000 to establish the Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) along side Chris Hopkinson, Tim Webster, David Colville and others. He retired from COGS in 2011. This presentation can be divided into three parts: the history, the present and the future. Historically, the emphasis was on programming and the application of GIS and Image Analysis systems. There was a close relationship with Canadian technology companies: DIPIX, TYDAC and PCI, as well as Esri in California. Every graduate completed a capstone project in the final semester with either industry, government or an NGO. Today, the same philosophy applies. The difference is the availability of software and data sets online, also new sensors e.g. LiDar and drones. Educationally, with the establishment of AGRG, there is also a direct link to graduate work at Acadia University. Current COGS programs include graduate certificates in GIS, Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data Analytics. The future is likely best defined by a couple of links provided to the author, by Derek Weatherbe at Esri, and Michael Goodchild (emeritus professor at UCSB).