Geomatics & Management MSc
Geospatial Engineering GEOG5007
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course is an introduction to Geospatial Surveying & Engineering.
Timetable
Classes will be normally be held during semester 2.
Assessment
Set exercise 40% (class test - Moodle Quiz)
Exam 60%
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
This course is an introduction to Geospatial Engineering i.e. geospatial surveying within the domain of civil engineering. The course will explore: the geometric design of engineering projects (e.g. roads, railways); the setting out of construction projects (buildings, roads, etc.); Coordinate Reference Systems used on engineering projects; Deformation Monitoring of structures; Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twins.
The course aims to:
■ Introduce the basic techniques for control surveys as applied to engineering projects
■ Outline the professional role of the surveyor in engineering works
■ Introduce the geometric design of engineering projects
■ Introduce Building Information Management (BIM) and Digital Twins
■ Explain the setting out of construction projects
■ Give practical experience in Engineering surveying techniques
■ Introduce aspects of deformation monitoring in engineering surveying
■ Discuss engineering applications and survey output requirements
■ Introduce the concept of risk and health and safety in the Geospatial Engineering sector
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
On completing this unit students will be able to:
■ Describe the surveyor's potential roles and outputs in construction projects
■ Relate the principles of surveying to engineering surveying tasks.
■ Compute basic earthworks areas and volumes using topographic and engineering data
■ Justify the technical and economic feasibility of a road project using projects evidences
■ Organise and perform the setting out of construction of a basic construction task in the field
■ Explain advancements in BIM and Digital Twins
■ Assess survey practice, hardware and software in the context of BIM and wider UK BIM policy
■ Prepare suitable risk assessments for proposed surveying tasks.
■ Propose economically viable survey workflows for a variety of geospatial engineering projects.