Conclusion
If, today, someone chose to study Geodesy because he or she likes to be outdoors
to survey (as I did in 1957!), I am afraid that that individual will be disappointed
upon graduation. If, on the other hand you believe in the importance of
geographic information (as I would now!), and you have benefitted from the well
structured educational opportunity in Delft (Geodesy), then there are many fine
and challenging career opportunities, as long as you don't present yourself as a
geodetic surveyor. Have courage and call yourself a Geomatician or even better
a Geomagician. At least a credible prospective employer will ask: "Geomatician;
what is that?". That will open doors to many exciting challenges in government,
modern education institutions and the newly developing private sector which is
in the business of value added products and services in the field of geographic
information use.
Happy Birthday Snellius, the next generation will do you proud!
References
384
(1) Paradis, Michel; De l'arpentage a la géomatique, Canadian Surveyor, September 1981.
(2) Groot, Richard; Geomatics: a key to country development, ITC Journal, 1987-4.
(3) Brand, Stewart; The Media Lab, Inventing the Future at MIT, Penguin Books, 1988.
(4) Groot, Richard; Geintegreerde topografische kaartproductie; een oud concept in een nieuwe
technische omgeving, Kartografisch tijdschrift, 1988, XIV, 3.
(5) Groot, Richard; Meeting Education Requirements in Geomatics; Proceedings of Conference:
Challenge for the 1990's GIS, Ottawa, February 22-March 3, 1989.
(6) Pool, Ithiel do Sola; Technologies of Freedom: On Free Speech in the Electronic Age,
Cambridge, Harvard, 1983.
