Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 SLCC General Catalog 
    
2020-2021 SLCC General Catalog [**** ATTENTION: YOU ARE VIEWING AN ARCHIVED CATALOG ****]

Surveying & Geomatics: CP (CTE)


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Certificate of Proficiency | 20 credits minimum

Natural Sciences and Engineering Division
Taylorsville Redwood Campus SI 241
General Information  801-957-4073
Program Information 801-957-4176
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising

Program Faculty
Associate Professors - Walter M. Cunningham, R. Adam Dastrup

Program Description
The Surveying & Geomatics Certificate of Proficiency is an interdisciplinary program addressing specific and fundamental competencies outlined and defined by Utah Statute 58-22  Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyor’s Licensing Act and Utah Administrative Rule R156-22 Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors Licensing Act Rules, in concert with the United States Department of Labor’s Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM), with an emphasis in geospatial technology, land boundary law, writing legal descriptions of land and real property, public land surveying, public records, surveying field techniques, photogrammetry,  governing state and federal laws, and surveying history.  The interdisciplinary approach and flexibility of the certificate allows students to apply geospatial knowledge and skill sets as it applies to geomatics and classical land surveying, or other chosen fields of study. More industries need a workforce trained in basic spatial knowledge and related skill sets. This certificate is meant to be a stackable credential, meaning students can use the spatial knowledge and technicals skills acquired to enhance their chosen field of study or employment.

Career Opportunities
Students completing the Surveying & Geomatics Certificate of Proficiency will be qualified for most entry-level surveying and geomatics positions, specifically in classical land, mapping, and construction surveying. Entry-level positions could include employment with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, transportation, public utilities, private sector positions, and military.

Surveying & Geomatics positions are extremely diverse and interdisciplinary, applicable, highly needed, and common to the following disciplines and industries: surveying, geography, cartography, geodesy, hydrography, urban planning and transportation, land development, land boundary and real estate law, architecture, civil and environmental and structural engineering, construction, public safety, homeland security, criminal justice and law enforcement, public health, forestry and agriculture, environmental science and wildlife conservation, energy management, natural resource management, history and archeology, sociology, the military, disaster response and mitigation, computer science, and more.

Transfer/Articulation Information
SLCC enjoys a strong Transfer Credit Agreement with the Utah Valley University (UVU) Geomatics BS Degree program.

Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Program/course fees: $150.00 course lab fees; $650.00 textbooks
Total of $150.00 in course fees, which also provides each student an educational license of the latest version of ArcGIS throughout the entire program.

Estimated Time to Completion
Full-time: 2 semesters (12 credit hours per semester)
Part-time: 3 semesters (6 credit hours per semester)

Licensure Information
Graduation from the Surveying and Geomatics program does not guarantee the ability to obtain a Utah state license to practice as a Surveyor. Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of each state. In order to practice as a Surveyor, students must satisfy individual state requirements, independent of SLCC graduation requirements. It is highly recommended that students consult in advance with the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), or similar agencies in other states, to find out more about eligibility for licensure. DOPL can be reached at 801-530-6628 or at their website.

For students who plan to work as a Surveyor in another state, here is one suggested website for researching state licensure requirements: License Finder sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. If you have difficulty finding the licensure requirements for your state, please contact your academic advisor or SLCC’s state authorization coordinator for help. 

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes

 

1 - Substantive Knowledge
2 - Communicate Effectively
3 - Develop Quantitative Literacy
4 - Think Critically
5 - Civic Engagement and/or Working Professionally

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the history, units of measure, terminology, and role of the surveyor in the progress of the United States of America.
Successful students will apply basic Earth geometry and geodesy concepts techniques relative to:

  • Geoids, ellipsoids, and spheres
  • World and local datums, geographic, state plane coordinate systems,  and projection.

Demonstrate and apply the knowledge to perform the basic types of surveys that will be required in the profession:

  • Plane and Geodetic
  • Control
  • Location and Navigation
  • Land Boundary
  • Private Lands
  • Public Lands
  • General  and Topographic Mapping
  • Construction

Demonstrate entry-level proficiency in all survey party roles, competence using modern high-tech surveying equipment and instruments, field notes, the ability to perform calculations, and competencies to work as an entry-level member of a survey crew.

Demonstrate and apply the knowledge of the Public Land Survey System relative to:

  • General and Special Instructions
  • Lost and obliterated corner monuments
  • Single and double proportions
  • Monumentation
  • Riparian boundaries laps
  • Hiatuses
  • Mineral surveys
  • Official documents

Demonstrate and apply the knowledge of writing legal descriptions relative to:

  • Writing and understanding legal descriptions
  • Required  parts of a legal description
  • Latent and patent ambiguities
  • Points of Beginning and Basis of Bearings
  • Interpretation of terms
  • Public Notice and recordation

Apply and demonstrate the knowledge of  photogrammetry relative to:

  • Photo identification
  • Stereographic Interpretation
  • Photo geometry
  • Measurements from aerial photography

Apply and demonstrate the knowledge of land boundary law relative to:

  • Land boundary surveyor responsibilities
  • Protecting rights, title, and interest of the land
  • Statute and common law
  • Ownership and conveying rights in land
  • Unwritten transfers of land
  • Practical location

Demonstrate and apply the knowledge of public records relative to:

  • Researching in law libraries
  • Public Notice
  • Recordation of conveyances, maps, plats, charts, and related documents.
  • Access to Government, quasi-public, and private records

Demonstrate and apply the knowledge of geospatial technology relative to:

  • Analyzing spatial patterns through the use of discipline related data, photogrammetry, satellite imagery, GPS, and a strong emphasis on Geographic Info. Systems (GIS).  

1

Apply surveying, mapping, and related techniques to communicate spatial and non-spatial data:

  • Apply cartographic principles to create and edit visual representations of spatial and non-spatial data including maps, graphs, charts, plats, and diagrams
  • Demonstrate appropriate results of surveys, classification, and symbolization.
  • Critique the design of a map or plat based on the intended audience

2

Demonstrate the ability to utilize the specialized formulas and mathematical functions; trigonometry, and algebra, relating to the skills an entry-level surveyor could be expected to perform in the office and field.

3

Demonstrate an ability to apply critical thinking in various geomatics environments

  • Apply various geospatial referencing techniques in relation to spheres, datums, coordinate systems, and projections
  • Assess the geometric relationship between datums and coordinate systems
  • Demonstrate an ability to transform geographic coordinate systems into plane projections and explain the various distortions that can occur
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of surveying  instruments, equipment, and measurements quality in terms of uncertainty within the data, accuracy, precision, primary versus secondary sources, and appropriate use of data for a particular project.

4

Analyze legal and ethical issues related to surveying data:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how surveying and mapping technology is used in government, military and homeland security, humanitarian work, environmental science and conservation, private sectors, non-profit organizations, and society at large.
  • The reinforcement of statutes, codes, and professional licensing laws that protect the environment, and the public health, safety, and welfare.

5

Develop professional skills related to the discipline and profession of geomatics.

  • Identify related fields that rely on geospatial measurements technology and that employ geospatial professionals
  • Participate in scientific and professional organizations
  • Demonstrate familiarity with codes of professional ethics and rules of conduct for geospatial professionals
  • Identify legal, ethical, and business considerations that affect an organization’s decision to share geospatial data
  • Demonstrate the ability to work on large projects and within teams

6

 

Advising Notes


Courses offered Online during Summer Semester are SVT 1010 , SVT 2050 , and GEOG 1800 .

Additional Program Notes


Students who need to take prerequisite classes to meet course requirements (see sample schedule) should plan on extra time to complete the Certificate. Onsite and hybrid SVT courses are taught in the evening and on Friday and Saturday to accommodate students already working in the profession. Courses available in a totally online format are: SVT 1010 , SVT 1110 , SVT 2050 , and SVT 2060 SVT 2160  & SVT 2170  are hybrid courses with special hours during Fall and Spring semesters, contact Program Coordinator at 801-957-4176 for detailed information.

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