MASTERS BY COURSEWORK
Master of Geospatial Science
Melbourne City
We prepare you for leadership roles in geospatial science, building your understanding of spatial analytics and big spatial data for making critical decisions about our built and natural environment.
Geospatial scientists are experts in using spatial analytics to make sense of big spatial data captured from the latest sensor technologies.
A Master of Geospatial Science will equip you with the advanced skills required for leadership roles in government, industry, and research.
Gain the professional-level expertise in the analysis, management, capturing and visualisation of spatial information, and become proficient in the latest technologies and infrastructures to support these skills.
With a history of more than 50 years in geospatial science at RMIT, the program is delivered by a team of world-leading academics in the field.
With unparalleled industry connections, the program provides rigorous scientific training in geospatial science and is grounded in the technical and practical knowledge required for the workplace.
Through the program you will develop a unique breadth of expertise across geospatial science, including:
- knowledge of fundamental spatial information technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), spatial databases, and cloud and mobile geospatial computing.
- advanced skills in mapping and visualisation for creating engaging and interactive geospatial presentations.
- knowledge of the latest spatial data capture systems, including satellite remote sensing, GPS satellite positioning, drone and aerial imagery, wearable sensors, sensor networks, and crowdsourced data.
- specialised knowledge in key areas that complement geospatial science, and tailored to your specific needs, which may include environmental science, natural resource management, computer science, business and project management, architecture and urban planning, mathematics or statistics.
With a Master in Geospatial Science, you’ll be equipped to meet the growing national and international demand for expertise in spatial analytics, spatial data management, cartography, positioning, and remote sensing.
Geospatial science is a highly practical discipline and this underpins the learning environment in the program.
The primary modes of delivery are face-to-face lectures, tutorials and extensive practical activities.
All courses use online learning materials to support the teaching and learning program.
Students have the opportunity to engage in field excursions, camps and other off-site activities.
RMIT has extensive links with industry across all aspects of spatial sciences, including remote sensing, geographic information systems, geovisualisation, photogrammetry, surveying, cartography, and land administration and land management.
The program has strong links across industry with many opportunities for you to participate in industry-related teaching and learning activities such as field and project work.
As part of the program you can conduct research by liaising with industry to define/create a problem; undertake an analysis and create a report; and finally present your research and receive feedback from industry partners.
The program enjoys an excellent reputation and is widely recognised by industry employers as producing graduates who are well informed, motivated, adaptable and industry-ready.
Graduates are well equipped to take on advanced roles within the spatial sciences in an industry, government or research context.
The skills are in high demand both nationally and internationally across a wide range of industries and the government sector including:
- environment and natural resources, such as environmental impact assessments, environmental monitoring, and agriculture and forestry
- land development, such as land use planning, geodesign, spatial data infrastructures, and sustainable development
- mining and exploration, including mineral exploration and environmental engineering
- facilities management and construction, including site selection, insurance and logistics
- transportation and utilities, such as water demand modelling, transport planning, mapping and navigation, and intelligent transportation
- governance and policy, including urban planning, e-government and community mapping
- emergency and disaster management, such as bushfire mapping, flood awareness, biosecurity, evacuation and emergency response
- data analytics and ICT, including mobile and wearable computing, web-mapping, cloud computing and interactive visualisation.
Professional recognition and accreditation
Graduates are eligible for admission to the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute of Australia (SSSI).
Graduates may also be eligible for membership of the Mapping Sciences Institute of Australia (MSIA).
The program is also currently applying for accreditation with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Professor Allison Kealy is the program coordinator.
Professor Simon Jones (professor of Remote Sensing) is internationally renowned for his research in remote sensing, land cover, and change mapping.
Professor Matt Duckham (discipline leader of Geospatial Science) has taught GIS on five continents, and is a co-author of a major textbook on GIS (GIS: A Computing Perspective).
Dr Karin Reinke (senior lecturer) is an expert in resource management and environmental monitoring, particularly with applications to wildfire management.
Dr Gang-Jun Liu (senior lecturer) is an expert in GIS, in particular in the industry-standard ESRI ArcGIS platform.
Associate Professor Colin Arrowsmith is a research leader in geography and GIS, with particular expertise in the areas of tourism and cultural heritage.
Info Corner
330 Swanston Street (cnr La Trobe Street)
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel. +61 3 9925 2260
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Program and course information
Key content
Natural resource management and geography
Graduates are suitable for roles including agricultural and environmental scientists, cartographers, computer scientists, engineers, foresters, geographers and planners, geologists and surveyors.