Houghton, MI — Michigan Technological University’s bachelor’s degree program in Surveying Engineering has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering & Technology (ABET).
The program has always been accredited in some capacity since its beginning in the School of Technology in 1984; however, the program’s curriculum redevelopment in 2006 required an update because bachelor’s degree engineering courses replaced associate degree courses.
As the field continues to advance, the faculty members in the Surveying Engineering program provide students with cutting-edge technology throughout their coursework. By developing partnerships with industry representatives, students are prepared to work in industry from day one because of their experience with equipment ranging from Robotic Total Stations to GPS to LiDAR scanners. Students also have access to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Kite Image Acquisition Systems to map small- to medium-sized areas or locations that are hard to reach on foot.
“We prepare Surveying Engineers of the future here through hands-on experiences in geospatial science,” said Eugene Levin, program chair. “Our students’ combination of training and education makes us confident that they are not only prepared for successful work in the field, but are aware of modern trends in geospatial technology and industries.”
To gain a deeper understanding of the many areas of surveying, students can choose from one of four concentrations, including Geodesy, Cartography, Photogrammetry, and Geographic Information Systems. Students gain an even better understanding of the world of surveying by working through real-world problems in capstone senior design and Digital Mapping Enterprise projects with industry leaders.
Students can take their education a step further at Michigan Tech by completing a master’s degree in Integrated Geospatial Technology, where they will gain an in-depth knowledge of geospatial science, remote-sensing technology, earth observation systems, and the software used to interpret and visualize geospatial data.
“The profession of surveying engineering is changing and has been changing,” said James Frendewey, dean of the School of Technology. “As a result of the new equipment, surveyors are able to achieve higher rates of productivity. Upon graduation, our students are ready to take the Fundamentals of Surveying exam, their first step toward licensure as a professional surveyor.”