The Geo Day of Troy University introduces students to the geomatic career

Over 350 students visited the sixth annual Geo Day of the Geospatial Informatics Department on Thursday, March 16 at Troy University. The Geo Day gives high school students from the Drahegrass an insight into the geospatial industry and the opportunity to gain practical knowledge.

Dr. Steve Ramroop, program director of surveying and geomatics sciences, said Geo Day was a great opportunity to present the next generation of College students in a growing career area with new technology.

“Geo Day is an event at which we can present geospatial informatics and the diverse use of advanced technologies that are applied to our many workflows in many careers/disciplines,” he said. “It is a time to suspend the younger generation that interests you, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and many others.

Throughout the Day, Students Had the Opportunity to Attend Workshops and Demonstrations Hosted by Industry Professionals, Including Sessions Titated Technologies ”from SurvTech,“ Modern Survey Technology ”from the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors,” and Unmanned Aerial Systems ”and a Mobile Mapping Truck Demonstration from the Alabama Department of Transportation, Plus A Session on Geospatics Programs Hosted by Troy Faculty and a Lesson on Geospatial Technologies moderated by Dewberry Engineering.

Sharon White, a consultant at the Greensboro High School, brought her Junior 4-H-Tech Changemaker's student to the Geo-Day to present them in a career field that they may have never heard of.

“We do a lot of things with technology and even try to train other community members, so I wanted you to come here and see all the things that Troy offers, and also to see majors that you may not have heard of yet, especially many careers that are connected to the geospatial industry,” she said. “I learned exactly as today and I have the feeling that I better lead you to this career path.

O'Brendan Jones, a student in the second year of the Luerne High School, said he wanted to come to the geo-day to find out potential opportunities for him after the high school.

“To hear from all the career opportunities that this field definitely opened my eyes and gave me the experience I needed,” he said. “I also learned more about Troy and everything else that it has to offer.”

Jadin Harris, also in the second year at the Luerne High School, said he knew nothing about geomatics or geospatial informatics, but wanted to learn more.

“I was really curious about what it was, so I decided to find out more,” he said. “I learned a lot today and I am really interested in the drones and the map cameras.

Carson Merritt, a junior geomatics major from Gray, Georgia, served as a volunteer during the Geo day and said that the event was an important way to recruit students.

“I know that not a lot of people know about this major. So it is a good way to get you young information and have them in the mix when you decide which college you want to go on and on which major you want to pursue,” he said. “I think the more people hear about it, the more it is such an interesting job.

The Ministry of Geospatial Informatics is the home of the course for measurement and geomatics sciences, The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Major and Minor, Geography Minor and The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Employers regularly contact the Geospatial Informatics department to search for qualified interns and graduates to join their teams.

Further information on the Department of Geospatial Informatics can be obtained from department secretary Denise Matthes at dmatthes@troy.edu or 334-808-6727.