University of New BrunswickGeodesy and Geomatics Engineering

GGE Home

2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007
2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000 · 1999 · 1998 · 1997 · 1996 · 1995

 · What is RSS?

GGE News - 2001

Old Macs Never Die

Starting way back in 1995 (see original story), the department has donated retired Apple Macintosh computers to Albert Street Middle School, Fredericton.

The latest donation, a Power Macintosh 8500/180, is used by the Physical Education Department to manage its curriculum as well as its many intramural and interscholastic sports - from badminton to wrestling.

Click on the thumbnail image to fetch the full-sized version, 50 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences Honours Adam Chrzanowski

Adam Chrzanowski was at the Polish Embassy in Ottawa on 3 December 2001 to receive the prestigious Diploma of Membership in the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. Mr. Pawet Dobrowski, Ambassador of the Polish Republic, presented Adam with his document of membership. Although the Plenary Assembly of the Academy elected Adam to become a foreign member, his election had to be approved by the President of the Polish Republic. The Academy restricts membership to 400 individuals, which puts Adam in very elite, but well-deserved, company.

Adam's nomination reflects his many important contributions to the field of surveying engineering, particularly to engineering and mining surveying, over his long career.

Click on the thumbnail image to look at photos taken during the ceremony and the certificate, 74 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Engineering Faculty Announces Dean's List for 2000-2001

One hundred and eighty-one students in the faculty of engineering at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton have earned a place on the Dean's List for 2000-01. The dean of engineering, John Christian, announced that these full-time students attained a sessional grade-point average of 3.7 or an A- on at least 24 credit hours of course work to qualify for the list. During the 2000-01 academic year, 973 full-time students were enrolled in UNB's undergraduate programs in chemical, civil, computer, electrical, geological, geomatics, and mechanical engineering.

The department's students receiving this accolade are:

Scott Adams and Jonathan Beaudoin, Fredericton, N.B.
Katie Munroe, Nackawic, N.B.
Eric Quirion, Oromocto, N.B.
Karen Cove, Riverview, N.B.
Beth-Anne Martin, Wasis, N.B.
Robert Kingdon, Bridgewater, N.S.
Jason Bond, Judique, N.S.
Neil Kussat, Coquitlam, B.C.
Valerie Michel, France
Congratulations to you all.

Back to the top of the page

Ocean Governance GEOIDE Network Meets

On 30 November, the Ocean Governance GEOIDE network met again in Fredericton (see previous story). The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss the progress on the continental shelf delimitation and the New Brunswick administrative boundaries issues. Our local partners (Service New Brunswick, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and CARIS) contributed actively to the discussion on the research problems and potential research spinoffs.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look at the participants, 34 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Girls Day Out

The halls of the engineering building were ringing with young voices on 29 November 2001. Over 100 young high school women had come to UNB to learn about careers in computer science and engineering. Here by choice rather than coercion, our guests were divided into groups of about 20, escorted to either computer science, civil engineering, or the two demonstrations we had running in the Department.

A fun time was had by all, and we hope to see some of these young people back in our department as undergraduates.

Click on the thumbnail image to look at photos taken during the visit, 115 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Fall 2001 Semi-Annual Technical Conference

Our most recent semi-annual student technical conference occurred on 28 November 2001. The graduate side of the event was organized by Richard Chan and Garret Duffy. Kevin Pegler organized the undergraduates. The first session, on GIS/LIM, was chaired by Tomas Beran, and the second session, on Ocean Mapping/GPS, was chaired by Sara Cockburn.

Click here for a complete schedule of events and abstracts of the presented papers.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look at some of the conference participants, 34 KB.

Back to the top of the page

GGE Students at Atlantic Oil and Gas Innovation Forum

Fifteen graduate and undergraduate students from the Department acted as rapporteurs and registration assistants for the Atlantic Oil and Gas Innovation Forum held in Charlottetown, P.E.I., on 14-16 November 2001. Sponsored by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Forum was designed to help government and industry stakeholders to seek technical and policy innovation related to the oil and gas industry. The students recorded discussions at roundtables designed to expand on the innovation needs and answer certain pre-defined questions.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look at some of the GGE participants, 68 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Michael Sutherland Down Under

Michael Sutherland (Ph.D. candidate) has always had an unusual view of the world and certainly had difficulties in Brisbane in September keeping right side up.

Michael presented a collaborative paper on Hydrographic Education in North America (HENA). This is a joint venture among GGE (including Ocean Mapping and the Canadian Hydrographic Service); the Joint International Hydrographic Applied Science Program, offered by the University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Marine Sciences (with the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office); and the University of New Hampshire's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping / Joint Hydrographic Center (with NOAA). Despite the amusement of the moderator, Michael says the Australian Institute of Surveyors took this joint venture very seriously as a way to develop collaborative programs in the future.

Back to the top of the page

Canadian Centre for Geodetic Engineering and Focus Corporation Form Strategic Alliance

On 18 September 2001, the Canadian Centre for Geodetic Engineering (CCGE) of the Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering and Focus Corporation (www.focus.ca) of Edmonton, Alberta, signed an agreement to form a strategic alliance to carry out research and development collaboratively in geodetic and engineering surveys of high precision.

The alliance will facilitate access by Focus to new methods and techniques developed by CCGE through graduate courses and through personal contacts between CCGE and Focus. The alliance will provide CCGE with an additional source of funding to enhance their research capabilities and project scope. "We see the alliance as a win-win for both sides; we can enhance our research and development and provide skill sets that will complement Focus's core strength in geomatics, engineering, planning, and land management services," explained Dr. Chrzanowski, director of CCGE.

The alliance will provide consulting services to private and public sector clients involved in large engineering and geoscience projects. Services will include geodetic surveying, deformation monitoring and analysis, numerical modelling and prediction of ground subsidence, design of tunnelling and mining surveys, high precision alignment, and customized software development. Training and knowledge transfer will also be provided. "We are excited about the opportunity to work closely with CCGE and Dr. Chrzanowski," explained John Holmlund, CEO of Focus. "The alliance is consistent with our strategy to pursue partnerships that are conducive to further corporate growth and development," added Holmlund.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a look at the first display of the alliance's work, 39 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Dr. Yun Zhang Makes a Splash in Local Press

Dr. Yun Zhang, an assistant professor in the Department, has developed a novel technology for generating simultaneous two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) colour remote sensing images. The image can be seen in normal 2-D colour but also in 3-D colour when inexpensive stereo glasses are used. His invention was featured in two articles that appeared recently in the local press: namely,
Telegraph Journal, August 17, 2001
Inventor seeks market for 3D
Innovation: New 3D imaging technology produces easy-to-use photographic maps
By Tali Folkins

Atlantic Business Regional Magazine, Aug/Sept, Vol. 12, No.4
Invent This, New Brunswick Scientists Know no Limit, Cover Story
By Sandra Phinney

Click on the thumbnail image to look at Dr. Zhang using his invention, 36 KB. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Roach, Sunniside Media, 2001-08-31)

Back to the top of the page

Visiting Brazilian Student Wins Best Paper in Session at ION Meeting

Mariangel Fedrizzi, a visiting student studying under Profs. Richard Langley and Marcello Santos in the Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, won a best-paper-in-session award at The Institute of Navigation's GPS 2001 meeting held in Salt Lake City last month.

Ms. Fedrizzi is a Ph.D. student from the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research. She is spending one year at UNB to study the use of GPS for examining the Earth's ionosphere.

Ms. Fedrizzi won the award for her paper "The Low-latitude Ionosphere: Monitoring its Behaviour with GPS" which was co-authored by Richard Langley, Attila Komjathy (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology and UNB alumnus), Marcelo Santos, Eurico Rodrigues de Paula (INPE), and Ivan Jelinek Kantor (INPE).

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look, 40 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Welcome to Dave Carney

David T. Carney, joined the Department in early September 2001 as our first Executive in Residence. Mr. Carney, of Geomatics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, under the terms of the Public Service Commission of Canada's Interchange Canada program, will be with us for a year. Some of his contributions will involve the Department's strategic growth and outreach efforts to increase the number and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate students. Dave will be assisting GGE faculty in developing new strategic relationships or enhancing existing ones with other UNB departments and other institutions in Canada and overseas. He will be helping GGE faculty to identify, assess, and pursue new externally-funded international research and training possibilities. He also will be helping us to re-establish a program advisory committee, to develop proposals for research chairs, and to propose a sustainable, internal student recruiting program.

Mr. Carney brings to the University a wealth of experience in organizing, instituting, and managing programs and services. For instance, most recently he was with the Canadian Hydrographic Service leading a major study to redesign the organization, structure, and delivery of the national hydrographic program. Previous to this he was Director General of Policy and Planning with NRCan (for Geomatics Canada and the Geological Survey of Canada), providing management services for a multi-million dollar budget and 1600 employees. He has also managed the national topographic mapping program, the National Atlas of Canada, the aeronautical charting program for Canada, and the federal GIS Division.

Dave has won a number of awards, ranging from the Governor General of Canada's Medal for contributions to Canada and Canadians, the Gold Medal from the International Cartographic Association, and a U.S. Presidential Citation for geographic support to the Gulf War. He has chaired such gatherings as the federal-provincial Canadian Council on Geomatics, the federal interdepartmental Inter-Agency Committee for Geomatics (GeoConnections), the NATO Geographic Standards Committee, the National Working Group on Excellence in Geomatics, and the Geomatics Canada Revolving Fund Committee.

Dave hasn't found Crabbe Mountain on the map yet, but plans on doing some skiing during his sojourn with us. We all welcome yet another Dave to the fold (he makes number 5), and hope that this year will be of benefit to him as we know his presence will be to us.

Back to the top of the page

First Nation Research on the Back of a Bike

In August 2001, Ken Paul (M.Eng. candidate) and three others from the Department attended a workshop in Campbell River, Vancouver Island, B.C., on community mapping of the shore zone. This was in conjunction with one of the three new Department of Fisheries and Oceans/SSHRC networks: "Linking Science and Local Knowledge." This node is based at Simon Fraser University and Sue Nichols is a co-investigator.

Ken gave talks in Vancouver and Campbell River on the Eskasoni First Nation community charting project in the Bras d'or Lakes region of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. In the photo, and definitely looking ready for the road, is Ken and Kelly Vooden, a Simon Fraser graduate student. They are on her Harley ready to leave for a visit to the Alert Bay First Nations community off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.

Click on the thumbnail image to fetch the full-sized version, 36 KB. (Photo courtesy of Pat Gallagher)

Back to the top of the page

GGE (SE) 40th Anniversary Reunion

Talk about a turnout (click on the thumbnail image to get a better look, 34 KB)!! The terrific amount of work put in by all GGE faculty and staff, and in particular by Debbie Smith, Kim Delorey, and Linda O'Brien, culminated in a very successful June 22-23 celebration of the fortieth year of the Department. Former students, faculty, and staff arrived from far and wide to meet and greet each other in the corridors of Head Hall. The Kenneth Cliffords came from Texas (2953 km); George Eaton and Stuart MacRitchie joined us from British Columbia (4201 km); Ho Koon Kan travelled all the way from Malaysia (14,214 km); the Robin McLarens tripped in from Scotland (4427 km); Frank Neidhart arrived from Germany, Stewart Walker flew in from California (4511 km); Yong Tech Nyek and his wife made the long journey from Brunei (14,376 km), and Gerard Mtalo journeyed from Tanzania (11,780 km). Who travelled the farthest? Well, Robin McLaren travelled through 10 degrees of latitude; but Gerard Mtalo covered 57 degrees of latitude. George Eaton flew through 57 degrees of longitude; whereas Ho Koon Kan covered a phenomenal 193 degrees and Yong Tech Nyek traversed an impressive 179 degrees of longitude. I'd say that in both degrees and kilometres, Gerard Mtalo, Ho Koon Kan, and Yong Tech Nyek win the distance contest.

On to the wine and cheese ...

Back to the top of the page

Boundaries are Making Waves at GGE

On 20 June, members of GEOIDE Project HSS#55 - Good Governance of Canada's Oceans: The Value and Potential of Marine Boundary Information - held a working group meeting in the Wells Multimedia Room in the Department. This is a multidisciplinary project involving lawyers, sociologists, economists, and both the Land Studies and the Ocean Mapping Groups at UNB, industry, and government, including Service New Brunswick and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The discussions were intensive and truly illustrate how different disciplines bring a variety of perspectives to the same topic. The term of the project is 18 months and runs until March 2002. Another face-to-face meeting is planned in September for the four universities involved to review the highlights of the research accomplished over the summer.

Click on the thumbnail image to look at photos taken during the meeting, 66 KB.

Back to the top of the page

John Hughes Clarke Awarded Canada Foundation for Innovation Grant

John Hughes Clarke was successful recently with his Canada Foundation for Innovation New Opportunities Fund Application. He will be using the money to explore the potential of multibeam sonar for mapping and monitoring decimetre-scale seabed changes. This will involve the acquisition of a Simrad EM3000 multibeam sonar, a Seatex MRU-6 roll, pitch, heave, and heading sensor, and an RDI monitor for acoustic Doppler current profiling and bottom velocity logging.

The instrumentation will be used to conduct research into innovative methods for integration, calibration, and navigation of multibeam bathymetric systems and to demonstrate the feasibility of this technology in a number of innovative applications of prime importance to the Canadian economy and environment. One application will be to satisfy the need for fine scale seabed monitoring. The sedimented seafloor can be a very dynamic interface, especially in the coastal zone. If a robust method to map and monitor the sediment water interface at scales of a decimetre could be developed it would allow researchers and engineers to better understand the effect of natural and man made influences on the seabed.

Another application will be to monitor the build-up and dispersal of organic debris under aquaculture sites. As salmon farming in New Brunswick was worth over $180,000,000 in 1998, more efficient methods to better monitor and characterize the benthic environment at operation sites is critical.

Dr. Hughes Clarke will also be looking at:

Back to the top of the page

Geographical Data Acquisition

Dr. Yong-Qi Chen (Ph.D. 1983) and Dr. Yuk-Cheung Lee edited the textbook, Geographical Data Acquisition, recently published by Springer-Verlag Wien. As the editors state in the preface,
This is a book about techniques used in the acquisition of geographical data. The target audience is students and professionals using geographical information systems who want to go beyond the operation of the software and discover the general principles of how raw geographical data are acquired. ... this is a textbook written jointly by several people ... predominantly faculty members of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
We congratulate both Dr. Chen and Dr. Lee (who, of course, is back with us at UNB) on their accomplishment.

Back to the top of the page

UNB and UNESP (Brazil) Exchange Agreement Signed

An exchange agreement has been concluded between the Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), of São Paulo, Brazil and the University of New Brunswick (UNB). This agreement is designed to encourage the exchange of students, faculty members, research fellows and visiting scholars, to facilitate inter-institutional study and research, faculty development and the sharing of joint research interests. The contact person from UNB is Dr. Marcelo Santos, Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering and the contact person from UNESP is Dr. João Francisco Galera Monico, Departamento de Cartografia. The agreement will be in effect for the next 5 years.

Back to the top of the page

GGE Students Sweep Geomatics Atlantic Scholarships

It is our pleasure to announce that ALL THREE of this year's Geomatics Atlantic Scholarships were awarded to applicants from UNB Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering. We would like to congratulate Greg Mulholland (PhD candidate) for being awarded the $2000 scholarship, and to both Karen Cove and Kevin Gray for being awarded $750 scholarships.

There is usually tremendous competition for these scholarships from university and community college students in institutions across the region, and we're sure this year was no exception. All three winners will be officially presented with their cheques at a special Awards Luncheon on Thursday, June 28th during the Digital Earth 2001 Conference at the Sheraton Hotel Fredericton.

We congratulate Karen, Greg and Kevin on their achievement.

Back to the top of the page

Kevin Pegler Wins First GEOIDE Research Scholarship

Kevin Pegler, a Ph.D. candidate, has been awarded a GEOIDE Network of Centres of Excellence Partners Research Scholarship valued at $19,100 per annum.

A very limited number of GEOIDE NCE Research Partners Scholarships are awarded competitively each year to support graduate research in geomatics relevant to the aims of GEOIDE and its strategic goals. Competition is fierce and can include some of the top graduate students from the more than 25 universities across Canada now involved with the GEOIDE NCE. More information on this award program is available for anyone interested.

The award will support Kevin's research in developing a reconnaissance system for small recreational vessels using high-resolution remote sensing imagery in support of assessing marine search and rescue activities. An official announcement and the actual presentation of the scholarship was made at the Third Annual GEOIDE Research Conference held in Fredericton 20-22 June 2001.

Back to the top of the page

Vaníček Awarded Professor Emeritus

Although we are a tad tardy with our story, we would like to congratulate Petr Vaníček on his recently achieved Professor Emeritus status. The honorary rank was conferred during the UNB Encaenia ceremony on 17 May 2001. Petr doesn't seem to have reduced his workload at all, and continues his various projects around the world.

Click on the thumbnail image to look at photos taken during the ceremony, 71 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Katie Komjathy in Seoul, Korea

In May 2001, Katie Komjathy (part-time M.Sc.E. student) was invited to address the FIG General Assembly, meeting in Seoul, Korea, on the work she and Dr. Sue Nichols had completed for Swedesurvey and the Commission 7 on guidelines for women's access to land. The General Assembly adopted the work as FIG Publication No. 24 (http://www.fig.net/figtree/pub/figpub/pub24/figpub24.htm). The UN Food and Agriculture Organization is now revising this publication with Katie and Sue for translation. Katie also gave a paper at the Conference.

Katie, Attila, and son David have just moved to Pasadena, California, where Attila (Ph.D. 1997) has joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look, 20 KB.

Back to the top of the page

GGE 2013: Practicum II - 2001

From 2-8 May 2001 Practicum II (a.k.a. Survey Camp II) took place. This year the entire camp was based around the Musquash Estuary in southern New Brunswick. With glorious weather, all the goals of the camp were met. The tasks accomplished can be broken down as follows: Click on the thumbnail image to get more information and look at photos taken during the camp.

Back to the top of the page

Sam Ng'ang'a Winner of Board of Governors' Merit Award

Sam Ng'ang'a has added one more award to the kudos he has already received during his time as a graduate student in the Department. This time, Sam was advised in early May 2001 that he was a recipient of the prestigious Board of Governors? Merit Award for the 2001-2002 academic year. This award will aid him during the first three terms of his doctoral program. Candidates for the award are nominated, rather than having to apply. One of the conditions of the award is that they maintain a first class academic performance throughout the tenure of the award, which should not be a problem for Sam. We all congratulate him on this well-deserved award.

Back to the top of the page

Establishment of the Canadian Centre for Geodetic Engineering

On 19 April 2001, the Board of Governors of the University of New Brunswick approved the establishment of the Canadian Centre for Geodetic Engineering (CCGE). The Centre's activities will encompass and broaden the scope of work of the former Engineering and Mining Surveys Research Group in the Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering. Dr. Adam Chrzanowski, Professor Emeritus (since 1998), who has led the research group since 1966, has become the director of the newly established CCGE. The work of CCGE is equally balanced between Research and development will focus on the development of new methods and techniques for geodetic and engineering surveys of high precision. The research results are being implemented worldwide in large engineering and geoscience projects. A brief description of current projects is given on the research page of the Department's web site.

Back to the top of the page

Martin Winner of Canadian Engineering Memorial Scholarship

In mid-April, 2001, Beth-Anne Martin was advised that she had won a $5,000 scholarship from the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation. Beth-Anne, a second year student, was one of only five women across Canada to be selected. These scholarships are offered to women to encourage them to pursue the engineering career path, and are based on not only academic achievement and work experience, but also on leadership, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Please join us in congratulating Beth-Anne on a well-deserved honor.

Back to the top of the page

NSERC News: UNB Engineering - Best in Canada!
All Department Applicants Receive Grants

Dean of Engineering John Christian was able to announce recently the results of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's 2001 Post Graduate Scholarships for first and second years of graduate study. On a per student capita basis, UNB's engineering faculty received more NSERC post graduate scholarships than any other engineering school in Canada.

All Department faculty applying for new NSERC grants this year were successful. Adam Chrzanowski received funding to purchase a robotic survey instrument for automated deformation monitoring. John Hughes Clarke won a grant for precise mapping and monitoring of seabed change research. Peter Dare obtained a grant to fund optimal and near-optimal design of Global Positioning System networks. The design and implementation of property information infrastructure is the topic of research being conducted by John McLaughlin with his new grant. Marcelo Santos has a grant to research optimal integration of geodetic techniques for positioning and precise navigation. Finally, Yun Zhang's grant will be used to develop algorithm and software for the detection of urban environmental changes using commercial high-resolution satellite imagery.

Congratulations especially to our new faculty (Dare, Santos, and Zhang) for being so successful in their initial submissions.

Back to the top of the page

Dave Wells Joins Navigator of the (U.S.) Navy Subject Matter Expert Team

At the end of March 2001, Dave Wells accepted an invitation from Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, R. D. West, Navigator of the Navy, to join a newly constituted panel of experts on navigation. The "Subject Matter Expert Team" will be made up of about 20 individuals from private and public sectors, government, academia, and industry. Under the Navigator of the Navy within the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, the panel will meet semi-annually to discuss the development of technical standards for navigation equipment, and the development/review of operational requirements and mission needs statements associated with navigational standards.

Congratulations to Dave for this latest honour.

Back to the top of the page

Three New Faculty Members Awarded NSERC Operating Grants

Congratulations to our three newest faculty members on being awarded their first NSERC operating grants. All three were informed at the end of March 2001 that they would be receiving grants, which is an excellent batting average.

The principal objective of Dr. Peter Dare's research is to produce software to design optimal and near-optimal Global Positioning System networks, with an emphasis on the logistics. The result of the work will enable relevant surveys to be carried out cheaper and more quickly.

Dr. Marcelo Santos's research program is to develop and enhance algorithms, models and strategies, and software for optimal integration of data and ancillary information coming from various geodetic techniques. The research is targeted to geodetic positioning and precise navigation.

Dr. Yun Zhang's research will concentrate on algorithm and software development for the detection of urban environmental changes using commercial high-resolution satellite imagery. The goal of the research is to find new ways and develop effective tools to detect detailed changes and deliver near real-time information to environmental sectors to support informed decision making.

The award of an NSERC Operating Grant means that your peers from across the country have recognized you are doing - or have the potential to do - important research. Receiving the first such grant is an important milestone in the life of any researcher in science or engineering at a Canadian university.

Please see NSERC's press release.

Back to the top of the page

Y.C. Lee's GIS for the Curious Now on CD

GIS for the Curious has changed its name and become CARIS GIS for the Curious Edition 2. This multimedia guide to geographic information systems is the result of a project jointly funded by Geomatics Canada, CARIS, and UNB. It gives experience handling CARIS GIS software and provides an understanding of the capabilities of a geographic information system. Congratulations to Y.C.

Back to the top of the page

2001 Dineen Memorial Lecture

The 2001 Dineen Memorial Lectures, taking place in both Saint John and Fredericton on 20 and 21 March, were a great success. Dr. Philip Mattos of STMicroelectronics Ltd., in England, delivered the lecture on high-tech navigation. Both the afternoon and evening lectures were well attended by students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

Thanks to Dr. Yun Zhang, this year's Dineen Lecture Committee Chair, and Dr. Richard Langley, who helped pave the way for Dr. Mattos to make it here. Thanks to the President of the GGE Survey Society, Jonathan Beaudoin, and the President of the Engineering Undergraduate Society, Raman Verma, for their participation and organization. Thanks to Jill Cheverie, Michelle Weirathmueller, and Marshall Hatton for their help with the programs, coat check, on the doors, and overall security. Finally, thank you to Wendy Wells, GGE Administrative Secretary, and Heather Jones, Dean's Office. Without their attention to every detail, the lecture would not have been so successful.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look at Dr. Mattos and friends, 38 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Undergraduate Enrolment Up

The final figures are in and our 2000-2001 undergraduate enrolment is up by 11% over 1999-2000. We currently have 12 students taking the concurrent degree in Geomatics Engineering and Computer Science (B.C.S./B.Sc.E.), 82 students in the newly-revised four-year program, and the rest are exchange and diploma students, and students on PEP (Professional Experience Program), or 106 undergraduate students all totalled.

With this increased enrolment there has been a revival in the Undergraduate Survey Society. This year's Society president, Jonathan Beaudoin, has done a sterling job in attracting new memberships and involving the undergraduates in such activities as Hammyfest (alumni/ae will remember that fun-filled event), curling, bowling, a Christmas party, and now, at the end of the term, a Spring Banquet (attracting students from all years) and the year-end party for those graduating. Additionally, there are new jackets, t-shirts, and hats for sale.

Back to the top of the page

Samson Ng'ang'a Wins Geomatics Canada Scholarship

Congratulations to Sam Ng'ang'a on being awarded one of the nine 2001 Geomatics Canada Scholarships in March. Sam, a Ph.D. candidate from Kenya, is under the joint supervision of Drs. Sue Nichols and John McLaughlin. The scholarship reviews stressed that there were more qualified candidates than there were awards. UNB had a very strong showing in an extremely competitive field, so Sam's achievement is all the more gratifying.

Geomatics Canada scholarships are funded by Natural Resources Canada and administered by the Canadian Institute of Geomatics. A limited number of these prestigious scholarships, valued at $1,500 each, is awarded every year to students on the basis of high-quality academic performance and professional interests.

Back to the top of the page

Dave Taylor Distinguishes Himself at Paper Competition

The Association of Professional Engineers of New Brunswick held their student paper competition in April. We are pleased to report that our own Dave Taylor placed third in that competition. Dr. Sue Nichols, who was present at the event, noted that all the presentation and projects were excellent, but that Dave made an especially fine delivery.

Back to the top of the page

Technical Conference a Success

In April 2001, the semi-annual student technical conference took place in the Dineen Auditorium of Head Hall. Organized by Ted Byrne, Tomas Beran, and Dr. Yun Zhang, 6 graduate and 11 undergraduate presentations were made. The categories of presentations were GIS/remote sensing; land information management; geodesy/GPS; and engineering applications/GPS.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a look at some of the presenters and organizers, 31 KB.

Back to the top of the page

GGE Student on Winning Junior Curling Team

First-year student, Carol Webb (second from the left in top row in photo) was a member the 2001 World Champion Junior Women's Curling Team. This year's team was made up from the Canadian Junior Women's Champions from Prince Edward Island. Carol, who had competed on the New Brunswick Junior Women's Team, was invited to join the Canadian Champions to compete at the Worlds in Ogden, Utah. The world championships ran from 15-25 March. As a result, Carol has had to be away for most of the winter term but will be back in the Department for survey camp in May.

Congratulations to Carol and her teammates as 2001 world junior champions. (Photo: Nadine and Christian Saager. © CURLIT Curling Information Technology Ltd., 2001.)

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look at the world champions, 43 KB.

Back to the top of the page

High-tech Navigation Subject of Dineen Memorial Lecture

The past, present and future of navigation is the subject of the 21st Dineen Memorial Lecture at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and Saint John. More ...

Back to the top of the page

Pagiatakis Named Acting Director of Geodetic Survey Division

Our congratulations go out to Spiros Pagiatakis (M.Sc.E. 1983; Ph.D. 1988; Adjunct Professor). On 7 February 2001, Irwin Itzkovitch, Assistant Deputy Minister, Earth Sciences Sector, announced that Dr. Pagiatakis would become Acting Director of the Geodetic Survey Division of Geomatics Canada, effective 12 February 2001. A permanent director is being sought. We know that Spiros will do a fabulous job in the interim.

Back to the top of the page

Langley Named to NRC Committee

Richard B. Langley, Professor of Geodesy and Precision Navigation, was recently (23 January 2001) informed that he had been appointed to the National Research Council of Canada (advisory) Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology. This committee advises NRC management with regard to the direction and priorities to be set in the case of its affiliations with international science and technology non-government organizations. Congratulations to Richard; well done!

Back to the top of the page

Visitors from Laval

The Ocean Mapping Group hosted three scientists from Quebec between 22 and 26 January 2001.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look at our visitors, 43 KB.

Back to the top of the page

Canadian Council of Land Surveyors Accredits our Program

In March 2000, the process of having our cadastral surveying program re-accredited began with a visit from the accreditation team. In January 2001, we were informed that our program had been accredited for another five years. Thanks from the Department goes to Sue Nichols, who shepherded the office staff and the accreditation team through the process. A few comments found in the CCLS report follow:
After 40 years' existence, [the Department] continues to produce an excellent graduate equipped to enter the geomatics industry and professions.

It was apparent from the interviews that each faculty member brought his or her unique enthusiasm and passion to their fields of responsibility.

The academic credentials of the faculty members are impressive.

Click on the thumbnail image to get a better look at the certificate, 35 KB.

Back to the top of the page