Feature -- by Mark Sproxton

If you talk about expansion and mapping to people in geomatics, be prepared for a variety of answers. Depending on the clients of the geomatics folks, you could hear answers that deal with a number of other industries, such as forestry, farming and retail businesses.

Put the ideas to Stephen Barnett of Challenger Geomatics or Wayne Scribbins from the City of Calgary, you're more likely to get responses dealing with oil and gas companies, or municipal departments. Fact is, those who work in geomatics -- the industry involved with mapping and detailing the ground -- work for and with many other industries at home and around the globe.

"I find it very interesting," said Barnett, manager of geospacial information with Challenger, who has 22 years experience. "You get to study a lot of different parts of the world doing what we do." Scribbins, who has almost two-decades of experience in "mapping" agrees. "You're always seeing different parts of the country or world, either through maps or aerial photography," he said. "I've been involved in projects in Chad, Jamaica, Egypt, U.S., and throughout Canada and I've never left Calgary."

Now working as a geomatics cartographer for the City of Calgary, Scribbins focuses his attention closer to home, helping produce maps for other departments, such as engineering, so that department can, for instance, see where existing sewer lines run to plan to tie-in new lines in new neighbourhoods. A previous industry job saw him work with geographical information from beyond the city's borders.

With Challenger, Barnett manages projects that see crews produce maps for oil and gas companies so they can plan to drill new wells, or plan how to move a crew and equipment onto the property of a remote facility to complete maintenance work.

While both work in an office environment, their day-to-day routines are somewhat different. Barnett spends much of his time on the phone talking with current clients and providing information and estimates to potential clients. He also reviews the final maps produced by the crews he manages and often delivers those plans to the clients. Scribbins, on the other hand, spends his days checking digital aerial survey information and helping to produce maps for various city departments.

In all cases, geomatics professionals must ensure the fine details contained on the maps, whoever they are for, are accurate. "You have to have an eye for detail and accuracy," Scribbins said. "We take pride in accuracy." In addition to those skills, Barnett adds that you must also have an aptitude for math and good teamwork skills.

So what drew these two to careers in geomatics? An interest in maps and geography, naturally. Barnett entered the field by completing a geomatics engineering degree, and then started working at the bottom of the ladder, eventually moving up as he gained experience. Scribbins also enrolled in university but found the more hands-on approach offered through the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology's (SAIT) geomatics engineering technologist program more to his liking. He spent years primarily in photogrammetry before moving into his current position.

And what do they like best about the work? "It gives you pride of ownership of your product you put out," Scribbins said. "Other people tend to ooh and awe at what you do." Barnett adds: "What I like is you use up-to-date technology and there's always something new to learn." Both say they are continually learning how to use new software.

That leads to the advice they offer to anyone else considering a career in geomatics. Barnett says: "This industry tends to be very technological so get a good education, as much as you can afford." Scribbins offers: "Computers are the base of everything we do now, you've got to develop your computer skills."