Introduction

The Department of Surveying and Geodesy at the Faculty of Geomatics is the pioneering department of its kind in Sri Lanka to provide education and promote research in Surveying and Spatial Engineering. The mission of the Department is to gain and disseminate scientific knowledge in three main specialization areas: Surveying and Geodesy, Land Management, and Hydrographic Surveying. The academic program focuses on key subject areas such as Land Surveying, Geodesy, Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Earth's Gravity, Geo-Statistics, Land Management, and Hydrography.

The department applies this knowledge to develop tools and solutions for infrastructure development, sustainable use of natural resources, disaster early warning and monitoring, navigation, positioning, and spatial solutions required for good governance. It is equipped with a qualified academic staff and cutting-edge technology to meet the current and future demands of the industry.

Surveying and Spatial Engineering is the art of measuring and mapping assets, infrastructure, cultural heritage, natural resources, tracking moving objects, and spatial predictions. Engineers in this field use technologies such as GNSS, Gravity Meters, laser scanning, Satellite Remote Sensing, mobile mapping, and GIS to provide reliable information on land ownership, the built and natural environments, land cover changes, movements, and disasters.

The development of new sensors, smarter environments and technologies, mobile computing and communication, and the vast increase in spatial data constantly transform the tasks performed by surveying and spatial information engineers. This dynamic field offers opportunities for innovation and leadership. The Department of Surveying and Geodesy will continue to play a critical role in Earth observation and improving future living standards, leading from the front in education, research, and industry applications.