Everything evolves. Daily newspapers become blogs on the internet. Hotel room keys become magnetic cards. Nowadays you can pay your parking ticket using your mobile phone. And so land surveyors are becoming geomaticians...

If they don't want to become the local surveyor working within a mile of the church spire, next-generation geomaticians must broaden their horizon. They need to combine measuring techniques with CAD, but also with geographical information systems and databases.

New mapping methods bring in such huge volumes of data that you have to reflect on how to store, catalogue and manipulate this information.

As we all know, geomatics is not only about surveying. It is the complete science concerning spatial data. This not only means xyz-data, but every object or event that can be linked to a location on earth, in the universe or even outer space.

If you stick to this definition of geomatics, even the aforementioned magnetic entrance card from a hotel could be generating spatial data. It isn't that hard to build a model that visualises every move you make by logging the time and place each time you use your key card to open a door, enter the swimming pool or order drinks at the bar.

I am not saying that every self-respecting hotel manager should hire a GIS project leader for their fancy new door-locking system. On the other hand, it's not a bad thing for a geomatician to create new opportunities in markets where there is not yet (or insufficient) GIS or CAD in the production chain.

In my opinion, combining spatial data with other markets is the key to success.