28 
Thus, before we can explain the photogrammetry course offerings at the Federal Institute of 
Technology (ETH) Zürich in section 5, we have to address briefly the comprehensive 
graduate program in surveying in section 4. 
The Division VIII "Kulturtechnik und Vermessung" ("rural engineering and surveying") of 
ETH Zürich is responsible for the curricula in surveying, rural engineering and 
environmental engineering. In 1989 environmental engineering was introduced as a brand 
new program and the other two curricula were reorganised substantially in order to consider 
the latest developments of the related disciplines. 
nd working 
rives a brief 
engineer. It 
' curriculum 
opened, the 
d in content 
>r his or her 
t to level of 
or Diploma 
continuing 
t (facilities 
acquisition 
ious needs, 
as pan of a 
m courses, 
y changing 
depends on 
>nal narrow 
ig sciences 
n the latest 
tve already 
in general, 
education 
5 organised 
hich leads, 
ying. This 
e program 
’presented 
y possible 
“ awarded, 
al subject, 
2. The new technological and professional environment of the surveying 
engineer 
An analysis of the elementary conditions which are currently causing a profound change in 
the technical tools, professional requirements, job descriptions, and working conditions of 
the surveying engineer leads to the following factors: 
(a) Fast development of new technologies 
(b) Diminishing relevance of classical surveying tasks and products 
(c) New conditions, orientations and needs of human society 
Caused by rapid advancements in electronic data acquisition and processing the 
professional requirements for the surveying engineer have changed in an irreversible 
manner. Developments in microelectronics, sensor technology and computer science have 
influenced, and continue to do so, all areas of scientific and technical surveying activity: 
.the acquisition, administration, processing, analysis and representation of spatial data. 
Among the most prominent new systems, techniques and procedures are: 
• Precision point positioning with satellites (GPS) and inertial systems (INS) 
• Dynamic GPS-supported photogrammetric triangulation 
• Automatic and semi-automatic robot theodolites 
• Digital and real-time systems in photogrammetry 
• Computer support and computer control in data acquisition and processing 
• Design, construction, operation and application of GIS 
• Compilation, administration and maintenance of digital maps 
Lo gicallv, these new technologies are replacing many of the old ones. This process will 
continue, and most probably even intensify. Therefore the pure knowledge of facts about 
procedures which are quickly becoming obsolete turns out to become a burden, and even 
hampers innovative thinking schemes and flexibility. On the other hand these new 
technologies open up novel fields of application and they stimulate the development of 
better methods, procedures and products. Within these new fields of application the 
surveying engineer meets increasingly specialists from other disciplines (computer 
scientists, system engineers, electrical engineers, communication engineers, applied 
physicists, etc.), with whom he has to cooperate or compete. These experts are mostly 
equipped with a broader and deeper knowledge of mathematics, physics and other 
supporting subjects. Often they also provide superior special knowiedge of relevant 
processes and systems. 
Traditionally a surveyor was considered to be some sort of explorer, w'hose task w'as to 
lay the foundations for settlement and development of remote areas and to maintain 
geodetic networks and maps. Subsequently he was also given die job to record and 
administer the spatial location and size of real estate for tax evaluation and other political 
and economical purposes. Due to the large amount of fieldw'ork that w-as necessary to get 
the job done one major requirement for candidates for the surveying profession w'as "good 
health and robust physical condition". Today, with the lesser demand for extensive