DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING AND GEOINFORMATICS

HOD’S WELCOME ADDRESS

I warmly welcome you to the official webpage of the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The philosophy behind our discipline is rooted in the precise measurement, representation, and management of the Earth’s physical features and the built environment. As the indispensable bedrock of all land-based developments, Surveying and Geoinformatics stands as a professional programme fully registrable by the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON). It is a sophisticated, multi-disciplinary field that serves as a vital ally to engineering, environmental studies, and urban planning. Surveying provides the essential science for determining the spatial location of Earth’s features, which is critical for map production, engineering design, and the administration of natural resources.

Our academic programmes are thoughtfully designed with a forward-looking vision that emphasizes the digital transformation of the profession. Geoinformatics, as an integrated process, leverages powerful modern technologies such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to produce high-quality geospatial information. To ensure our students are prepared for these complexities, our curricula provide a robust foundation in mathematics, physics, law, and management studies. Classified under Environmental Studies by the National Universities Commission (NUC), our mission is to produce competent graduates who possess both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to manage and conserve both man-made and natural environments responsibly and creatively.

We train our students to master the collection, analysis, storage, and application of spatially referenced data. Through comprehensive training in traditional areas such as hydrography and cartography, as well as emerging fields like satellite positioning, our graduates become experts capable of designing and implementing complex geospatial systems. They are equipped to provide the critical environmental information necessary for planning large-scale engineering works and to manage production systems that facilitate professional communication and precise project control. As you explore this department, you are engaging with a community dedicated to shaping the future of Nigeria’s landscape through academic excellence and geospatial innovation.

HOD’S PROFILE

Citations

Dr. Caleb Olutayo Oluwadare, a Registered Surveyor, geospatial analyst, and academic leader, is a distinguished scholar in the field of Surveying and Geoinformatics. He graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, with a National Diploma in Land Surveying in 1987 and obtained his B.Sc. (Hons) in Surveying, Geodesy and Photogrammetry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1995. He later earned his M.Sc. in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (2011) and a Ph.D. in Geography (2016) from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Before joining the university system, he gained extensive industry experience as a Field and Chief Surveyor for various engineering firms between 1987 and 2004. He joined OAU in 2004, where he has played a pivotal role in the development of the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics and the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management.

Dr. Oluwadare has conducted extensive research into modernising land administration and cadastral systems. His teaching and research philosophy emphasises leveraging geospatial technologies, particularly GIS and Remote Sensing, to address real-world challenges in land governance, spatial data accuracy, and urban planning. His work extends to the analysis of elevation models for 2D and 3D cadastre, the “Fixed Boundary Approach” for conflict resolution, and the use of space-enhanced methodologies for systematic land titling. His practical research includes bathymetric mapping using satellite data and the application of GIS for proactive campus security and crime hotspot analysis.

Dr. Oluwadare has authored numerous research publications, including over twenty journal articles, several conference proceedings, and technical reports. His publications are highly rated and published in diverse outlets across the globe, covering themes from groundwater potential modelling to the dynamics of surveying education in Nigeria. Notably, his contributions to books include scholarly work on the evaluation of Sentinel-2a data for bathymetric mapping published by the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria. He has also contributed significant chapters to international handbooks, such as The Palgrave Handbook of Ecosystems and Wellbeing and The Handbook of Sustainable Blue Economy, focusing on innovative approaches to water management and spatial technology in Africa.

Dr. Oluwadare has been a driving force in the academic development of his department, serving as the Result Processing Officer since the 2015/2016 session and as the Acting Head of Department since 2022. His academic mentorship is exemplary, having supervised numerous undergraduate students and currently providing guidance for postgraduate researchers focusing on spatially enabled electronic land governance and solar energy potential. He has also served as an examiner for the professional examinations conducted by the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON).

Dr. Oluwadare has contributed meaningfully to university policy and administration. He has served on several pivotal committees, including the Faculty Postgraduate Committee, the Faculty Board of Examiners, and the Awovarsity Committee on Staff Housing. He was a team leader for the alignment survey of the proposed Aeronautic Village at OAU and has served as a staff adviser to various student associations since 2008. His professional reach includes serving as a Visiting Senior Lecturer at The Redeemer’s University and as an External Examiner for the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Beyond the university, Dr. Oluwadare is a prominent member of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (GEOSON). He has demonstrated significant leadership within the profession, serving as the Chairman of the National Association of Surveying and Geoinformatics Lecturers (NASGL) and the Chairman of the MCPD Committee for the Osun State branch. Additionally, he has served as the Electoral Committee Chairman for the state branch of the NIS. At the national level, he served as a member of the Committee on Flood Mapping, Prevention and Management to address the flooding menace in Nigeria. He is also an ordained Pastor within the Christ Apostolic Church, serving as a National Director for higher institutions and youth affairs.

Through his scholarship, leadership, and community service, Dr. Oluwadare continues to make a profound impact on the academic and geospatial landscape. He is married with four children.