FORMATIVE RESEARCH AND ITS INCIDENCE IN THE ACADEMIC AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OF GEOMATICS

Abstract

One of the most important features that have been incorporated at the programs of higher education in Colombia, is the approach to formative research, which aims to sow seeds of researchers in undergraduate students. The Universidad Distrital, through the Geodesy and Cadastral engineering program, has been working hard on the consolidation of the research inside the program. Therefore, their research groups have promoted the creation of the research seeds, which are responsible for generating consciousness of research knowledge in students, which is calledacademic formative research. In this way, concerning the field of Geomatics, the research group named “NIDE” has assigned five research seed groups, which since 2007 works to familiarize the students with research processes generating projects that reinforce the concepts in themes regarding geo-information sciences.During these 10 years due the effort done by the seed research groups, many projects were produced, and academic thesis, that permits appreciate the progress of students in the use of geo-technological tools, based on a set of conceptual and technical elements, that allow to improve the processes of teaching -learning in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems matters.In the same way the research seed groups, have made the jump from the academic community to the business geospatial sectors, since some Geomatics companies, have incorporated in their development processes, seeds research groups, where students work and contribute in generating applications and transfer of knowledge, which allowed to improve the times and the quality of services. The objective of this article is to show the importance of the creation of research seeds groups and the contribution of these groups not only in the academic but also at the business sector