Creating the spaces where people live and work
Built environments play a significant role in how we function as groups of people – suburbs, towns, cities, societies. Additionally, there is growing concern about how we respond to the natural environments within which all human activity takes place.
Land and land use decisions have cultural, social, legal, economic and ecosystem implications and this BSc degree offers a broad perspective on these issues.
While it may be noticeable if our built environments are poorly designed, through studying this degree, you will recognise the attributes of excellence in planning and urban development.
Land planning, land administration and the process of land subdivision have significant impacts on the layout and function of human and natural landscapes. These activities influence the way land is used, patterns of residential development and assessments of the economic potential of land. For some, land also has an important cultural value.
This degree provides an excellent foundation for those wanting a career in planning, land development and resource management, especially in relation to the subdivision and administration of land. It differs from other New Zealand planning degrees in that it emphasises engineering design and land administration, from Pākehā and Māori perspectives, as well as covering essential aspects of New Zealand legislation that relate to land development. It encompasses the practical aspects of planning and planning law.
Learn about studying Land Planning and Development as an undergraduate at Otago.
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
View a list of all related papers below.
Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
---|---|---|---|---|
SURV120 | 2025 | Surveying and Spatial Science | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
SURV130 | 2025 | People, Place and the Built Environment | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV201 | 2025 | Surveying Methods 1 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV202 | 2025 | Surveying Mathematics | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV203 | 2025 | Land Development Engineering 1 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV204 | 2025 | Land Development Engineering 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV205 | 2025 | Statutory Land Planning 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV206 | 2025 | Land Tenure 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV220 | 2025 | Geographic Information Science | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV298 | 2025 | Introductory Field Camp | 0 points | 1st Non standard period (3 February 2025 - 21 February 2025) |
SURV301 | 2025 | Surveying Methods 2 | 18 points | 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 28 November 2025) |
SURV302 | 2025 | Geodetic Reference Systems and Network Analysis | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV303 | 2025 | Urban Design 1 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV304 | 2025 | Land Development Engineering 3 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV306 | 2025 | Land Tenure 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV307 | 2025 | Cadastral Surveying 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV309 | 2025 | Remote Sensing for Earth Observation | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
SURV314 | 2025 | 3D Reality Capture | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV319 | 2025 | Spatial Algorithms and Programming | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV320 | 2025 | Spatial Analysis and Visualisation | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV322 | 2025 | Hydrographic Surveying | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV329 | 2025 | Selected Topics in Surveying 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
SURV399 | 2025 | Third Year Field Course | 0 points | 1st Non standard period (27 October 2025 - 19 November 2025) |
SURV413 | 2025 | Resource Mapping and Image Processing | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
SURV418 | 2025 | Advanced Geographic Information Science | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV450 | 2025 | Professional Practice | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV451 | 2025 | Surveying Methods 3 | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
SURV452 | 2025 | Hydrographic Surveying 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV453 | 2025 | Urban Design 2 | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV455 | 2025 | Statutory Planning B | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV456 | 2025 | Land Tenure 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV457 | 2025 | Cadastral Surveying 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV458 | 2025 | Marine Law and the Environment | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV459 | 2025 | Engineering Surveying | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SURV462 | 2025 | Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV463 | 2025 | Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV465 | 2025 | Land Development Management | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SURV469 | 2025 | Selected Topics in Surveying 2 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
SURV470 | 2025 | Professional Project | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
SURV473 | 2025 | Special Topic | 36 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV474 | 2025 | Special Topic | 36 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV480 | 2025 | Research Project | 36 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026) |
SURV499 | 2025 | Vacation Employment | 0 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
SURV509 | 2025 | Advanced Remote Sensing for Earth Observation | 20 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
SURV513 | 2025 | Resource Mapping and Image Processing | 20 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
SURV514 | 2025 | Advanced 3D Reality Capture | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SURV518 | 2025 | GIScience for Postgraduates | 20 points | Semester 2 |
SURV519 | 2025 | Spatial Algorithms and Programming | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SURV520 | 2025 | Advanced Spatial Analysis and Visualisation | 20 points | Semester 2 |
SURV551 | 2025 | Advanced Surveying Methods | 20 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
SURV552 | 2025 | Advanced Hydrographic Surveying | 20 points | Semester 2 |
SURV553 | 2025 | Advanced Urban Design | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV555 | 2025 | Advanced Statutory Planning | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SURV556 | 2025 | Advanced Land Tenure | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SURV557 | 2025 | Advanced Cadastral Surveying | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SURV558 | 2025 | Advanced Marine Law and the Environment | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV559 | 2025 | Advanced Engineering Surveying | 20 points | Semester 2 |
SURV562 | 2025 | Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV563 | 2025 | Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV565 | 2025 | Advanced Land Development Management | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SURV569 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Surveying | 20 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
SURV573 | 2025 | Special Topic | 40 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV574 | 2025 | Special Topic | 40 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV575 | 2025 | Special Topic | 40 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SURV580 | 2025 | Research project | 40 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026) |
SURV590 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026) |
Department of Surveying
Email surveying@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/surveying
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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