On June 22, the Institute of Geography at Altai State University hosted a meeting between students majoring in Physical Geography, Geoinformatics, and Tourism Geography and the regional representative of EFT GROUP (Novosibirsk). During the event future specialists learned about cutting-edge laser scanning technologies and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).

EFT GROUP is a key player in the Russian geodetic and surveying equipment market, distinguished by its vertical integration: from development and production to supply and training.

The meeting opened with a lecture on modern GNSS technologies. A company representative outlined the principles of high-precision positioning, methods for enhancing surveying accuracy, and the integration of satellite data into projects in physical geography and tourism.

The highlight of the event was a demonstration of a handheld EFT laser scanner (LiDAR) combined with a GNSS receiver. Students observed how dense point clouds with automatic coordinate referencing can be generated within minutes. Under the expert’s guidance, they tested the equipment themselves: surveying rugged terrain, scanning the façades of the academic building and nearby objects, and watching 3D models take shape on a tablet in real time. Working with the handheld LiDAR system, which combines laser scanning and satellite navigation, generated considerable interest. Participants saw how spatial data can be collected much faster and in far greater detail than with traditional surveying methods.

“These meetings bridge the gap between theory and real-world field research,” EFT representatives noted. “The equipment the students tried today will become their professional tools in physical geography tomorrow.”

The meeting sparked physical geography students’ interest in digital surveying methods and strengthened INGEO’s cooperation with one of the leading suppliers of geodetic equipment. In just a few days, the students will put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice during a field trip to the Altai highlands.

“Master classes such as this offer students a unique opportunity not only to see cutting-edge equipment, but also to understand how digital technologies are transforming approaches to landscape research, spatial analysis, and design. For future specialists in physical geography and geoinformatics, this is invaluable experience that cannot be fully gained in a classroom setting,” said Oleg Ostanin, an associate professor at INGEO’s Department of Physical Geography.

INGEO looks forward to further collaboration and integration of the latest equipment into the educational process.

The meeting was held, among other venues, at the Altai State University Centre for Geoinformation Systems (GIS) at INGEO, one of the university’s most technologically advanced facilities. The laboratory underwent a major upgrade in 2023–2024 as part of the Priority 2030 program. Students learn to work with Russian and international GIS platforms, including GIS Panorama, ArcGIS, QGIS, and others. The laboratory is equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles, high-precision geodetic instruments, a ground-penetrating radar, a spectrophotometer, and large-format scanners and printers for producing cartographic materials. This enables future geographers, cartographers, geoinformatics specialists, and ecologists to develop practical skills in using advanced digital technologies that are in demand in science, construction, agriculture, and government agencies.