Professor John Hannah
BSc, DipSci (Otago), MSc, PhD (Ohio State), MNZIS, RPSurv
Contact Details
Tel 64 3 479 9010
Email john.hannah@otago.ac.nz
Profile
John completed a BSc in Surveying in 1970 at the University of Otago and followed this with a Postgraduate Diploma of Science in 1971. He then worked for the NZ Forest Service for the next four years, completing his Registration as a surveyor in 1974. In 1976 he began study at the Ohio State University, completing an MSc in 1978 and a PhD in 1982. From 1982 until 1988 he held positions, firstly, of Geodetic Scientist and then, subsequently, Chief Geodesist/Chief Research Officer with the Department of Lands and Survey. This was followed by a 17 month appointment to the Chair in Mapping, Charting and Geodesy at the US Naval Postgraduate School, California. After this period of leave he returned to the Department of Survey and Land Information, firstly as Director of Geodesy and subsequently as Director of Photogrammetry. In 1993 he joined the School of Surveying, as Professor and Head of Department, becoming its Dean in 2001. He relinquished this administrative role at the end of 2004.
John's particular research interests are related to the definition and realisation of geodetic datums with a special emphasis on global sea level rise. As a former Dean of the School who has been closely involved in the development of its curriculum, he has a particular interest in educational issues as they impact the surveying profession.
Teaching
Research
Research Interests
- Geodetic datums
- Sea level datums and sea level changes
- Surveying education
Current Research Projects
Completed Research Projects
- 2009 "Regional Modelling of Future NZ Climate"
- 2004 "Dunedin 5th Order Control", jointly with Mr. N Sutherland
- 2004 "Observational Accuracy of the Survey Data in Landonline"
- 2002 Otago Research Grant, "Physiography, recent history and vulnerability of the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica", jointly with Dr Gary Wilson (Dept. of Geology) and Dr Sean Fitzsimons, (Dept. of Geography)
- 2001 Australian Research Council. "A portable laser scanning facility for Geomatic Data Capture", jointly with Australian colleagues
Research Collaborations
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Dr Rob Bell)
- The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (Dr John Beavan)
Research Grants
Research Funding in the last 10 years as a Principal Investigator or Co-PI: $NZ 950,000
Research Students
Responsibilities
- NZVCC's nominee to the Council of Standards New Zealand
- 2008 Fellow, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors
- 2005 Best Paper Award from the Hydrographic Journal
- 1985 Bogle Award, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors
- 1984 The Prince and Princess of Wales Science Award, RSNZ
- Past President, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (NZIS), 2008
- President, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (NZIS), 2005 - 2007
- President- Elect, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (NZIS), 2004 - 2005
- Councillor, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (NZIS), 1993 - 2004.
- President, Australasian Survey and Mapping Lecturer's Association, 2000 - 2002
- Member of the NZ Institute of Surveyors
- Member of the American Geophysical Union
- Academic Editor of "A Salute to the Captain", Festschrift in honour of Emeritus Professor JB Mackie, University of Otago Press, Dunedin
University Level
Professional Activities
Awards and Achievements
Other Positions and Professional Responsibilities
Memberships
Editorial/Refereeing
Refereed Journal Articles and Conference Papers
Hannah, J., (2010). "The determination of long term sea level change in New Zealand using tide gauge data", in "A Salute to the Captain", Festschrift in honour of Emeritus Professor JB Mackie, University of Otago Press, Dunedin
Hannah, J., (2010). "The Difficulties in Using Tide Gauges to Monitor Long-Term Sea Level Change". FIG XXIV Congress, Sydney, April 2010. Selected as the FIG Article of the Month for July 2010. Also published in the Survey Quarterly, December,2010
Hannah, J., Kavanagh, J., Mahoney, R., and Plimmer F. (2009), "Surveying: A Profession Facing a Global Crisis?" In print, Survey Review. Also presented at the FIG Working Week, Hong Kong, May, 2008 and at the European Congress of Surveyors, Strasbourg, 17-19th Sept. 2008.
Hannah, J. (2007), "A Skills Crisis Unfolds", Feature Article, GIM International, Vol.21, No.4. pp17-19.
Hannah, J., (2006), "The Surveying Profession and its Skills Crisis". Proceedings 5th Trans Tasman Surveyors Conference, Cairns, Australia.
Donnelly, N., and Hannah, J., (2006), "An Assessment of the Precision of the Observational Data Used in New Zealands National Cadastral System", Survey Review, Vol.38, No.300, pp502-512.