Professor John Hannah
BSc, DipSci (Otago), MSc, PhD(Ohio State), MNZIS
Contact Details
Tel 64 3 479 9010
Email john.hannah@surveying.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 Responsibilities
- SURV 202 Surveying Mathematics
- SURV 302 Geodetic Reference Systems and Network Analysis
- Advanced Adjustment analysis
Research Interests
- Geodetic datums
- Sea level datums and sea level changes
- Surveying education
Current Projects
Research Funding
Research Funding in the last 10 years as a Principal Investigator or Co-PI: $NZ 925,000.
Other Positions
- 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
- NZ Vice Chancellor's Committee representative on the Council of Standards New Zealand (1998 - present)
- Councillor, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (NZIS), 1993 - 2004.
- President, Australasian Survey and Mapping Lecturer's Association, 2000 - 2002
Publications
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, (2008), A new updated sea level trend analysis for New Zealand. Report prepared for the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences.
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 Zealand’s National Cadastral System", Survey Review, Vol.38, No.300, pp502-512.