Faculty of Mining

Department of Engineering Geodesy and Geoinformatics
The cathedra of land surveying and engineering geodesy dates back to 1922, when Prof. Andria Benashvili founded the Department of Geodesy and Astronomy. After the establishment of the Polytechnic Institute, the Department of Land Surveying and Geodesy was established, whose constant head until his death (1941) was A. Benashvili.
In 1941-85, the department was managed by Prof. Nikoloz Tevzadze (for a short time in the fifties, the Department of mining engineer existed separately, which was headed by Assoc. I. Edzgveradze). In 1985-2011, the Department of Engineering Geodesy, mining engineer and City Cadastre, then the Department of Engineering Geodesy was headed by Prof. Merab Tevzadze. In 2011-2019, the Department of Engineering Geodesy and Geoinformatics - Prof. Malkhaz Khurtsidze. From 2019 to the present day - Assoc. Prof. Teimuraz Papava.
Since 1938, the department has been profiling and training mining engineers-markers, since 1978, engineers-geodesians. Since 2001, GTU has started training staff in the specialty "City Cadastre", and since 2012 - in the specialty of geoinformatics. The main study disciplines are; "Geodesy", "mathematical processing of measurement results", "mining engineering case"; "Subsurface geometry, geodetic instrumentation", "higher geodesy", "geodesic astronomy", "gravimetry", "cartography", "physical distance measurement", "engineering geodesy", "photogrammetry" and others.
Abenashvili's contribution in creating original Georgian textbooks is invaluable. "Topography" (1932), "Spherical Trigonometry" (1933), "Spherical Astronomy" (1938) and others belong to him.
As a result of the public defense, for the creation of high-quality, original textbooks ("the method of least squares" and "theory of measurement errors"), the head of the department, Prof. N. Tevzadze, was awarded the scientific degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences (1961).
Tabatadze, associate professor of the same department, submitted the textbook "Higher Geodesy" as a doctoral dissertation and successfully defended it in 1964.
The creation of an original eight-volume "Engineering Geodesy" by Nikoloz Tevzadze, an honored figure of science and technology, Doctor of Technical Sciences, which includes all the special disciplines needed for engineer-geodesists, should be specially mentioned. Ten volumes received a very high evaluation even outside our republic. Nikoloz Tevzadze was awarded the State Prize of Georgia for this unique work (posthumously).
It is worth noting the textbooks prepared at the department: G. Lagvilava's "Mining engineering"; K. Tabatadze's "spherical trigonometry"; R. Chekurishvili's "photogrammetry" and "stereophotogrammetry".
Merab Tevzadze published "The Theory of Errors and the Method of Least Squares" (in Russian, co-authored by M. Belyaev, Moscow, Nedra, 1992), "Physical Distance Meter", "Modern Geodetic Tools", "Geodesy Part I", "Applied Geodesy Course Part I and II" (co-author Prof. M. Meskhi), "Geodesy with Topography Basics" (co-author S. Tsutskiridze).
The main directions of scientific-research works of the department are: observations on deformations of large hydrotechnical and industrial-civil facilities; topographic-geodetic provision and control of the land cadastre of Georgia; introduction of gyrotheodolites and light distance meters in mining and underground works; Creation of planning-elevation basis for the construction of Tbilisi Metropolitan and other large objects. It is particularly noteworthy the participation of the highly professional team of the Department of Engineering Geodesy and Mining engineering of GTU, and later the Department of Engineering Geodesy and Geoinformatics, in the study of the safety of the Enguri HPP hydroelectric power plant, in the creation of the first Georgian space structure - the reflector, and in the construction of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi.
Currently, the Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics operates three educational programs "Engineering Geodesy" (Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate). The department also serves other educational programs: architecture, construction, mining and geoengineering, geology, construction engineering and management, civil engineering.
During its existence, the department has trained more than a thousand specialists. Currently, there are 21 employees in the state, of which 3 are guest teachers, 3 are professors, 6 are associate professors. Professor, 1 Asst. Professor, 3 assistants, 4 senior teachers and 1 teacher.
The department has a material-technical base equipped with educational laboratories and computer cabinets, modern geodetic instruments. The educational process is fully provided with textbooks in the Georgian language.
At different times, professors worked productively at the department: G. Tevzadze, V. Abashidze, M. Meskhi, S. Firalishvili, S. Tsutskiridze, A. Kikabidze, N. Turabelidze; Docents I. Edzgveradze, G. Varazashvili, G. Lagvilava, L. Levidze, Sh. Chigogidze, K. Imnadze, P. Ramishvili, L. Lekishvili, G. Khunjua, G. Giorgobiani, N. Gugutishvili, A. Maisuradze, N. Kereselidze, L.Shengelia, I.Mamatsashvili.