Julian Smit completed his BSc (survey) degree at UCT in 1993 and continued with postgraduate studies at the same university under the supervision of Prof. Heinz Rüther. His research involved the application of digital photogrammetric mapping technologies in deep level mining. In 1997 he graduated with a PhD having submitted a thesis entitled "Three Dimensional Measurement of Textured Surfaces using Digital Photogrammetric Techniques". In 1998 Dr Smit left academia and took up the management of an aerial survey company, specialising in photogrammetric map production and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). During the course of 2003, he started a photogrammetry, remote sensing and GIS Company specialising in environmental and land management (AfriMap Geo-Information Services CC). Dr Smit joined the Division of Geomatics (School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics) in January 2006 as a senior lecturer and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2011. His research interests are in the application of GIS, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric technologies in the area of environmental and land management.