In Memoriam: Prof. Dr. Nihad Kapetanović

Prof. dr. Nihad Kapetanović

Prof. Dr. Sc. Nihad Kapetanović, UNSA Faculty of Civil Engineering Professor Emeritus passed away on 14 April 2021, at the age of 89. He was born on 24 April 1932 in Gornja Zelinja, Gradačac Municipality. He studied at the Geodetic Department at Technical Faculty in Zagreb, where he graduated in 1956 with honors. He attended the postgraduate study for the Master of Geodesy at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade in 1972 and as the first candidate at the Department of Geodesy he obtained the scientific degree of Master of Technical Sciences in the field of geodesy. He defended his doctoral dissertation in 1978 at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade. From 1957 until his retirement in 2002, he worked at the University of Sarajevo, where he passed all the titles from assistant to full professor, and in 2007 he received the honorary title of professor emeritus. He enabled students and geodetic experts in Bosnia and Herzegovina to have literature on which they will be able to study and work in a modern way, considering that he wrote 8 books (textbooks, manuals) and one script. He published over 30 scientific and professional papers, and participated in the realization of 9 important projects. He diligently prepared the lectures so that they were clear and the students loved them. His contact with the students was remarkable, so they felt like a parent. Thanks in large part to him, the students did very well in practice after graduation, successfully performing and managing geodetic works on many projects in the country and abroad. In more than 45 years of work at the University of Sarajevo, he participated in the education of over 2000 students at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Forestry, constantly helping younger colleagues to progress and develop scientifically and pedagogically, and he tried to help all people he contacted. In addition to his scientific, teaching and professional qualities, the ethical side of his personality is also indisputable.
Through his work, esteemed Prof. Dr. Sc. Nihad Kapetanović contributed in the best way to public affirmation, development and raising the level of teaching and modernization of the geodetic profession in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The academic community lost a great professor and man, and on behalf of all students, professors and employees of the University of Sarajevo, we express our sincere condolences to the family members of our professor Kapetanović.