December/January 2023-24 – No. 128
The Australasian magazine of surveying, mapping & geo-information
DIGITAL TWINS for smarter futures
Official publication of
inside Leaders Forum Industry experts on developments coming in 2024
Plans for PNT What can Australia learn from the United Kingdom?
Annual Directory Complete guide to companies, products & services
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contents
December/January 2023-24 No.128
20 38
22
special feature LEADERS FORUM 2024 23 Introduction 25 Graeme Carleton, C.R. Kennedy 27 Martin Nix, Aptella 29 David Robinson, Onneer 31 Peter Terrett, 4D Global
features 5
Position yourself at Locate24
37 Roadmap to be re-aligned
14 Q&A with Matt Higgins
38 Geodesy for the global good
Speaker abstract, workshop and grant submissions are open.
Distilling the 50-year history of GPS and the future of PNT.
18 Delivering a smarter future
33 Mike Milne, Synergy Group
Without a spatial digital twin, there can be no smart cities.
35 Robert Rowell, Insight GIS
20 The UK’s plan for PNT
36 Lee Hellen, Kurloo Technology
The UK has a new 10-point plan to achieve PNT resilience.
22 Q&A with Tori Murrant How she accidentally became a passionate GIS analyst.
Updated Space+Spatial plan to reflect new national needs.
Australia’s Nick Brown details why geodesy is so important.
regulars 4
Upfront
4
Upcoming events
7
From the editor
8
News
41
New products
42
GCA updates
www.spatialsource.com.au 3
upfront
Student’s GIS work
receives recognition Charles Sturt University PhD candidate, Krystal Dacey
Upcoming Events 6 December: 16th Australian Space Forum forum.andythomas.foundation 9–11 January: GeBIZ Summit geobuiz.com/summit-2024 22–25 January: ION International Technical Meeting ion.org/itm 22–25 January: ION PTTI Meeting ion.org/ptti 7–9 February: IGNSS 2024 ignss.org.au/ignss2024 6–7 March: Geo Connect Asia 2024 geoconnectasia.com 18–20 March: APAS2024 Conference apas.org.au
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Charles Sturt University PhD candidate’s GIS work has led to the receipt of two significant international accolades — a Google PhD Fellowship and a prize in the international Spatial Thinking Student Competition. Krystal Dacey, a student at the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, is developing an agent-based spatial model that explores humans’ interaction with the environment by investigating the relationship between human navigation behaviour and terrain. Ms Dacey’s Google PhD Fellowship — in the machine learning category — is one of only five to be awarded in Australia out of the 67 Google Fellowships bestowed worldwide in 2023. “I am so passionate about my project, and it is very validating when others can see the possibilities of my research in the future,” Ms Dacey said. “I am really looking forward to working with my Google mentor as part of the program and I hope to run many of my ideas past them to get their perspective.” Ms Dacey also is a winner in the Spatial Thinking Category of the recent International Statistical Institute (ISI) and ESRI Spatial Thinking Competition, which is sponsored by both organisations to promote the convergence of research, spatial thinking and curiosity. The Competition encourages leading-edge research in the integration of statistical and geospatial data, 4 position December/January 2023-24
15–18 April: ION Pacific PNT Conference ion.org/pnt
taking advantage of GIS technology. Ms Dacey’s research has led to her working with South Australia Police and the Australian Federal Police, both of which see the practical value of her studies. “Both police forces are very supportive of my work and are actively assisting me to validate my model,” Ms Dacey said. “After successful validation, I will look to test the model in real-life situations by initially looking at cold cases and longer-term lostperson incidents.” Ms Dacey’s PhD is supervised by Associate Professor Rachel Whitsed, Associate Dean (Academic) in the Charles Sturt Faculty of Science and Health, and Dr Prue Gonzalez, Sub-Dean, Learning and Teaching. Professor Whitsed said Ms Dacey’s research is capturing the attention of research colleagues and search and rescue professionals. “Research on geospatial models of how people move about in the wilderness — including navigation, wayfinding, and search and rescue — is an emerging application of spatial modelling, and Krystal finds herself at the forefront of research in this area,” said Professor Whitsed. “These awards recognise the global value of her work, and in particular the Google Fellowship will pair her with a mentor to help with model development. We are very excited by the potential and expertise that pairing with Google will bring to the project.” n
7–9 May: Locate24 Conference locateconference.com 19–24 May: FIG Working Week 2024 fig.net/fig2024 13–16 May: Geospatial World Forum 2024 geospatialworldforum.org 4–6 June: ROTORTECH 2024 rotortech.com.au 22–23 July: Disaster & Emergency Management Conference anzdmc.com.au 9–13 September: Advancing Earth Observation Forum earthobsforum.org 22–25 October: ISPRS Technical Commission IV 2024 Symposium geospatialcouncil.org.au
1–8 December: FOSS4G Conference foss4g.org For more events, go to www. spatialsource.com.au/event-listing
conference
Position yourself at
Locate24 Convenor, Narelle Underwood
Locate24 Australia’s leading geospatial conference is now less than six months away.
T
he Geospatial Council of Australia’s (GCA) Locate24 Conference will be held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney from 7 to 9 May, 2024, and submissions for abstracts and workshop ideas, along with grant application availabilities, are now open. The GCA is encouraging members of the geospatial community to put forward their best ideas for oral presentations and case studies on topics of interest, such as: • Land surveying • Engineering surveying • Hydrography • GIS and data • Remote sensing and photogrammetry • Positioning/geodesy Locate24 will also feature Tech Talk opportunities, which will be exclusively available to sponsoring companies and are subject to approval by the program committee. These will be run in the Exhibition Theatrette and will provide companies the opportunity to showcase their products, new technology and developments. Limited places will be available for workshops on Tuesday, 7 May 2024, and these slots, too, are reserved solely for sponsoring companies. Important dates for abstract submissions: • Deadline for submissions: Monday, 5 February 2024 • Review of submissions: February 2024 • Presenters notified of outcome: March 2024 • Successful presenters must register by: End of March 2024 • Locate24 program release: End of March 2024 Locate is once again offering support for young and emerging professionals (YEPs), students and early career researchers to attend the event. Conference organisers have already secured a number of grants from sponsoring companies, meaning there are even more opportunities available to the YEPs of the geospatial industry than ever before.
YEP grant recipients will receive full registration to the conference, including a ticket to the Welcome Reception, a ticket to the awards dinner and attendance of the dedicated networking session. They’ll also receive up to $500 in funding for travel/ accommodation support. Important dates for YEP Grant submissions: • Deadline for submissions: Monday, 4 March 2024 • Submission review: March 2024 • YEPs notified of outcome: End of March 2024 • Successful YEPs must register by: End of April 2024 Sponsorship and exhibitor options are now open, too, with full details available on the Locate24 website. Locate24 Convenor, Narelle Underwood, NSW Surveyor-General and Executive Director of DCS Spatial Services, said that “It is with great pleasure and anticipation that we extend our warmest invitation to you for the Locate24 conference,” adding that it “it promises to be a landmark gathering for the geospatial community”. “The Locate24 conference serves as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, fostering connections that transcend geographical boundaries,” said Mrs Underwood. Issuing a call to delegates from across the region, she has invited potential attendees to “Immerse yourself in insightful discussions, hands-on workshops, and visionary keynote sessions that will inspire and propel the future of geospatial technology. Your presence is integral to the success of this event, as we collectively chart the course for a more connected and informed world.” n
Locate24 Conference 7 to 9 May 2024 International Convention Centre, Sydney locate.geospatialcouncil.org.au +61 2 4319 8519 locate@geospatialcouncil.org.au
www.spatialsource.com.au 5
from the editor The Australasian magazine of surveying, mapping & geo-information
Publisher Simon Cooper Editor Jonathan Nally jnally@intermedia.com.au National Advertising Manager Anna Muldrock amuldrock@intermedia.com.au Prepress Tony Willson Production Manager Jacqui Cooper Subscribe Position is available via subscription. A 12-month subscription (6 issues) is AU$76.00. To subscribe visit spatialsource.com.au/magazine, phone 1800 651 422 or email subscriptions@ intermedia.com.au Address for mail: 41 Bridge Rd, Glebe NSW 2037. Ph: 02 9660 2113 Position is published six times per year, in February, April, June, August, October and December by The Geospatial Council of Australia. ABN: 22 135 572 815 Reprints from Position are permitted only with the permission of the publisher. In all cases, reprints must be acknowledged as follows: ‘Reprinted with permission from Position Magazine’, and must include the author’s byline. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Official publication of
We take our Corporate and Social Responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.
Celebrating GPS and geodesy Q
uite by accident, this issue has turned out to be largely a PNT, geodesy and GNSSdominated edition, with several articles and interviews covering these very important topics. Geodesy is the foundation for everything we do in the geospatial sector, so it is vital that the global geodesy community maintains and builds upon its strengths in order to continue delivering what is really the backbone of much that happens in our technological world. To that end, it’s great to see that Nick Brown, an Aussie, has become Head of Office of the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence, based in Bonn. Check out our interview with Nick to find out where he thinks geodesy is heading in 2024 and beyond. As we reach the end of 2023, the 50th anniversary of the founding of GPS, it is fitting that we look back over that half-century to assess the impact it and the wider GNSS has had on the world, as well as looking ahead to the next 50 years. And who better to guide us on that journey than Matt Higgins. Matt has been intimately involved with space-based navigation systems almost from the beginning, and has served (and continues to serve) on many committees and boards of peak PNT organisations. His insights into this field are… well, insightful! Matt also heads up the International GNSS Association (IGNSS), which meets every two years in Sydney. If you’re involved in PNT in any way or are just interested in the topic, you really must try to get along to the next IGNSS conference in February. I attended the 2022 conference and found it to be thoroughly enjoyable, fascinating and enlightening. Finally, this issue features our annual Leaders Forum, in which prominent geospatial experts dust off their crystal balls and give their forecasts for what we can expect in the year ahead. As you will see, they have some fascinating things to say. Jonathan Nally Editor
NEXT ISSUE
February/March 2024 — Issue 129 Neighbours —Regional and global co-operation and collaboration
Standards — What the sector needs for sharing data and ensuring accuracy Technology — Surveying and mapping devices, software and services Advertising booking date: 24 January 2024 Advertising material date: 30 January 2024 Publication date: 21 February 2024 For article proposals, contact the Editor: jnally@intermedia.com.au For advertising, contact the Advertising Manager: amuldrock@intermedia.com.au
Position magazine acknowledges the traditional custodians of country across Australia, and pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to their elders, past, present and emerging.
www.spatialsource.com.au 7
news Arlula co-founders Arran Salerno and Sebastian Chaoui.
SmartSat CRC’s CEO, Professor Andy Koronios. Photo: Carl Davies.
Arlula secures funding from Lockheed Martin
SmartSat CRC boosts ACT funding to $7+ million
Arlula has announced that it has secured a significant strategic investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. “Lockheed Martin’s investment is a validation of our technology and our vision for the future of satellite imaging. We are thrilled to have an investor that shares our commitment to innovation and our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the space industry,” said Sebastian Chaoui, Co-founder and CEO, adding that the investment provides the company with the financial resources it needs for growth. Founded in 2018, Arlula has built a cloud-based platform that integrates commercial and government satellite imagery from operators around the world in order to reduce the time it takes to access Earth observation data. “Lockheed Martin is wholeheartedly committed to investing in Australian industry capabilities and fostering innovation within the space sector,” said David Ball, Regional Director Australia and New Zealand for Lockheed Martin Space. “We were highly impressed by Arlula’s technology and vision, and this strategic investment reflects our confidence in their capabilities. We believe that, together, we can make space data more accessible and sustainable and transform the future of Earth Observation and satellite technology.” The funding from Lockheed Martin Ventures adds to the investment already made in Arlula by Main Sequence Ventures.
SmartSat CRC has increased its investment in ACT-based space projects and R&D to more than $7 million to support the national capital’s newly announced Space Update 2023 agenda. One of the projects to benefit from the funding boost will be the OzFuel instrument, the aim of which will be to develop intelligent infrared hyperspectral technologies for a bushfire resilience Earth Observation satellite mission. Led by the ANU and building on a previous SmartSat-funded project, Bushfire Resilience, the project will involve designing, building and validating a space-based telescope optical system with infrared sensor package to test the underpinning bushfire detection algorithms. The result will be an ability to monitor bushfire fuel flammability from space, assisting in bushfire prevention, detection and mitigation. It will be specifically tailored to focus on Australian eucalypt coverage. Another project to benefit from the funding increases will bring together Infinity Avionics, UNSW Canberra and Nominal Systems to develop capabilities in space-based space surveillance (SBSS) for managing the risks of avoiding the increasing quantity of debris and space objects in low-Earth orbit (LEO). “This fresh round of research investment by SmartSat delivers a rapid injection to the ACT Space Update,” said SmartSat’s CEO, Professor Andy Koronios. “We believe it will have a force-multiplier effect on the development of space R&D capability in the ACT and provide direct support to the ANU’s broader Earth Observation Resilience Mission with critical technology.”
SpAARC space centre receives $5m boost
SpAARC Director, Sam Forbes, with Dawn McIntosh, Space System Director, at the SpAARC Mission Operation Centre.
8 position December/January 2023-24
Fugro’s Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) in Perth is to receive an additional $5 million in funding from the WA Government. According to Fugro, the funding will be used to help strengthen existing partnerships while also developing a local pipeline of experts who will contribute to SpAARC’s capabilities. The announcement was made by WA’s Premier, Roger Cook, at the Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference. “Leveraging WA’s high-tech robotics and remote operations sector, Fugro SpAARC will capitalise on our significant space infrastructure and capabilities to position WA as the Southern Hemisphere’s global hub for space operations and exploration,” said the Premier. “Space has always been a hotbed of innovation in robotics, automation and harshenvironment operations,” added SpAARC’s Director, Fugro’s Sam Forbes. “This additional support significantly improves our ability to lead in this dynamic field, while also furthering the unique remote and autonomous capabilities we’re working on at SpAARC and more widely within Fugro.”
Position Partners, Fixposition team for robotics Fixposition AG, a Swiss-based supplier of high-precision positioning technology, has joined forces with Australia’s Position Partners to offer customers in Australia and New Zealand the Vision-RTK 2, a fully integrated solution for vision-enhanced, centimetre-level positioning to accelerate field robotics. Vision-RTK 2 augments GNSS signals using inertial measurement units (IMUs), visual odometry and other sensors. “Position Partners has extensive experience supporting industry with centimetre-level GNSS correction services for infrastructure, precision farming, and digital twin projects through our AllDayRTK network,” said James Millner, GNSS Infrastructure Manager at Position Partners. “When it comes to mass-devices or field robotics applications, and inspections for digital twin models, there are additional challenges to maintain positioning integrity and reliability in congested spaces.” “Our collaboration with Fixposition offers our customers an efficient, reliable and cost-effective solution that is backed by our engineering expertise.” Position Partners and Fixposition will present together at the upcoming IGNSS Conference in Sydney early next year. “We recognise the growing demand from application providers for a robust positioning solution that excels in challenging GPS scenarios. The VisionRTK 2 delivers precision at an accessible cost, meeting their needs,” said Peter Mardaleichvili, Fixposition’s Head of Product Management. “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Position Partners, experts in RTK GNSS technologies, to support local customers in Australia and New Zealand.”
Martin Nix, CEO of Position Partners, and Zhenzhong Su, CEO and Co-founder of Fixposition.
Drone pilot Matt Sturdy in the field with a Carbonix Volanti drone.
Drone firms partner for BVLOS operations Carbonix has partnered with international drone operations firm, Skyports Drone Services, to scale up the former’s beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations across Australia using its long-range VTOL aircraft. In the first phase of the partnership, Skyports Drone Services will embed pilots within Carbonix, operating regular data acquisition missions for the latter’s energy infrastructure and mining partners. The pilots will help enhance Carbonix’ capabilities and improve operating procedures. “We’re really excited to be partnering with an experienced and trusted global operator,” said Carbonix’ CEO, Philip van der Burg. “Skyports Drone Services fills a gap with their scalable end-to-end operational experience in flying fixed-wing VTOL UAVs. We look forward to having their pilots enhance our BVLOS capabilities and forging a lasting partnership that sees both companies exchange knowledge and expertise.” Since commencing the partnership, Skyports Drone Services has supported Carbonix on more than 85 long-range missions, covering more than 1,500 kilometres across Australia.
techrentals www.spatialsource.com.au 9
news Quantx, SSTL partner for space test QuantX Labs has formed a partnership with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) through Airbus Australia, to bolster its space knowledge and skillsets as it heads towards on-orbit tests of its Australian-made technology. QuantX Labs’ KAIROS mission will see the launch of a next-generation optical atomic clock into low Earth orbit in 2026 on a demonstration mission, in a project that the company hopes will work to revolutionise space-based position, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities. The optical atomic clock — which was initially developed at the Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing at the University of Adelaide and supported by
funding from the SmartSat CRC — will undergo crucial developments to become space-ready, guided by the expertise of SSTL’s system engineering team and driven by the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Demonstrator Program. SSTL will not only provide its space systems engineering expertise, but also act as a conduit to uplift the skill set of QuantX Labs engineering team and helping to advance the skills base in Australia’s space sector. “QuantX Labs is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), a global leader in small satellite technology and systems engineering consulting,” shared Professor Andre Luiten, Managing Director of QuantX Labs. “This collaboration adds a crucial layer of expertise to our KAIROS mission, providing confidence that we will deliver robust engineering solutions and unparalleled reliability as we venture into space.” Left to right: Professor Andre Luiten, Managing Director of QuantX Labs; Clive Oates, Head of SSTL, Australia; Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency; Associate Professor Martin O’connor, General Manager of QuantX Labs.
Seabed surveys combined for new view of oceans Decades of seabed survey data comprising more than 1,500 individual surveys have been combined to produce a new view of the seafloor surrounding Australia. The project has been led by Geoscience Australia in collaboration with partners James Cook University, the Australian Hydrographic Office and the University of Sydney. “Our oceans offer increasing opportunities for economic growth, with emerging ocean industries including the offshore renewable energy sector generating new job opportunities and contributing to Australia’s future economic prosperity,” said Dr Jodie Smith, Head of the Oceans, Reefs, Coasts and the Antarctic branch at Geoscience Australia. “This only happens with a comprehensive picture of the seabed.” The dataset’s applications will extend across a wide range of industries, such as tourism, fishing, aquaculture, renewable energy, defence, search and rescue, marine research, 10 position December/January 2023-24
environmental protection and marine infrastructure. Geoscience Australia has also produced a national seabed map and released a 3D fly through of the South Australian, Tasmanian, Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland coasts. “The compilation allows Australia’s marine estate to be shown on a single seamless map at 250-metre resolution,”
Dr Smith said. “We can see features at a national-scale, allowing us to step back and take an informed, big-picture view of Australia in its marine context. Geoscience Australia intends to add higher-resolution datasets in highpriority areas in future release versions, such as the shallow depths that are more suitable for renewable energy development.
Geoscience Australia
©stock.adobe.com/au/Jackie Niam
International GNSS Service tracking network CORS in the Asia-Pacific. Courtesy IGS.
New guidelines released for IGS network CORS AURIN’s NCRIS funding boosted to $25m The International GNSS Service (IGS) has released new guidelines for owners and operators involved in the planning and maintenance of IGS tracking network Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS). The IGS tracking network is a collaborative effort comprising CORS managed by various organisations, united under the IGS umbrella. While acknowledging that flexibility is important, the IGS Infrastructure Committee says that it has established essential standards to ensure consistent, fit-for-purpose data for the global IGS community. According to the Committee, stability is paramount — especially for reference frame stations supporting the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) — and thus to maintain the quality of the network, it has updated the Guidelines for Continuously Operating Reference Stations in the IGS. As well, a revised process for proposing new IGS stations has been outlined in another document, Procedure for Becoming an IGS Station, which clarifies the responsibilities of contributing organisations. Candidate new CORS will be reviewed by the IGS Infrastructure Committee, which will consider the station’s location, instrumentation, operational characteristics and relevance to IGS projects. Particular attention will be paid to stations supporting multi-GNSS and real-time capabilities. The IGS is a service of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), its Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), and a network member of the International Science Council (ISC) World Data System (WDS).
SEAM merges with SDR and LWSA
©stock.adobe.com/au/Yevhen
Spatial services provider, SEAM Spatial, has announced a strategic merger with Survey and Drafting Resources (SDR) and LW Survey Australia (LWSA) to form one of the largest surveying entities in Australia. Mick Harris, Managing Director of SEAM Spatial, said that the merger has brought together the knowledge and resources of three key surveying companies under one roof. “By expanding into new industries and growing our capacity, more large-scale projects can work with a single trusted partner for all their surveying needs,” he said. SDR’s established cadastral, civil and mining survey capabilities will strengthen SEAM’s presence in the Hunter Valley region, while LWSA’s expertise will boost capability in resource tenements, complex engineering set-out and pipeline construction. According to Harris, SEAM will now be able to provide comprehensive surveying across all industries, anywhere in Australia, while also supporting green projects and helping traditional energy producers transition to sustainable solutions. “We’ve all collaborated closely for five plus years,” he said, “and we’re aligned in wanting to develop our people and also do more in the renewable energy space.” SEAM is headquartered in Brisbane and has offices across Australia and New Zealand.
A recent federal grant of $12.3 million under the 2023 National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) round, has brought the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network’s (AURIN) NCRIS funding to a total of $25 million over the next five-year period. AURIN’s strategic plan for 2023–28 involves tackling some of the big challenges facing Australian cities and regional centres, such as adapting to the impact of climate change, facilitating energy transitions and delivering adequate housing and social infrastructure. According to AURIN, it sees itself as “the connecting point between academia, government, and industry, we facilitate access to hard-to-get data, contribute to higher research efficiency, and costeffective scientific investment” while aiming to “enhance research translation and contribute to a vibrant innovation ecosystem as well as high impact research”. “This is an exciting period of growth at AURIN, and I look forward to working with our partners towards our common goal of delivering the best possible research outcomes for our communities,” said Prof Pascal Perez, Director, AURIN. “I am proud to be leading our team into a bright future.” AURIN says that over the coming years it aims to identify the information and support tools that decision-makers need and ensure the data and analytics it provides are modular and compatible with efforts to develop an Urban Digital Twin (UDT) for Australia. “At the moment effective implementation of UDTs in Australia is hindered by a lack of standardised and coordinated approaches in utilising the wide range of data and tools available,” the organisation says. “Because of this there are limited effective uses and integrations of UDTs and the complexity of customised workarounds impedes seamless updating, adaptation and governance of UDTs.” www.spatialsource.com.au 11
news OS releases UK building, transport updates The UK’s Ordnance Survey (OS) has launched new data, including significant enhancements, in the OS National Geographic Database (NGD), covering transport and buildings. Building data has been significantly enhanced, including a new building geometry representing the building footprint, making it easier to select and analyse individual properties. Additional attribute enhancements include providing the building use (eg commercial, retail or residential), connectivity to other buildings (for example whether a property is standalone or semi-connected), identifying a primary building within a site (such as a central hospital building with other clinics on site) and also providing the number of addresses which reside within the building (including how many are residential and commercial). OS has also increased its coverage of Great Britain’s path network, now capturing data for the whole of England, Scotland and Wales, whereas previously only urban areas were captured. This work has resulted in over 10 million new path features which equates to an increase of almost 35%. The enhancements enable further analysis to be undertaken on how pedestrians complete routes using both the road and path network, supporting travel policies, improvements to public health and projects to encourage walking. Another significant update means that for the first time, pavement (footpath) width and their presence along roads are now available as additional attributions. This will benefit analysis relating to those who use mobility scooters, wheelchairs or pushchairs.
The final update is the creation of a new generalised Rail Network for Great Britain, the first of its kind to be released by Ordnance Survey. This will enable customers to understand how well-connected areas are in relation to rail, including the transportation of goods, as well as improving situational awareness for emergency services when attending emergencies on the rail network.
LINZ milestones in 2022–23
12 position December/January 2023-24
• 88% of the South Island’s West Coast and 80% of Canterbury in 3D mapping as part of the national LiDAR elevation project. • 37 Electronic Navigational Charts were issued in a new edition or with new cells, and 78 more were updated. • 11 geospatial datasets were made fit for national and local emergency management, a vital component of the Resilience and Climate Change Key Dataset Improvement Programme. • Completion of an aerial laser survey that captured a highresolution 3D map of Taranaki’s land surface, to be used in local environmental management and planning.
©stock.adobe.com/au/Andrea Izzotti
Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has released its annual report for 2022–23, which details the organisation’s achievements and activities during that period. A snapshot of some the statistics for the year reveals: • 3.2 million logins on Landonline, the platform for New Zealand’s property system. • 3,283,424 property search products delivered through both Landonline and Land Record Search. • 100,000-plus registered users of the LINZ Data Service, a source of publicly available data including aerial imagery, elevation data, topographic data, property boundaries and title information, place names, street addresses and roads, and Crown land and properties managed by Toitū Te Whenua. • 1.2 million hectares of Crown pastoral land were administered in the iconic South Island high country, stretching from Marlborough Region to Southland Region. • 8,000 properties previously managed by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and Toitū Te Whenua across Christchurch and Waimakariri were transferred to local councils, enabling local regeneration • 5,500 complex land titles were reconfigured cross the Avon River/Ōtakaro Corridor as part of Christchurch earthquake regeneration work.
NZ navy to conduct historic survey Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) dive and hydrographic vessel HMNZS Manawanui is conducting a seven-week deployment to the south-west Pacific, during which it will take part in a historic survey mission. Once the ship arrives in Fiji, it will carry hydrographic surveyors from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the RNZN’s Littoral Support Unit, HMNZS Matataua, as they Dive and hydrographic vessel, HMNZS Manawanui. Courtesy RNZN.
©stock.adobe.com/au/whitcomberd
South Australia tops planning rankings
UK donates hydrographic gear to Ukraine The UK Hydrographic Office, an agency of the Ministry of Defence, has donated £1.6 million worth of equipment to the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine. The equipment — which includes two full single-beam echo sounder systems and two multibeam-echo sounder systems — will be used to carry out hydrographic surveys. “This donation shows the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine,” said Baroness Goldie, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence. “The equipment provided by the UK Hydrographic Office will contribute to the protection of ports and shipping lanes, helping Ukraine’s ships stay safe so they can move goods, including food supplies, in and out of the country.” Along with the equipment and software, the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine has been offered training on specialist courses delivered by the UK Hydrographic Office and the Royal Navy. The training will help develop the necessary skills to effectively use the donated equipment. “The UK Hydrographic Office is steadfast in our support to our Ukrainian colleagues, and to the mariners and people of Ukraine,” said Peter Sparkes, Chief Executive, UK Hydrographic Office. “This donation will give the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine the necessary tools and training to maintain their international responsibilities as a coastal state through this challenging period.”
©stock.adobe.com/au/Olivier-Tuffé
South Australia’s property planning system has come out on top in the Business Council of Australia’s (BCA) new Regulation Rumble report, which presents a scorecard of regulation and red tape. According to the BCA, “Businesses face duplication and inconsistency across the Federation. Frequent changes to laws and regulations, and a poor understanding from policymakers and regulators of the complexity, time and cost of implementing these changes, is adding to the pressure.” When it comes to property planning, the BCA has ranked the states and territories in order of best practice, finding that South Australia is the best and NSW the worst. “South Australia ranks well in terms of speed and efficiency of assessment,” the report says. “It has a single approach across the State, limited stop the clock provisions, and high levels of transparency. It does not however rank first in every metric, meaning that there remains room for improvement going forward.” The BCA adds that “while NSW ranks highly in transparency, it is the equal last performer in terms of time required to make a decision, it provides low levels of certainty given the excessive stop the clock provisions, and delivers poor consistency across the state with local councils having significant individualised approaches to controls and documents.” The BCA does acknowledge that the “new NSW government has flagged the importance of housing supply. This presents an opportunity to reform the NSW planning system to address these issues and help drive improvements in the competitiveness of the nation’s biggest state.” “We also acknowledge and applaud the fact that this is an issue identified for action across the nation by National Cabinet, with states like Victoria also flagging potential reform.”
conduct two maritime surveys, one of which is in the Koro Sea east of Viti Levu island — a zone which was last surveyed in 1895. Once the data has been processed ashore in the Fiji Hydrographic Office by the RNZN hydrographers and Fiji Navy personnel, it will be sent the UK Hydrographic Office for inclusion on charts. The overall deployment, known as Operation Calypso, will also involve maritime security patrols, bomb disposal and community engagement activities during visits to Niue, Fiji and Vanuatu. “For all of us, the Pacific is our neighbourhood and it’s always special to get out here and work with our friends on these tasks,” said the Commanding Officer of HMNZS Manawanui, Commander Yvonne Gray. “Some of our crew hail from Pacific nations and so for them our deployments to the Pacific are a way for them to give something back to their communities.”
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q&a
Q&A
with Matt Higgins
In a wide-ranging interview, Matt Higgins distils the 50-year history of GPS and expounds on what the future may bring for PNT.
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“ Governments around the world are realising the need to develop backup systems using so‑called ‘alternate PNT’ technologies.”
att Higgins has been intimately involved with the surveying and positioning sector in Australia for more than four decades, and in that time has served with many domestic and international boards, panels and organisations. He is currently the president of the International Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Association and a member of the US Government’s National Space-Based PNT Advisory Board. Earlier this year he was awarded the Public Service Medal in the King’s Birthday 2023 Honours List, for outstanding public service to Queensland and for achievements internationally in the fields of surveying, geodesy and spatial sciences. In this, the 50th anniversary year of GPS, we spoke with Matt to learn more about his career and to get his thoughts on the past, present and future of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). Please tell us about your career and your involvement in PNT. While studying for my bachelor’s degree in surveying, I had a cadetship with the Queensland Department of Mapping and Surveying and did geodetic survey work all over the state; primarily using laser geodimeters but also satellite positioning based on the Transit System. For my final year undergraduate project in 1982, I thought I would focus on the Transit system but my supervising surveyor, Graeme Rush, suggested that I should focus on the emerging Global Positioning System (GPS). So, ironically, my start in PNT was very much a matter of being in the right place at the right time. A few years later, while doing my master’s degree, I was involved in
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the Department’s first GPS survey in Queensland and I also published the first widely used parameters for transforming between WGS84 and our local datum, AGD84. On completing my Masters, I did a six-month study tour of the US in 1989 and eventually became the Department’s lead person in GPS. Another key achievement was leading the development of SunPOZ, one of the first RTK networks in the Southern Hemisphere. My roles as a Commission Chair and then as a Vice President of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) were also pivotal in my PNT development. I represented FIG as a founding Associate Member of the UN International Committee on GNSS and Co-Chaired one of its Working Groups. After I finished in FIG, in 2010, I was appointed by the NASA Administrator to the US Government’s Advisory Board for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT). In recent years I have also been President of the IGNSS Association in Australia. What was the genesis of GPS? The concept of satellite positioning was famously developed when scientists realised that they could measure the distance to the Sputnik satellite (launched by the USSR in 1957) by measuring the doppler shift in its radio signal. This eventually led to the concept of the Transit System. As anyone working in satellite positioning knows, accuracy is addictive and by the 1970s the Global Positioning System was being proposed to the US military by a group led by then Air Force Colonel Brad Parkinson, with whom I have the great honour of serving on the US Advisory Board for Space-Based PNT.
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The GPS program was officially approved in 1973 and civilian equipment started to show up in Australia about 10 years later. What were your early thoughts about the benefits GPS might bring? The early GPS system lent itself to surveying being one of the first applications. So, the first GPS receivers I ever saw were in the early- to mid-1980s, when we had demonstrations in Brisbane of the Texas Instruments TI-4100. The next encounter was for surveys we did in Brisbane using a pair of Trimble receivers. Charlie Trimble had spun his company out of Hewlett Packard when they decided not to pursue GPS. Every surveyor at the time had a HP calculator on their belt, so we were willing to give these Trimble folks a try. The Trimble 4000S receivers were considered revolutionary because rather than multiplexing between satellites, they had a dedicated channel for the L1 civil signal from each of the 4 available satellites. Even in those early days, observing the prototypes satellites, sometimes between 1:00am and 5:00am, it was quickly clear that GPS could replace our current lineof-sight-based approaches, especially for geodetic surveys across large areas of a state like Queensland. As a student, I had also spent weeks holding a staff for 3rd order levelling along bush highways, so another attractive possibility for me was to use GPS to measure height differences between two points on either side of a mountain range, without having to level over it — luxury! Another seminal memory is from the FIG Congress in Melbourne in 1994, when there was a demonstration of real-time GPS surveying with centimetre accuracy.
We were all looking at each other thinking, “This changes everything!” If the world hadn’t had a Brad Parkinson, where would we be? Would GLONASS have to come to dominate? This is something of a chicken and egg discussion. The short answer is if the US had not developed GPS, the Soviets would not have had to respond with GLONASS. However, as I said earlier, accuracy is addictive, so even if GPS had not eventuated 50 years ago, someone, somewhere would have eventually developed something better than the Transit System. That said, having listened to Brad’s talk to the US Advisory Board on the key design features of GPS, I think we should all be very thankful that GPS did set the standard because a less-elegant design may not have enabled adoption across such a widespread set of applications and across a truly global user base. Also, while first mover advantage helped GPS set the standard, it is worth noting that the very clever people who have designed the other GNSS have tended to follow a very similar underlying approach, albeit with some nice additional features in some cases. How did GPS begin to take hold in Australia? Brad Parkinson and his team were not only technically brilliant; they also knew that decisions to build the full system would be easier if they could demonstrate the benefits of GPS as early as possible. They therefore ensured that the prototype system would bring the four satellites necessary for a position fix together in a short window www.spatialsource.com.au 15
q&a “A key driver for non-GNSS PNT solutions is the rise of automated platforms for aerial, terrestrial and maritime applications.”
each day over the proving grounds in Yuma, Arizona. The short window of availability meant GPS was not yet suitable for continuous navigation of aircraft and ships, but it was already very useful for surveying — especially with two receivers working in a differential mode. The prototype satellites also came together over Australia, so once again I was in the right position at the right time to be involved in some of the first tests of GPS in surveying. While Brad often talks about GPS being conceived as a dual-use system from the very start, there are obviously many military applications of GPS, and people within Australian Defence would have also been doing a lot of development work in those early days. One tangible aspect of that was the establishment of a GPS monitor station in South Australia early in the development of the GPS. Another indicator was the fact that Australian Defence had a representative in the GPS Joint Program Office from quite early in its development. Another area of early GPS application was in the maritime domain. The fact that you were at sea level meant you could operate using only three satellites by constraining height in the position calculation. As on land, surveying for hydrography was also a strong GPS application development area in Australia. Experts in precise time transfer were also quick to realise the civilian applications that could be developed taking advantage of all those atomic clocks flying overhead. What has Australia contributed to GPS/GNSS? Australia’s large land mass and sparse population meant that there were few countries on earth that stood to benefit more from GPS. That, along with the typically pragmatic Aussie approach meant that in all the fields described above and more, we quickly gained a reputation for innovative applications. Satellite geodesy quickly developed as a strong suit in Australia, with high quality research in our universities and new applications in government and industry. When I returned from the US in 1989, we worked with the US National Geodetic Survey to set up a CIGNET station in Townsville — I believe it was one of the first of what we now call continuously operating reference stations (CORS) in Australia. Our place as a stable, developed country in the Southern Hemisphere meant Australia was 16 position December/January 2023-24
quickly recognised as an important place to host ground stations for GPS, especially colocated with other space geodesy techniques such as SLR and VLBI, where we also had great strengths in terms of both expertise and infrastructure. Another area where Australia was a leader was in the development of differential range and then RTK GPS services. Australia was especially strong in the early days of a new field called precision agriculture, and it wasn’t long before that expertise was also being applied in our other major industries of mining and construction. In recent years, Australia’s ability to receive signals from the regional systems deployed by India and Japan, in addition to the four global systems, means it has been a global leader in the adoption of multiGNSS equipment and applications. Has the world become over-reliant on GNSS? Just as the success of the internet has led to cyber-attacks, the growing reliance on GNSS has led to concerns about jamming, spoofing and other vulnerabilities being used to compromise key industries or critical infrastructure. Governments around the world are realising the need to develop backup systems using so-called ‘alternate PNT’ technologies and with higher levels of sovereign control. For a country like Australia, a nationwide positioning system using radio signals is best done from space, but it should be more feasible to develop sovereign approaches to backup the widespread use of GNSS-based timing in finance, communication and energy distribution. Could anyone have foreseen that we would all one day carry a GNSS receiver around in our pocket? In Brad Parkinson’s talk to the US PNT Advisory Board marking the 50th anniversary of GPS, he showed some drawings where he foresaw applications such as machine guidance and automated driving, well before their time. However, something even more impressive than predicting the future was designing a system that enabled an unlimited future. The one-way broadcast of well-structured, high-quality signals from space, enabled GPS to serve an unlimited number of global users. That combination of simple, standardised equipment and
global coverage created the environment for the huge adoption levels we see with GNSS today. So even if it was difficult to foresee everyone having a GPS receiver in their pocket, the brilliant system design meant the possibility was always there. Even so, Brad has often commented that even he is amazed by some of the applications we see today. One example I like was the case of activists in St Petersburg, Russia, who flushed GNSS receivers down toilets and proved that raw sewage was flowing untreated into the city’s waterways. Even Brad hadn’t predicted that one! Which companies or research efforts are you keeping your eye on? There is a lot happening globally, but if concentrating on Australia, the following companies have significant offerings in several important fields for Australia’s sovereign capabilities: • Alternate PNT using signals — Locata • INS and LiDAV — Advanced Navigation • SLAM using imaging and LiDAR — Emesent’s Hovermap • Next-generation atomic clocks — QuantX Labs • Space-based ADSB and other PNTenabled developments — Skykraft • Geolocation of GNSS jamming and spoofing — GPSat Systems There are also major developments in government that will underpin PNT future development in Australia. SouthPAN and associated programs will continue to be a game changer for Australia and New Zealand, delivering very important SBAS and PPP services. And while I’ve concentrated on civil applications, it is also important to mention the military program JP9380 on ‘Assured PNT in a Contested Environment,’ which is likely to be a significant catalyst for improvement in the important role PNT will always play in the nation’s defence. It should also be said that many of those wins in the private and government sectors are enhanced by leveraging the world-class PNT research capacity in our universities. What will the PNT system of the future look like? Will terrestrial PNT take over for some applications? There is a modernised version of LORAN, called eLORAN, which is sometimes touted as a technology for alternate PNT. Positioning using radio signals needs
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Brad Parkinson
GNSS experts to gather in Sydney The International GNSS Association (IGNSS) 2024 conference will be held in Sydney from 7 to 9 February 2024. It will be both a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the initiation of the GPS program and a look ahead to the next 50 years. The organisers have secured Dr Bradford Parkinson, the Chief Architect of GPS, to give the opening keynote address — there is no better way to mark the 50th anniversary of GPS than to hear from the first Director of the GPS Joint Program Office on the developments that led to the system we now take for granted. Parkinson will speak live from his home in California about the fascinating story of the technical and organisational issues that he and his team faced in those early days of GPS. In another important development, the US Civil GPS Service Interface Committee (CGSIC) will hold a meeting of its International Information Subcommittee (IISC) as part of IGNSS2024. This will see several of the top US government PNT experts adding to the conference program. IGNSS2024 will also showcase the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) and other important developments from governments in the region, along with updates from the major GNSS providers. When: 7 to 9 February 2024 Where: UNSW Sydney Web: ignss.org.au/ignss2024
terrestrial infrastructure and is subject to the limitations of radio range from several sources to achieve good geometry. For a country like Australia, that makes it very difficult for a technology like eLORAN to match the accuracy and ubiquity of GNSS. However, those limitations are easier to overcome when you are only solving for time as a single unknown, and some countries are considering eLORAN as a backup for time transfer. The Australian company Locata has a solution that can cover areas of interest with very precise positioning and timing and seems ideal for deployment in existing infrastructures such as mobile phone networks. A key driver for non-GNSS PNT solutions is the rise of automated platforms for aerial, terrestrial and maritime applications. Simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) is a rapidly developing tool for positioning and navigating such platforms, especially where high levels of autonomy is required. The rise of uncrewed, autonomous systems is also driving improvements in inertial navigation systems, with ongoing performance improvements and miniaturisation in key components like accelerometers and fibre-optic gyroscopes. While local or dead reckoning positioning techniques like SLAM, INS and others will continue to be important, there will still always be a need for absolute positioning in a global reference frame, and satellitebased systems seem to be the best approach for the foreseeable future. An important hot topic in space-based PNT is the use of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, a technique known as LEO PNT. One issue yet to play out is whether the services offered will be sufficiently compelling to allow return on investment and reach the levels of uptake required to create a truly alternative approach to current GNSS. Thinking even more futuristically, we may eventually see a move away from using terrestrial or space-based infrastructure to positioning directly in the Earth’s gravity and/or magnetic fields. Another important development will be the rise of AI, machine learning and quantum algorithms for improving the performance of all PNT techniques. They offer significant potential for improvement using only software, without the need for new infrastructure or user hardware. Finally, while I have concentrated a lot on technology, none of the developments I have covered would have happened without the work of clever, dedicated people. My memories of all these developments are inextricably linked to the great people that made them happen. In the first 50 years of GPS, Australia has developed a strong reputation as a country that bats above it weight in GNSS and PNT, and we need to ensure that we continue to nurture and grow our PNT experts of the future. n www.spatialsource.com.au 17
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NSW Spatial Digital Twin delivering
a smarter and sustainable future Without a spatial digital twin, there can be no smart cities, no smart regions and no smart states.
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ne of the largest spatial digital twins in the world, developed by the NSW Government, is continuing to evolve and contribute to a smarter, more sustainable future to enhance the lives of communities across the state. The NSW Spatial Digital Twin (SDT), led by the Department of Customer Service’s (DCS) Spatial Services, is a cross-sector, collaborative digital workbench available to government, industry, academia and community, enabling the development of smart cities and driving improvements for the planning, design, and operation of assets and services. With most of Western Sydney and the entire CBD of regional city Bathurst mapped and live, it’s already one of the largest spatial digital twins in the world. At the heart of the NSW SDT is a shared data management and delivery platform based on the Esri ArcGIS Enterprise Portal, which provides access to NSW Government spatial data by deploying Spatial Services’ FSD (Foundation Spatial Data) 2D, 3D and 4D data sets and federating data catalogues across key NSW Government portal environments, like the SEED (Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data) Portal.
A foundation for a smarter future
DCS Spatial Services’ Narelle Underwood, proudly points to her team’s global GIS award.
To date, the program has produced digital twin data for more than 19 local government areas across Greater Sydney and regional NSW.
Critically, the NSW SDT provides a foundation to accelerate the deployment and uptake of smart and connected technologies across the state. Infrastructure NSW has identified the NSW SDT as an enabler of Smart Places and part of the future digital form of government. According to DCS Spatial Services, without a spatial digital twin, there can be no smart cities, no smart regions and no smart state. The Bathurst Spatial Digital Twin is a case in point. Bathurst was the first regional city to be included in the NSW Spatial Digital Twin as part of the Live NSW program, with the digital representation of the city enabling the visualisation of location-based information in 4D for four million square metres of the CBD. This gives the council, planners and the community the ability to interact with data in a user-friendly place-based platform, and enables the deployment of ‘smart infrastructure,’ including Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, allowing access to real-time data that can be used, for example, to identify electric vehicle charging station locations. The Bathurst SDT enables visualisation of past, present and future built and natural environments to assist the council, industry and the community to collaboratively realise Bathurst’s best potential as a smart and sustainable city.
Realising transformative opportunities
To date, the program has produced digital twin data for more than 19 local government areas across Greater Sydney and regional NSW. 18 position December/January 2023-24
The Bathurst SDT enables visualisation of past, present and future built and natural environments.
Bathurst is one of the oldest cities in NSW and also one of the fastest growing. The Spatial Digital Twin enables users to integrate any location-based data and helps policy makers, planners, developers and residents, preserve the past and plan for the future.
The entire city of Penrith has been captured as a living digital twin.
The accuracy and benefits of a digital twin cannot be underestimated. Penrith, and 19 councils in NSW, are already reaping the benefits.
As more data is integrated, the SDT will provide transformative opportunities for the NSW Government and local councils to realise benefits across the entire development and infrastructure lifecycle, and will deliver: • The ability to plan, build and operate development and infrastructure projects before anything is created physically. • Greater confidence and clarity in planning and delivery that will improve project performance and empower builders, infrastructure operators and policy makers. • Innovative approaches for public/private collaborations. • A wealth of data for analytics, resource planning and service delivery. • Optimised community engagement for infrastructure projects. • Reduced costs through automated compliance and approval processes.
Improved decision-making with data insights
At the global user conference held in July 2023, Esri was proud to award DCS Spatial Services with a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) award. Speaking about the program, DCS Spatial Services SurveyorGeneral and Executive Director, Narelle Underwood, said the NSW SDT was enabling greater collaboration, improved planning and, ultimately, decision-making driven by data insights. “DCS Spatial Services has created a more collaborative environment that shares and visualises location information updated in near real-time, with 4D models of the state to support improved decision making,” Mrs Underwood said. “Thanks to its ability to connect different data types and systems, the NSW Spatial Digital Twin program is enabling more efficient planning, prioritisation and delivery of infrastructure, and ultimately improved community engagement. “We believe this model sets a strong foundation to facilitate delivery of information and datasets from local, state and federal agencies to the community into the future.” The NSW SDT is a leading example of the new approach to digital transformation and using data to build a smarter, more sustainable future. The technology is a vital enabler of change, assisting decision makers to explore new lines of investigation, and showcasing the power of collaboration, innovation, and datadriven decision-making. Embrace the transformative power of Esri’s ArcGIS and unlock a smarter, more sustainable future with data-driven decisionmaking. Call 1800 870 750 to speak to the Esri Australia team or visit www.esriaustralia.com.au/twin to explore how to collaborate, innovate and revolutionise your organisation. n Information supplied by Esri Australia and DCS Spatial Services. www.spatialsource.com.au 19
national strategy ©stock.adobe.com/au/Blue Planet Studio
The UK’s plan for PNT resilience The UK has developed a new strategy that sets out a 10-point plan to achieve PNT resilience and security.
JONATHAN NALLY
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hile the Australian geospatial sector still awaits the publication of the nation’s official positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) roadmap, the United Kingdom Government is showing the way by releasing a strategy for ensuring the continuity of PNT services in the UK. The ten-point plan includes establishing a National PNT Office and a National Timing Centre, having back-up plans in the event of disruption to the GNSS, plus various other initiatives such as terrestrial timing networks and precision clock research — all aimed at boosting resilience and reducing risk. The aim is the ensure critical sectors such as finance, defence, transportation, telecommunications and emergency services, as well as everyday services such as banking and the stock market, are protected from failure in the event of major problems with the current PNT system. The new strategy — which the UK Government is describing as a ‘framework’ — was released on 18 October by the UK’s Science Minister, George Freeman. “Position, navigation and timing is vital to so many of the public services we rely on daily — from the emergency services to transport, satellites and telecommunications,” said Minister Freeman. “Enhancing our PNT resilience and long-term capabilities is key to both Critical National Infrastructure, our economic 20 position December/January 2023-24
security and resilience and strategic high growth sectors like space, future telecoms, quantum and cyber security. “Today’s policy framework, including the creation of our new National PNT Office, is a sign of our commitment to PNT as a key strategic capability.” The ten elements of the framework are: 1. Establish a National PNT Office within the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, with responsibility for PNT policy, coordination and delivery. 2. Retain and update a cross-government PNT Crisis Plan to be activated if GNSSprovided PNT is lost, and identify and implement short-term mitigations. 3. Develop a proposal for a National Timing Centre to provide resilient, terrestrial, sovereign and high-quality timing for the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) time scale (known as UTC(NPL)), including sovereign components and optical clocks. 4. Develop a proposal for a ‘Ministry of Defence Time’ with the aim of creating deeper resilience through a system of last resort, and use National Timing Centreprovided timing to support the Ministry of Defence. 5. Develop a proposal for a resilient, terrestrial and sovereign Enhanced Long-Range Navigation (eLORAN) system to provide back-up positioning and navigation. 6. For infrastructure resilience, roll out
resilient GNSS receiver chips, develop holdover clocks and consider options for legislation on critical national infrastructure sectors to require minimum-resilient PNT. 7. Develop a proposal for a UK Precise Point Positioning Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) to replace the use of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, monitor GNSS and enable GNSS-dependent, high-accuracy positioning for autonomous and precision uses. 8. Improve sector-wide skills by exploring options for Centres for Doctoral Training in timing and PNT, and review PNT skills, education and training for long-term sovereign PNT capability. 9. Develop a PNT growth policy, including R&D program, standards and testing, to drive innovation for PNT-based productivity. 10.Develop next-generation PNT by deploying existing R&D funding into a UK Quantum Navigator and investigate possible options for a sovereign UK regional satellite system. As a sign of the importance to the community of the largely unseen PNT sector, the UK government has also published a report showing the economic impact if the GNSS were to be disrupted — a 24-hour outage could result in a £1.4 billion loss to the UK economy, with a seven-day outage causing a loss of £7.6 billion.
The economic impact report, which is a re-evaluation of an analysis from 2017, showed that most (87.5%) of the losses during a seven-day outage would result from disruption to emergency services and road and maritime transport. Coinciding with the release of the PNT plan, was the publication of the Space Based PNT Technical Concepts report from the UK Space Agency, which looks at a range of ways of delivering PNT services from space and will serve as a foundation for the decision-making process of the new PNT Office as it contemplates future space-based PNT solutions. Robust and resilient PNT The announcement of the new PNT strategy has met with approval from a range of UK stakeholders. “I am very pleased to see the publication of a cross-government PNT policy framework to develop the capabilities, skills and technologies that will ensure our future PNT Resilience. This framework will provide ever-increasing opportunities for economic growth, employment and innovation for the UK,” said Professor Dame Angela McLean, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser. “PNT resilience was identified as a significant issue in the 2018 Blackett Report, Satellite-derived Time and Position: A Study of Critical Dependencies — this policy framework will help address the challenges set out there.” John Pottle, Director of the Royal Institute of Navigation, described it as a “significant and very welcome announcement” that “recognises that achieving greater PNT resilience is a multifaceted endeavour”. “The ownership provided by the
“The ownership provided by the National PNT Office will provide policy and delivery oversight.” John Pottle, Director, Royal Institute of Navigation
National PNT Office will provide policy and delivery oversight, and co-ordination across all stakeholders,” Pottle said. “As well as improving national preparedness, the PNT framework has potential to help further strengthen the UK’s thought leadership and innovation in robust and resilient PNT.” David Henderson, Chief Geospatial Officer at Ordnance Survey pointed out that “With new technology-enabled ecosystems like autonomous vehicles and digital twins starting to take shape, it’s the perfect time to be thinking in a strategic way about how we use and develop our position, navigation and timing systems”. “We have the infrastructure and knowhow in the UK to help us think innovatively about how to better connect our digital and physical places, and the PNT framework sets out a clear way of thinking of how we can strengthen that,” he added. On the specific topic of timing, Dr Peter Thompson, CEO of the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL), said that “The inclusion of a commitment to develop a proposal for a National Timing Centre in the new government policy framework for greater PNT resilience is an important step to improving timing resilience for UK critical infrastructure and the wider economy”. A UK National Timing Centre research and development program was announced in early 2020 and is led by the NPL in partnership with others, including Innovate UK. “The NPL, as the home of accurate time in the UK and the national technical authority for time and frequency, will continue to work with DSIT on the challenge of timing resilience, building on the ongoing National Timing Centre R&D programme,” said Thompson. n
PNT for national security The UK has been looking into the problem of assured PNT for some time now. The new framework builds on prior work such as the 2018 Satellite-derived Time and Position: A Study of Critical Dependencies report and the UK Space Agency’s Space Based PNT Programme, which had been established to investigate alternatives for the delivery of PNT services from space. An earlier effort had even considered the possibility of the UK developing its own conventional GNSS, similar to GPS or Galileo. In addition, the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy included a commitment to beef up the resilience of the PNT services on which the country’s critical national infrastructure and economy depend. It also follows the inclusion of the potential loss of PNT services in the 2023 National Risk Register, the public version of the National Security Risk Assessment, which itemises the UK Government’s estimation of the most serious risks facing that country. At the end of the last financial year, the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology re-allocated £14 million of existing funding to the National Physical Laboratory’s National Timing Centre Research and Development program, which will now finish in March 2025. This program is described as ‘a key building block’ for the development a National Timing Centre. www.spatialsource.com.au 21
q&a Tori Murrant, GIS analyst at Monteath & Powys
Q&A
with Tori Murrant
Having stumbled across the geospatial sector at university, Murrant has now become a passionate GIS analyst. “ If we are to attract new talent, advance the industry and create value, we need access to open data.”
T
ori Murrant is a GIS analyst in the 3D spatial team at Monteath & Powys, where she leads the company’s GISbased initiatives to enable the creation and accessibility of 3D data. This includes delivering enterprise database systems and platforms for storage and access of spatial information. At home, she is mum to her two-year-old son. “Yes, I am addicted to coffee,” she says. We spoke with Murrant to find out how she chose her career and why she has become so passionate about 3D. How did you get into this field? I stumbled into the field while completing the mandatory GIS course in my undergraduate degree in geology. I found that I had a strong affinity for the software as it seemed like an extension of video games — I got my start in coding and 3D meshing by modding games in my teens. Previously, I have worked at the Geological Survey of NSW, City of Newcastle and NSW Spatial Services. My career has been focused on 3D spatial; whether that’s basin geology, cadastres or buildings. What sort of projects do you work on? As I work for a surveying firm, my work is based in the land administration, architecture and engineering fields. As part of the 3D spatial team, I’m often creating platforms for the visualisation and querying 22 position December/January 2023-24
of building information model data to make it accessible to non-spatial stakeholders. However, the project taking up most of my time right now is co-ordinating the enterprise spatial strategy for an organisation managing the closure of coalfired power plants and transforming their 2D information to 3D. What do you find so enjoyable about your work? Most data have a location element, and the importance of spatial intelligence across all industries is being realised. I enjoy the variety of opportunities that this presents; I can apply my skills at an environmental or surveying firm or at an academic institution. On that note, I really enjoy seeing the work shared by my colleagues in different industries. Additionally, I find solving 3D spatial problems to be like playing a video game (and sometimes it is when I use Unreal Engine!). I’m excited to be a part of the future of 3D in the geospatial industry. What do you think of the culture of Australia’s geospatial sector? I have found the sector to be supportive and full of passionate individuals who want the share their knowledge. I’ve been lucky to have previously been a part of the team delivering the NSW Spatial Digital Twin and Cadastre NSW. I had the opportunity to learn from some truly innovative professionals who were passionate,
intelligent and always willing to include me. My positive attitude has been created by the leaders I have learned from, and I am grateful for the mentorship I have received. Do you have any specific ambitions for the years ahead? I have a handful of aims for the years ahead. I’m planning to commence postgraduate research next year while continuing my current role. I want to share my knowledge of geoBIM with the geospatial industry and help build our collective understanding of this emerging space to realise its value. I would like to expand my professional network and build my leadership skills for my broader career goal to become a leader for organisations to adopt spatial digital twin technologies through collaboration, thought leadership and change management. Are there any other points you’d like to make? I come across a lot of people who are confused about the value of 3D data, so I want to make a point about open 3D spatial data. If we are to attract new talent, advance the industry and create value, we need access to open data for people to explore their creativity and practice new skills. I encourage organisations to adopt a strategy for sharing 3D spatial data publicly (where possible) so that we can start having people being less wary of working in 3D and make it the new normal. n
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LEADERS FORUM 2024
Welcome to Position’s third annual Leaders Forum, in which we ask geospatial experts to share their insights into the current state of the sector, where it is headed in 2024 and how we’ll get there. We asked them to identify which problems they see as being the most pressing and how they might be solved, whilst also identifying the industry’s strengths and its capacity to find solutions for some of the world’s most demanding challenges. So please turn the page and begin your glimpse into what the world of geospatial
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will look like over the coming 12 months. START HERE
20 24 www.spatialsource.com.au 23
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leaders forum “Whilst airspace safety is paramount, the technology advancements are tracking well ahead of the supporting regulations.”
Graeme Carleton National RPAS Manager, C.R. Kennedy After working in the aerial mapping service industry at the commencement geospatial career, Graeme Carleton’s passion for the emerging technology, using remotely piloted aircraft systems for survey applications, led him into solution sales. He leads the national team at C.R. Kennedy, ensuring new and existing clients have access to the latest and best solutions in market. What are the challenges are facing the sector, and what are the solutions? The market is crowded with many manufacturers of both hardware and software, all positioning themselves for a viable share. The challenge is being aware of the many options on offer, testing and evaluating, then choosing those to represent and bring to market. Our clients rely on our knowledgeable staff to present the best options possible to suit their unique business needs and applications. Which technologies or innovations are going to make their mark in 2024? The evolution of compact, light and less expensive airborne LiDAR payloads will most certainly lead to increased demand and subsequent uptake into surveyors’ RPAS fleets. LiDAR such as the Leica BLK2FLY, CHCNAV Alpha Air and DJI Zenmuse L2, allow for fast capture and minimal post-processing to increase efficiency substantially versus photogrammetry, and we can produce some very detailed models, even over vegetated environments. Evolving regulations for licensed ReOC (Remote Operators Certificate) holders for Extended Line of Sight (EVLOS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations will enable aerial mapping to be carried out with even more scope and with larger distances covered. This is supported by technology advancements, such as the DJI Dock range of remotely operated RPAS, and the long-range Wingtra VTOL drone. What’s on your wish list for 2024? Continual review and changes managed by CASA, in regards to removing confusion and arguably exorbitant costs for applications and approvals for operations outside the standard operating conditions. Whilst airspace safety is paramount, the technology advancements are tracking well ahead of the supporting regulations. This has resulted in lower adoption rates than we hoped for and some balance in this area would deliver great benefits to our clients.
What are your customers and collaborators looking for in 2024? Like most recent years, our customers require solutions that enable them to deliver upon projects more efficiently, cost effective and safely. This is a responsibility we hold and promise to our clients. As we are at the forefront of the technology wave, we conduct our own research and tests before we offer a portfolio of options to market. The trust in this process and what we put forward is paramount to mutual success. What are your company’s plans or priorities for 2024? Our priority is stay ahead of the technology withing our industry. We will continue to empower our employees, invest in new and emerging technology. We work very closely with our existing clients and also give great focus on prospecting for new clients to align and work together. Our leading suppliers, Leica Geosystems, DJI, CHCNAV, Riegl, etc, continue to release innovative hardware and software. This is the key to the success of our business and clients. We will further develop these relationships so we can continue to offer our customers the best possible solutions in industry. n
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leaders forum “Customers are looking for choice in their technology platforms, with better integration into existing workflows.”
Martin Nix CEO, Aptella CEO of Aptella (formerly Position Partners) since 2010, Martin Nix was a surveyor until 1984 before joining Leica Geosystems where he held management roles until 2009. He is Co-Chair of the Department of Home Affairs, Space as Critical Infrastructure group, and has participated in working groups related to space policy and positioning infrastructure. Workforce supply issues have dominated discussion in recent years. Do you think enough is being done? Whilst competition for talent is still rife, visa restrictions imposed by the pandemic are now easing and overseas recruitment is starting to gain momentum again, albeit with a lag. For the surveying profession, associations and education providers are trying new approaches such as engagement with TAFE and more inclusive membership to address the skills shortage, recognising that the gap in surveyors is so great it needs new initiatives to address it. Technology adoption to offset labour skills is by no means fast enough. We are slowly seeing a shift in the role of surveyors away from set out and as-builts and into data management and quality control, as building trades and engineers take up technology to perform some of the field work. What other challenges are facing the sector, and what are the solutions? Recent technology innovation has the capacity to reduce a great deal of manual labour and repetitive tasks. Digital construction set out tools to eliminate the need for stringlines and scaling off PDF plans is one example, with rapid adoption amongst the building trades. With more stakeholders using surveying tools, the challenge is in trusting the capability of the technology and maintaining the quality control. The same was true in the early days of machine control technology, with contractors and surveyors still pegging out designs until the technology proved itself to be reliable. Which technologies or innovations are going to make their mark in 2024? The adoption of automation and robotics is set to increase, with readily deployable options now available across multiple applications. Partners such as Fixposition are making field robotics and autonomy possible through augmenting GNSS positioning. We are now supporting mining and construction customers with autonomous mine trucks and supervised, remote-controlled earthmoving machinery. Autonomous docking stations for survey drones will help to increase safety, and use of robots in the building construction sector is on the near horizon to further reduce reliance on time consuming, manual set out methods. The use of artificial intelligence and
machine learning could also expand for predictive monitoring, enabling customers to extrapolate data and model what threemonth figures might look like. What’s on your wish list for 2024? It may not be realistic for 2024, however truly national, reliable 5G network coverage would enable far greater connectivity and technology usage. It would better facilitate huge data sets captured by scanning and drone systems, with zero latency for data processing and options such as wireless data transmission so your data is ready to work with by the time you get back to your desk. What are your customers and collaborators looking for in 2024? Customers are looking for choice in their technology platforms, with better integration into existing workflows. As consumers, we’re all well accustomed to personalised service and make buying choices based on a company’s ability to align with our values and aspirations. I think customers now have similar expectations when it comes to their business purchasing decisions, and rightly so, because business decisions are made by people, not companies. What are your company’s plans or priorities for 2024? With a new company name and brand rolling out in early 2024, we are excited to connect with existing and new customers about this change and how the Aptella team can support their automation and positioning technology needs now and into the future. n
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leaders forum “Widening the talent pool is crucial, inviting business-orientated professionals to leverage GIS for their unique challenges.”
David Robinson Co-founder, Onneer David Robinson is a geospatial expert with extensive experience in providing strategic advice and delivering GIS to government and commercial clients. In 2018 he co-founded Onneer, a company that focuses on enabling organisations to achieve outcomes with enterprise GIS using Esri’s ArcGIS software. Workforce supply issues have dominated discussion in recent years. Do you think enough is being done? Despite significant investments in traditional spatial disciplines, the gap in the GIS workforce supply is expanding. The industry’s focus on traditional spatial disciplines sometimes neglects the importance of business skills to achieve better outcomes. To bridge this gap, a shift towards GIS programs prioritising business value is crucial. The current accessibility of GIS highlights an untapped potential in non-traditional users. Beyond technical skills, widening the talent pool is crucial, inviting business-orientated professionals to leverage GIS for their unique challenges. GIS is not just for spatial professionals. We must identify and encourage others to engage with GIS and join the workforce. What other challenges are facing the sector, and what are the solutions? GIS depends on business alignment, quality spatial data, and continuous process enhancement with a corresponding investment in human capital. We also need to embrace longer-term strategies and holistic approaches to GIS to achieve meaningful business outcomes. Sustainable GIS mandates the need for equilibrium among technology, people, processes and data, yet technology trumps GIS professionals’ insights. Further, solving complex spatial problems requires a multi-organisation approach, but this needs greater emphasis on coordination to reduce duplication of effort. The solutions to these challenges include championing businessled GIS approaches, working collaboratively and encouraging longterm problem-solving holistic strategies. What’s on your wish list for 2024? As organisations embrace GIS and increase WebGIS investments, we’re seeing more opportunities for collaboration and improvements in productivity and insights. Of course, leveraging these capabilities and enhancing returns, means long-term planning beyond a single year is vital. In 2024, we’ll envisage the GIS future, ready for challenges and advocate for lasting education and skill-building investments with business-focused approaches instead of excessive technical investments. With today’s user-friendly GIS tools, we’ll enable users to work together to solve business challenges by applying GIS solutions with increased focus on equipping GIS professionals with skills relevant for the next decade.
What are your customers and collaborators looking for in 2024? While we’re still focused on GIS delivery, increasingly we’re providing a review and advice service because customers want greater return on their investment in GIS and geo-information with better business alignment. They’ve achieved a level of maturity in their systems but now want to sustain and operate their GIS better, keeping both the technology and workforce current and capitalising on new capabilities aligning them to the organisation’s strategic drivers. Improvements in the accessibility and quality of data holdings is also one of the hot topics, including strengthening data management practices and ensuring lifecycle management approaches are applied across data, services and systems. What are your company’s plans or priorities for 2024? As a people company that delivers quality GIS, we’re investing in our people. We’re building our team’s skills, knowledge and experience into systems which we hope to make available to the industry to help build the workforce. We’re investing heavily in data management and data production skills and preparing to assist organisations fill data gaps with quality managed geo-information through new capability investments. And we’re building the next generation of GIS professionals who should be excited about our industry and prepared to help solve complex real-world challenges. I’m encouraged by the smart and dedicated people I work with and optimistic about the future of GIS in Australia. n www.spatialsource.com.au 29
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leaders forum “There is no doubt that innovation will continue to bring forward new opportunities.”
Peter Terrett Managing Director, 4D Global As a former geodetic and topographic surveyor for state government, Peter Terrett developed a deep interest in GPS technology. In 1991 started his first business supplying GPS equipment, consulting, training, and software product development. It has grown to include field services and desktop GIS. Workforce supply issues have dominated discussion in recent years. Do you think enough is being done? No, I do not think that enough is being done. This is a problem that has been around for two decades, and we have made little progress. Most professions are now facing similar skills shortages. In our sector the problem is exacerbated by three things. First, the geospatial courses in Australia are all called something different – wouldn’t it be great if all courses were under the heading ‘geospatial,’ and the specialty study areas were named after that? Secondly, the ANZSCO classification system does not accurately represent the contemporary landscape of geospatial occupations. Geospatial professionals from surveying, hydrography, GIS and visualisation to remote sensing and applications development, possess specialised skills and job titles that are often scattered across other professional fields, resulting in a fragmented representation of one of Australia’s fastest-evolving sectors. I like the submission the GCA made to the ABS to reform the ANZSCO occupation codes to address this issue. The compelling recommendation is to elevate geospatial to the status of a Sub-Major Group and Minor Group within the ANZSCO classification. Thirdly, more effective marketing campaigns to attract not just school leavers but also those from other occupations looking for a career change. What other challenges are facing the sector, and what are the solutions? There is a terribly poor understanding or acknowledgement in the wider community and across all sectors of business, of the value of geospatial, or even the existence of the important work done by various specialties of surveyors, hydrographers, remote sensing professionals and geospatial analysts. We therefore need to build industry recognition across all levels of government, other sectors of the economy and the wider community. The forthcoming GCA-commissioned ACIL Allen Economic Impact Study will be an important piece of work. By understanding where we are today in terms of the economic impact of geospatial on our national economy, we can have a better understanding of where we need to be 10 years from now. Which technologies or innovations are going to make their mark in 2024? Our industry is so broad that this is a very big question. But there
is no doubt that innovation will continue to bring forward new opportunities and better ways of managing our planet through geospatial. One area expected to bring exponential benefits is AI and machine learning, which will move quickly to address a lot of the skills shortages for many tasks such as asset identification and maintenance issues. Another is that sensor technologies are getting better, cheaper, smaller and lighter, making it far more economical to launch satellites for Earth observation. And cheaper platforms (hardware and cloud processing) for mobile mapping (360 cameras, LiDAR etc) will provide data to better manage assets and the environment in response to things like climate change. What’s on your wish list for 2024? For the industry, to see the great work of the GCA accelerate to move the industry forward. Much has already been achieved in a relatively short amount of time and in many ways has set the foundation to move forward with momentum of a shared vision of the future. For my businesses, I want to be able to find and engage with the people who can truly benefit from our expertise. What are your company’s plans or priorities for 2024? We are going through a major upgrade to our entire software platform to take advantage of new supporting hardware and software. Location has never been easier or cheaper to define and with a product as simple as a smart phone, data about the object of the location can be digitally entered to start its’ journey in managing the object’s life cycle. n
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leaders forum “Companies need to develop training and apprenticeship programs to help workers develop the skills they need.”
Mike Milne CEO, Synergy Group Mike Milne is the founder and CEO of Synergy Group, a company whose business activities range from positioning to robotics, construction equipment to road building, civil engineering and more. Workforce supply issues have dominated discussion in recent years. Do you think enough is being done? While there are several initiatives underway to address the workforce supply problem in the AECM sectors, more needs to be done. Governments and industry groups need to work together to promote STEM education in schools and universities, such as by funding programs, providing scholarships and developing partnerships with STEM businesses. Companies need to develop training and apprenticeship programs to help workers develop the skills they need. These programs should be accessible to workers of all ages and backgrounds. They also need to offer competitive salaries and benefits and to create a positive work environment; this will help to attract and retain workers. And governments need to reform immigration laws to make it easier for skilled workers to immigrate. What other challenges are facing the sector, and what are the solutions? In addition to workforce supply issues, the AECM sectors are also facing several other challenges, including rising costs, supply chain disruptions, sustainability concerns and digital transformation. Companies can address rising costs by improving efficiency, negotiating better prices with suppliers, and passing on some of the costs to customers, while governments can help by providing subsidies for businesses that adopt energy-efficient technologies. Supply chain disruptions can be addressed by companies diversifying their supply chains, building up inventory and developing contingency plans; governments can help by investing in infrastructure and supporting businesses that are developing new technologies to improve supply chain efficiency. Companies can address sustainability concerns by using sustainable materials, designing energy efficient buildings and investing in renewable energy; governments can help by providing tax breaks and other incentives for businesses that adopt sustainable practices. Companies can address digital transformation by investing in training and education and by partnering with technology providers. Governments can help by investing in R&D and by supporting the development of new technologies. Which technologies or innovations are going to make their mark in 2024? FARO Technologies is going to make its mark in 2024 by helping the AECM sectors to address the challenges they are facing. The FARO Orbis laser scanner can be used to create highly accurate 3D
scans of large areas quickly and efficiently, helping to reduce the time and cost of projects and to improve the quality of work. GeoSlam technologies can be used to create mobile 3D scans of indoor and outdoor environments, helping companies to improve the planning, execution and maintenance of projects. FARO is developing a new reality capture platform that will enable companies to create digital twins of buildings and other structures. It is also developing new solutions for other industries, such as creating digital twins of transportation infrastructure. Overall, FARO Technologies is investing heavily in R&D and is working closely with its customers to understand their needs. What are your customers and collaborators looking for in 2024? They are looking for innovative solutions that can help them address the challenges they are facing, and for partners that can help them to adopt new technologies and to improve their operations. Specifically, to: reduce the cost of projects, improve the quality of their work, improve the safety and efficiency of their operations, reduce their environmental impact and adopt new technologies. FARO and GeoSlam are committed to providing their customers and collaborators with the innovative solutions they need to succeed. Both companies are investing heavily in research and development and are working closely with their customers to understand their needs. Customers and collaborators also want to be able to trust the companies they work with. They are looking for firms that are transparent about their pricing, products, services and business practices, and are committed to sustainability and reduction of environmental impacts. n www.spatialsource.com.au 33
www.insightg
is.com.au
leaders forum “I’m hoping we don’t lose sight of the fundamentals of our sector.”
Robert Rowell Managing Director, Insight GIS Rob Rowell is a technology executive with a passion for leading innovation in the GIS industry. With over 30 years of experience in strategic planning and service delivery, he has successfully led numerous projects and teams. Workforce supply issues have dominated discussion in recent years. Do you think enough is being done to solve this problem? This is a very hard question to answer, as workforce supply is dependent on many factors outside of our sector’s control and all industries are suffering from this issue. If there was opportunity in which our education institutions could work more closely with small business, then I think we would all prosper. Place-based learning, for example, provide an excellent pathway into the workforce as well as creating an environment where universities could understand what SMEs require and adapt accordingly. Also, the geospatial industry is a very broad umbrella, and I think we should look at outreach programs to make geospatial more attractive to professionals currently outside of our sector. What other challenges are facing the sector, and what are the solutions? This year I have worked with a number of organisations who are overflowing with GIS technology, however it has been staggering how the principles behind data management and data governance have been lost. At times we can get caught up in technology for technology’s sake. If we going to promote digital twins, geospatial AI, then the demand for geospatial data will only increase. These technologies will need solid foundations, and to successfully achieve this we are going to need fit-for-purpose geospatial data, reinforced with strong data management. Consequently, interest in data integration platforms, such as FME, for ETL functions continues to grow. Clients are wanting tools that allow for integration across a variety of sources and destinations, whilst maintaining their data management protocols. Which technologies or innovations are going to make their mark in 2024? Cloud-based services have been around for a while, but we are only within the early majority stage (see Geoffrey Moore, Crossing the Chasm). Many organisations have been resisting adoption, but pragmatism and the desire for efficiencies is driving acceptance, especially within the geospatial sector. We are also seeing a resurgence in mobile or field GIS. We have noticed a growth in implementation and increased adoption by customers. Again, the productivity gains of field staff capturing and updating geospatial data are being fully realised. We work with GBM and their Konect application, which is a well-established solution
compatible with most platforms, and our customers find it user-friendly. What’s on your wish list for 2024? I’m hoping we don’t lose sight of the fundamentals of our sector. I’ve already spoken about the need to focus on robust geospatial data management — this applies to new technologies through to the transformation to GDA2020. I’m also hoping for improved collaboration between industry and our education institutions. Productivity is a major issue, but if we can produce better practitioners through education and exposure to the workplace, then we will all benefit. What are your customers and collaborators looking for in 2024? Our customers are wanting geospatial solutions that are easy to implement and manage. They are looking for licensing models that are thin and without a host of modules. IT and GIS staff are time poor, and don’t need the pressure of overly complex geospatial solutions. Also, increased integration of geospatial into business processes and workflows. Many want to move away from the GIS being just a silo and have it integrated with their core business solutions. Many of our customers are benefiting from our solutions especially around Spectrum Spatial and its inherent characteristics for easy integration. What are your company’s plans or priorities for 2024? It’s pretty simple: we need to continue listening to our customers and ensure that we are meeting their needs. Geospatial will continue to benefit them, but only if we make it real and relevant. Growing client needs will require an investment in a range of technologies, especially cloud services. n www.spatialsource.com.au 35
leaders forum “What’s notably absent is a collective investment in a well-maintained comprehensive national strategy addressing the geospatial industry.”
Lee Hellen CEO, Kurloo Technology Lee Hellen founded Kurloo Technology in 2022, driven by a deep-rooted passion for the surveying sector and small business. With more than 25 years of consulting experience, Lee is highly regarded for his contributions as an innovator and business leader. Workforce supply issues have dominated discussion in recent years. Do you think enough is being done? Managing today’s workforce presents a multifaceted challenge, involving the coordination of many parts of education and skills, adapting to educational shifts and navigating technological changes. While there are individuals striving to enact change, their efforts are often limited to addressing surface-level problems rather than tackling the underlying issues and long-term change. The key lies in collaboration—a unified effort involving government, academia, and the private sector working to build the capacity and capability of the workforce. This collaboration should focus on proactive leadership from these sectors, rather than reacting when it is too late. Presently, initiatives aimed at spearheading surveying or spatial agendas and emphasising the industry’s role in community development, lack broader engagement and investment. The primary challenge is acknowledging and valuing the expertise held by surveyors and spatial professionals. To navigate this challenge, there’s an urgent need to recognise and update skills to demonstrate their importance to digital transformation of the broader economic landscape. What’s notably absent is a collective investment in a wellmaintained comprehensive national strategy addressing the geospatial industry. Only broader investment, not only government systems, but also spatial academic institutions and private sector spatial capability, will see the greatest benefit for geospatial enablement of Australia’s economy. What other challenges are facing the sector, and what are the solutions? The shift towards digitalisation has revolutionised manual tasks, creating a pressing need for adaptability and new frontier skills within the industry. Effectively addressing this multifaceted challenge requires significant internal resources and leadership. The misconception of software and spatial tech replacing specialised skills in surveying and spatial industries undermines their importance of human capital with skills and knowledge. Technology enhances but doesn’t replace expertise, underscoring the ongoing necessity for specialised skills. Leadership at a higher echelon becomes crucial, shaping avenues for fresh entrants into the profession and showcasing expertise’s pivotal role in various sectors like engineering, local governance, infrastructure, defence, and mining. The struggle arises when the value of expertise isn’t perceived or is seen as a lesser priority, leading to insufficient investment. 36 position December/January 2023-24
Which technologies or innovations will make their mark in 2024? I believe there will be three key trends in 2024: Earth observation, IoT and positioning, with ongoing emphasis on truth-based capture on calibration and validation of automated or remotely sensed measurement methods. The overreliance on software algorithms to shape big spatial data outcomes poses a significant yet overlooked issue. Vital human-learned skills and knowledge are still required not just for executing these algorithms but also for critically assessing and truthing their accuracy for a specific purpose. What’s on your wish list for 2024? In 2024, my primary aspiration revolves around supporting an updated, unified and forward-thinking 10-year plan for the surveying and spatial industry, akin to the impactful 2026 Agenda previously set by the Frontier SI and SIBA/GITA, and now the Geospatial Council of Australia. I envision the establishment of a comprehensive ‘2032 Agenda’ specifically tailored for the surveying and spatial information sector, aimed at fostering unity and collaborative efforts. Despite initiatives like Cadastre 2034 and the 2026 agenda, there’s a crucial need to bring these endeavours together with cross-industry collaboration. This isn’t a competitive landscape; working collectively is essential for the industry’s overall advancement and success. What are your company’s plans or priorities for 2024? Our focus is expanding Kurloo throughout Australia and NZ while pursuing export opportunities. Our goal is to enhance our product’s appeal in sectors like scientific, infrastructure and mining, fostering broader engagement though IoT and positioning. n
future
Roadmap to be
re-aligned
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The Space+Spatial 2030 RoadMap is being adapted to reflect changing government objectives and national needs.
T
he Space+Spatial 2030 RoadMap was released in March 2023, with a vision of making Australia “a global leader in space and geospatial systems and services” through a National Action Plan to accelerate growth of the space and spatial industries working together. The RoadMap was developed as an industry driven initiative that involved substantial collaboration between the peak bodies, namely the Space Industry Association of Australia; Spatial Industries Business Association and Geospatial Council of Australia (at the commencement, SIBA-GITA and SSSI participated separately); Earth Observation Australia (EOA); and SmartSAT CRC. Leading government bodies including the Australian Space Agency, the Australia and New Zealand Land Information Council the Department of Defence, Geoscience Australia, Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, amongst others, also contributed. The original RoadMap outlined nine objectives, such as progressing national space missions, developing Spatial Digital Twins (SDT), upgrading positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and enhancing the National Mapping Base and its foundational geospatial data. Since its release, a number of changes have occurred, including: • Cancellation of the National Space Mission for Earth Observation • A redefinition of the Australian Space Agency’s role; it is currently no longer proceeding with the development of a national space and spatial strategy
• The federal government has moved away from the prior government’s industry development objectives for Australia’s space industry • Government industry policy seems to be focused on advanced engineering/ manufacturing • The concept of sovereign capabilities is still being clarified The Government is no longer proactively supporting individual sectors, instead seeking to frame initiatives to meet key objectives and/or drive economic growth These changes have required somewhat of a pivot needed by industry to enable constructive co-operation with federal government to ensure it objectives are met. The objectives above were assessed in terms of which issues are now key to national priorities. The conclusion of that review was: 1. National Blueprint for the development of the Space and Spatial industries would still be highly beneficial 2. Industry policy needed to facilitate growth of Australia’s space and spatial industries, but framed to achieve government’s priorities 3. Publicly funded research in space and spatial industries still would benefit from being strengthened and coordinated 4. Australia’s space and spatial workforce needs greater capacity for future needs 5. Australia’s capability in Spatial Digital Twins still needs development support 6. Australia’s PNT capabilities would benefit from additional investment to meet future national needs and to
capture a bigger global market share 7. Australia’s sovereign capability in critical space and spatial infrastructures continues to require development 8. Australia’s Defence requirements will continue to be heavily dependent on space and spatial capabilities 9. Enhance the national mapping base and its foundational spatial data On the latter point, Australia’s current map base, upon which all map-based data relies, from land ownership to vehicle navigation, is in need of fundamental improvement to meet the future needs of government and industry. Work is underway to modernise these geospatial resources so that they are fit for purpose, but the need to do so is insufficiently recognised and funded. Greater priority and resources are required to meet the enhanced mapping and analytical needs of Australia in the 21st century. The next steps are to reinforce understanding of the role of government procurement and R&D support and the need for government ‘lead tenancies’ for some technologies. Other steps are to reinforce the need for the development of a strategy for capability development and advocate for better mechanisms that allow better focus and coordination of national research and development activity; a stronger emphasis on start-up and incubator programs; and increase government investment in critical space and spatial infrastructure. An updated RoadMap is expected to be released during the first half of 2024. n www.spatialsource.com.au 37
interview © istockphoto/royyimzy
Geodesy for the global good Australia’s Nick Brown explains the role and goals of the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence.
T Nick Brown, Head of Office, United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence.
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he United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UNGGIM) was established in 2011, as the apex intergovernmental mechanism for making joint decisions and setting directions with regard to the production, availability and use of geospatial information. The UN-GGIM is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is composed of governmental experts. In 2013 the UN-GGIM decided a draft resolution for a Global Geodetic Reference Frame was necessary, and in February 2015 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 69/266, ‘A Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development,’ the first-ever resolution recognising the importance of a globally coordinated approach to geodesy. Following this, the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE) was established in 2022, with the objective of supporting, within available resources, the implementation of resolution 69/266. Its vision is a future “where all countries have strong political support for geodesy which enables them to
— together — accelerate the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals and derive social, environmental and economic benefits”. In addition, the UN-GGIM has worked to establish the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre in Deqing, China, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has committed to host and establish a United Nations Global Geospatial Ecosystem Centre of Excellence in Riyadh. The UN-GGCE had its official an opening in March this year and is now operating from its office at the United Nations campus in Bonn, Germany. It is being paid for by the Federal Republic of Germany which, through an agreement with the United Nations, established a trust fund for the operations of the Centre. Nick Brown has recently taken up the role of Head of Office for the UN-GGCE. Previously he was Director of National Geodesy at Geoscience Australia and coChair of the United Nations Subcommittee on Geodesy. We spoke with him to find more about his new job and to get an overview of issues confronting the global geodesy ecosystem.
How did you become interested in geodesy?
I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid. By the age of 12 I realised my eyesight was not good enough to be a pilot, but that didn’t stop my fascination with space and the universe. I spent many evenings sitting in my backyard with the telescope I bought with money from my paper round, staring at the Moon and Mars. I was curious about things like asteroids, gravity and Earth rotation. As you can tell, I was a very cool kid.
Why did you make the move to the UN-GGCE?
This is my dream job. For a long time, I have been advocating for greater recognition of the importance of geodesy. We hear a lot about the increasing value of geospatial information and significant growth that GNSS and Earth observation provides to gross domestic product. As part of these GDP assessments, the supply chain often starts with the GNSS and Earth observation satellites, moves through to service providers (eg. precise positioning services) and system integration providers who value add for specific industries (eg. agriculture).
some cases, weaknesses in the supply chain are not apparent thanks to the incredible work being done by organisations such as the International Association of Geodesy, whose members provide products and services based on in-kind contributions. One of our roles in the UN-GGCE is to showcase the weaknesses in the global geodesy supply chain and highlight that the benefits countries gain from geodesy are not commensurate with how much they invest in it.
Tell us more about those weak links.
The supply chain we rely on to measure changes in the Earth’s shape, orientation, gravity field and movements of satellites, is weak. Much of the geodetic ground infrastructure we rely on is ageing and degrading. More than 50% of it is based on old technology. We need more, newer and better geodetic infrastructure. A significant amount of the PNT information relied upon throughout the world is thanks to the incredible contributions from scientific organisations like the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). The IAG, however, does not have large budget. In fact, IAG is heavily
infrastructure, and standards that are not fit for some users? We are, every day. Weak links in the supply chain make it more difficult to: • Monitor the precise orbits of Earth observation satellites, which impedes the accuracy with which we can measure sea level variations, ice loss and changes in the landscape. • Measure and monitor time, which is critical for the GPS time synchronisation used to maintain cellular networks, financial transactions and power grids. • Operate the almost three billion mobile phone applications that rely on PNT information, including providing navigation options including assistance to the blind.
How will the UN-GGCE help global geodesy?
The UN-GGCE team will be working across five focus areas: 1. Improving the evidence that Member States need to quantify the importance of geodesy for societal and environmental benefits, and to enable them to develop strong business cases to improve weak links in the geodesy supply chain. 2. Assisting countries in efforts to advocate
“The supply chain we rely on to measure changes in the Earth’s shape, orientation, gravity field and movements of satellites, is weak.”
In reality however, the supply chain comes back further to geodetic observations (eg. very long baseline interferometry, satellite laser ranging, gravimetry), data collection and data analysis. This data is then used to determine the Celestial Reference Frame, Terrestrial Reference Frame, Geopotential Reference Frame and Earth Orientation Parameters. These products are necessary for GNSS and EO satellites to function, but they are not widely recognised as being crucial to the supply chain and are therefore under resourced. The UN-GGCE is the first dedicated resource to work with partners from member states and geodetic organisations to deal with these issues.
Is global geodesy in good shape, or are there any pressing needs?
There are pressing needs. In many countries there is either a lack of knowledge or lack of recognition on the importance of geodesy and our reliance on it for social, environmental and economic benefits. In
reliant on contributions from Member State geodesy agencies, which allow their highly qualified staff to perform complex analysis in-kind to create the products and services we all rely on every day. Governance is another weak link. There are currently few formal agreements in place that require governments to share and contribute geodetic information. Currently, much of the world’s geodetic infrastructure is operated by a ‘coalition of the willing’ in the academic realm which is hidden from government eyes. Contrast that with weather — the World Meteorological Organization has strong governance arrangements on sharing weather and climate information which means it is noticed (and adequately resourced) by Member States. These weak links in the geodesy supply chain are putting the applications we rely on every day at risk of degradation, which in turn effects the accuracy and quality of our decision making. Can you imagine operating multi trillion-dollar industries on in-kind contributions, ageing
for an increase in dedicated people and investment to achieve national, regional and global geodesy requirements. 3. Strengthening international governance and institutional arrangements. 4. Enhancing geodetic capacity and training opportunities within Member States, especially in developing countries. 5. Improving awareness of the importance of geodesy by policymakers in Member States.
How will you go about doing all this?
We have three short-term working priorities. The first is a ‘Listening World Tour,’ a series of virtual engagements to listen to the Member States and geospatial organisations to better understand how we can support and assist them. This will be our way of introducing ourselves and listening to the needs of our stakeholders. The second is to use information from the Listening World Tour and other sources to create a consensus-driven Global Geodesy Development Plan. This www.spatialsource.com.au 39
Interview will outline global and regional user needs and provide guidance on how to address critical operational needs and gaps to assist Member States — particularly those in developing countries — to sustain, enhance, access and use the Global Geodetic Reference Frame (see sidebar). And thirdly, we will also be working with the UN-GGIM Subcommittee on Geodesy, Member States and international geodetic organisations to develop policy and educational communication materials to explain the importance of geodesy and the role it plays in our everyday lives.
What is the role of the private sector in the geodesy ecosystem?
The private sector largely sits in the portion of the supply chain that is recognised by the end user as being crucial, and the user is therefore happy to pay them for their products and services. For example, precision agriculture users will pay for a company to take raw GNSS data and turn it into a product that will enable the tractor to steer itself. What most precision agriculture users don’t know is that their service provider is benefiting from Earth Orientation Parameters (monitoring the dynamic motion of Earth in space) which are critical for position, navigation and timing applications.
“ We need to improve global collaboration and coordination. We need stronger governance arrangements on the operation and performance of observational infrastructure.”
What is the GGRF? The Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF) is a collective term that encompasses a supply chain of: • geodetic infrastructure (eg. GNSS, very long base-line interferometry, Satellite Laser Ranging, Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS), gravimeters etc.) • data collection (eg. international and regional data centres) • data analysis (eg. international, regional and national analysis centres) • product development (eg. clock and orbit products, atmospheric models, gravity models) • product transmission (eg. real-time data streams) It also includes frames of reference: • terrestrial reference frame (eg. realisations of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame) • celestial reference frame (eg. realisations of the International Celestial Reference Frame) • geopotential reference frame (eg. realisations of the Earth Geopotential Model) Finally, the GGRF depends upon the capacities and capabilities residing in Member States and organisations (such as the services of the International Association of Geodesy) to perform the work in the global geodesy supply chain to analyse, compute, create and sustain the frames of reference.
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The UN-GGCE’s motto is ‘Stronger. Together’. The UN-GGCE sees an opportunity to engage with these service providers to help explain the importance of the entire supply chain to governments, so they are appropriately resourced.
Where would you like to see global geodesy being in 5, 10, 20 years?
The change we need to see is the ‘operationalisation’ of geodesy. We need to improve global collaboration and coordination. We need stronger governance arrangements on the operation and performance of observational infrastructure. We need more (not less) geodesy education programs. And we need more resourcing for the people who are performing the geodetic observations, data collection and data analysis. Ultimately, I would like to see the geodetic community move closer to the model of the World Meteorological Organization. Like geodesy, countries need to work together to measure and monitor the weather and climate. The WMO is well structured and operates very professionally to deliver services needed by countries for weather and climate. I envy their operating model (and their budget). Who knows, maybe in 20 years we will have a World Geodetic Organization. n
new products
Wide-area camera for aerial mapping
Real-time LiDAR Australian firm Klau Geomatics has released Brumby LiDAR, a mapping system for rapidly producing accurate point clouds by removing the typically arduous post-processing workflow. Suitable for equipping drones, light aircraft, helicopters and MLS on road vehicles, the IP67-rated Brumby can be used for applications such as measuring biomass ahead of a bushfire, rapid mapping for defence, terrain mapping, fast powerline scanning and immediate volumes for mine sites. Brumby’s edge compute technology processes the NovAtel SPAN INS trajectory in the user’s coordinate system, with precise geoid applied, to produce accurate georeferenced point clouds on the fly, accessible via the removable SSD drive. The unit is designed for ongoing hardware and software development to include live analytics and fit-for-purpose solutions, as needs emerge.
Movement detection software Trimble has announced the release of version 6.5 of the Trimble 4D Control real-time movement detection monitoring software. It features expansion of rail track monitoring using the T4D Rail module that addresses a wider range of rail industry standards and project specifications to meet the requirements of many countries; integration of Syscom Instrument acceleration sensors that support eventbased monitoring of ground-motion to provide a greater understanding of site conditions and structural behaviour caused by seismic events; and updated authentication and database connection methods to improve security through greater control over user access to the T4D system and better adherence to corporate IT policies.
Phase One has introduced the PAS Pana, a seven-camera wide-field system comprising five RGB cameras equipped with 150mm lenses (20.2° along track FOV, 70.0° across track) and two NIR cameras with 70mm lenses (31.9°, 70.0°) which together achieve a total swath of around 48,800 pixels across flight direction. The range of high-resolution images produced stretch from 2.5 cm Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) to 30 cm GSD. PAS Pana is fully integrated with the iX Suite workflow software (utilising IIQ, the Phase One’s proprietary raw image format), and the company says the unit has a plug-and play design suitable for any aircraft type.
GNSS smart antenna Leica Geosystems has released the iCON gps 160 GNSS smart antenna (available through C.R. Kennedy), which can be used as a base station, a rover or for machine guidance, and is designed to provide versatility for the construction industry. It features a large colour display and a quick setup without the need for extra hardware, plus tilt compensation of up to 20 degrees (along with an optionally available IMU to further increase efficiency with tilt-compensation). Other features include SmartLink Fill, which bridges interruptions in the RTK connection signal for up to 10 minutes; an integrated global modem; integration with Leica iCON field solutions; and IP66/IP67 protection. www.spatialsource.com.au 41
GCA
News and views from the Geospatial Council of Australia
GCA GCA Board Board Members Members Paul Paul Digney Digney Acting Acting President President Alistair Alistair Byrom Byrom Deputy President Co-Deputy Chair Kate Lundy Darren Mottolini Director Director Darren Mottolini Roshni Sharma Director Director Roshni Jacinta Sharma Burns Director Director Jacinta Burns Kate Ramsay Director Director Kate Ramsay Director
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CEO’s Column Navigating tomorrow’s geospatial landscape
A
s we approach the end of another transformative year, it is both an honour and a privilege to reflect on the strides we’ve made and the path ahead. In this CEO column, I want to delve into the future, exploring the technologies that will shape our geospatial landscape in the coming years and shed light on the initiatives propelling our industry forward.
Economic Impact Study 2024
At the Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA), our commitment to advancing the economic well-being of Australia’s geospatial sector is underscored by our upcoming Economic Impact Study. This study is being carried out by a team from ACIL Allen, expertly led by Alan Smart, who has been deeply involved in economic analysis within various sectors of the geospatial industry for the past two decades. This collaborative effort, the first of its kind since 2008, is a significant milestone. It takes on added importance as we navigate the complexities of the post-pandemic landscape. The study is not just an analysis of our current industry value – it is a forward-looking initiative projecting the potential impact of the geospatial industry on the Australian economy in 2034. By understanding where we stand today and envisioning our potential influence on the national economy over the next decade, we are shaping policies that will not only foster growth but also position the geospatial sector at the heart of Australia’s broader narrative.
Addressing growth and productivity challenges
The recent report from the Productivity Commission underscores our sector’s essential role in countering the trend of diminishing productivity growth. While global growth averages hover at 14% to 16%, our Australian geospatial industry, currently growing at 3% to 4% annually, demands attention. Why is Australia’s geospatial industry so behind the global average growth? How much productivity gain is the Australian economy being denied while we so badly lag the global trends? While there are no doubt many factors causing this, a lack of clear national geospatial policy is part of the cause. Initiatives such as the Space+Spatial Industry Growth Road Map 2030, in which GCA actively participated, do help drive us forward and provide policy and strategic guidance for both government and industry. Through advocacy and awareness, GCA positions geospatial information not just as a tool, but as a fundamental cornerstone for Australia’s sustainable development, increased productivity, and heightened global competitiveness. GCA actively champions these efforts, aligning the geospatial sector’s trajectory with broader national goals.
Building tomorrow’s workforce
Our commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce is manifest in our collaborations
with industry and educational partners. The Design Engineer Construct (DEC) programme, in partnership with ‘A Class of Your Own,’ beckons young minds to explore the geospatial industry. Strategic alliances with TAFE institutions nationwide, codesigning micro-credential programs and addressing industry needs through surveys, demonstrate our dedication to education and training. Our consortium of universities ensures a dynamic understanding of, and response to, the evolving educational needs of our industry.
Embracing future technologies
Geospatial innovation is in a constant state of evolution, urging us to embrace technologies that will define our future. As we head into 2024, three key areas emerge as frontiers of transformation: 1. Cloud migration. The migration of IT operations to the cloud is not merely a shift in infrastructure; it is a journey into uncharted territories of flexibility and efficiency. It invites us to reimagine how we handle geospatial data, fostering a collaborative ecosystem where innovation knows no bounds. Cloud-based operations enable virtually unlimited ability to scale up on processing power as the workload demands it, and conversely scale down and reduce costs as projects taper off. While cloud migration of a business’s operations requires determination and often outside expertise, the efficiency gains are substantial. 2. Extended drone capabilities. The evolution of longer-range drones and recent changes occurring to remotely piloted aircraft regulations now frees us from the constraints of operator lineof-sight (outside of metropolitan areas), opening vistas for expansive data collection. This evolution enhances our capacity to extract critical insights across vast terrains, heralding a new era in geospatial intelligence and improved productivity. Couple that with an array of new sensor payloads that are increasing in capability while decreasing in size and weight, the array of new imaging, hyperspectral and LiDAR sensors opens many exciting
new ways of remote data capture. 3. Blockchain geospatial data and edge computing. The fusion of blockchain technology with geospatial data and edge computing marks a convergence of security and reliability. This alliance safeguards the integrity of location-based information, underpinning a foundation of trust and resilience in our geospatial systems. According to Jonas Ellehaus of Norway, “A blockchain is an immutable trust-less registry of entries, hosted on an open distributed network of computers (called nodes). It is potentially safer and cheaper than traditional centralised databases, is resilient to attacks, enhances transparency and accountability and puts people in control of their own data.” Blockchain technology is already being used in some geospatial applications such as: • Public-good data such as street maps, parcels, terrain models, aerial footage and sea maps — made publicly available without a central hub that’s restrict access to the data; contributors to the map are rewarded with tokens; a public record can be kept of changes and contributions. • IoT — autonomous devices and apps. Devices that negotiate with and pay each other, such as drones that negotiate use of air space, self-driving cars that negotiate lane space or pay for road usage, mobile/wearable devices that pay for public transportation; apps similar to Uber and Airbnb that connect clients and providers without a middleman. • Land ownership — land/real-estate ownership can be registered on a blockchain; corruption is rendered nearly impossible; people in developing countries can register land ownership themselves using inexpensive mobile devices without the need for slow or expensive overheads. As we eagerly anticipate the release of the full Economic Impact Study at Locate24 in May, I extend an invitation to you all. Join us in not just observing but actively shaping the trajectory of the geospatial industry. Let us, together, chart a course towards a future marked by innovation, productivity, and global competitiveness. n
State and Territory Chairs and Co-Chairs NSW Chair Brittany Baker NSW Vice-Chair Hanno Klahn ACT Chair Mike Stapleton Queensland Chair Cameron Brittain Queensland Vice-Chair Koray Ozdogu South Australia Chair Graham Walker South Australia Vice-Chair Jennifer Brindle Tasmania Chair Anthony O’Flaherty Victoria Chair Richard Syme Victoria Vice-Chair Sam Houston Western Australia Chair Laren Collen
Areas of Practice Chairs GDARS Chair Dr Jagannath Aryal Surveying Chair Mike Stapleton Hydrography Chair Neil Hewitt ©stock.adobe.com/au/Artofinnovation
Young and Emerging Professionals Chair Oscar So www.spatialsource.com.au 43
GCA
Shaping the future
of the geospatial workforce DANIKA BAKALICH
GCA’s vision and initiatives for supporting a dynamic workforce ecosystem.
I
n the constantly evolving realm of geospatial technology, the Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA) actively contributes to industry progress. As we approach 2024, GCA is charting an ambitious course, and remains dedicated to shaping the geospatial workforce through extensive collaboration within the industry and a strong commitment to consultation, positioning itself as a key player in the advancement of geospatial professions.
Through a strong dedication to collaboration, education, advocacy and industry partnerships, we aim to play a leading role in shaping the geospatial workforce of the future.
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Learning and career pathways: Talent attraction through opening up diverse pathways. Embracing diverse talent pathways is essential to foster the growth of the geospatial workforce, as it involves nurturing individuals from schools, vocational education and university pathways. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of developing talent from various segments of the community, encouraging greater diversity and providing support for young and emerging professionals, ultimately enriching the geospatial field with a broader spectrum of skills, perspectives and innovation. In 2023, GCA extended its support to the Design Engineer Construct program and became a program partner. Through collaboration with industry stakeholders, including Position Partners, Bennett+Bennett, UniSQ, Wavell State High School, Bentley and others, GCA has been working diligently to adapt this program to the Queensland context. As 2024 approaches, we are looking to expand this initiative nationally, working with more schools and businesses. For those seeking to enter the geospatial industry or enhance their careers, GCA’s Young & Emerging Professionals Mentoring Program offers invaluable support. This program nurtures the next generation of geospatial experts, fostering their growth and development, and ensuring their readiness to leave a significant impact on the industry. Reviving vocational education & training GCA recognises the pivotal role of the Vocational Education & Training (VET) sector in shaping the geospatial workforce. GCA is dedicated to reinvigorating its collaboration with Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions across the country. A significant aspect of this relationship involves reintroducing qualifications in markets that have long
been devoid of surveying and spatial qualifications. These collaborations aim to identify market gaps and support qualification and micro-credential programs through co-design collaborations. Empowering future professionals through university collaboration In a significant step forward, GCA is collaborating with universities to assess industry needs and curricular alignment. This endeavour will deepen the understanding of industry requirements and build stronger connections between universities, industry and government. The overarching objective is to enhance the connection between students, industry and universities, and to collect feedback that will assist universities in aligning their educational programs with the requirements of industry and government. It is a promising initiative that aligns with other key projects. This holistic approach ensures that education and training institutions are well-prepared to deliver high-quality programs that resonate with the market. Advocacy is at the core of GCA’s mission. GCA is focused on providing briefs to governments on the value and impact of geospatial services, technology and professionals. Further engagement with industry will be invited in 2024 as we deepen our engagement with governments. Professional certifications: Elevating the industry’s profile Professional certifications play a critical role in elevating the profile of the geospatial profession. GCA, in collaboration with industry experts, has already released ESP-AP enhancements and is working diligently to launch Version 2.0 in the second half of 2024. The establishment of a new Certification Committee and closer alignment with Australian assessment standards is in progress. Additionally, GCA is developing stronger relationships
with key professional bodies globally, such as the Geospatial Information System Certification Institute, to provide an upto-date GISP certification in Australia, aligning with global standards. The Australasian Hydrographic Surveyor Certification Scheme continues to be a key certification program in recognising high level of competency aligned to international standards. This year the Australasian Hydrographic Surveyors Certification Panel had its 100th meeting. To date, there have been 387 applications taken for this highly specialised professional certification. Buiding the industry’s profile Creating a compelling narrative for the geospatial industry is vital. GCA is actively collaborating with industry stakeholders to produce an Economic Impact Assessment Study, set to be unveiled at the Locate24 conference. This ground-breaking study will provide crucial insights into the geospatial
industry’s value across the national economy, supporting workforce initiatives that will make a positive impact.
workforce and are in line with GCA’s dedication to fulfill the objectives set out in The Surveyors’ Trust 2023 Workforce Roadmap paper (https:// www.thesurveyorstrust.org.au/ resources/Documents/Surveying_Spatial Workforce_A National Roadmap_ April2022.pdf). In summary, GCA envisions a future that is both innovative and influential. Through a strong dedication to collaboration, education, advocacy and industry partnerships, we aim to play a leading role in shaping the geospatial workforce of the future. As we approach 2024, our ongoing commitment to our mission is aimed at ensuring the continued growth of the geospatial industry and its enduring impact on both the Australian and global arenas. n Danika Bakalich is Executive Manager – Workforce & Strategy, with the Geospatial Council of Australia.
GCA’s five key focus areas for 2024 are: 1. Increasing the profile of the geospatial workforce and its value to the Australian economy and society. 2. Expanding the pipeline of skilled workers and pathways into the industry. 3. Focusing on skilled migration programs to support greater recognition of skills for those seeking to join the Australian workforce. 4. Deepening the collaboration between education and training providers with industry. 5. Improving the quality of professional certifications through which greater recognition of skills within the industry. These initiatives have the potential to significantly transform the geospatial
Workforce Initiatives
Design Engineer Constructschool/industry program
Building the profile of the industry & forming strategic partnerships
Storytelling Case studies People & Values
GCA University collaboration
Economic Impact Assessment
Key Activities
GISP (new certification). Alignment with global standards
Supporting young & emerging talent. Embracing diversity
Federal Govt: Workforce Whitepaper & Jobs Skills Councils
Engineering Surveying Certification enhancements & upgrade
Professional Certifications & Skills Migration
Learning & Career Pathways. Talent Attraction
Connecting with Supporting the TAFE network
Skills Migration
ANZSCO submission changing occupational classification = greater visibility
Advocacy
www.spatialsource.com.au 45
GCA
T
he Geospatial Council of Australia is pleased to provide an update on changes to the Board, following the recent annual general meeting (AGM), which took place virtually on 23 November 2023. The decisions made during the AGM reinforce GCA’s commitment to continuity and excellence in its leadership. GCA has a skills-based Board comprising Directors who collectively have the skills, knowledge and experience to effectively govern and direct the Company to meet its strategic direction. Leadership continuity with reappointment of directors First and foremost, the GCA is delighted to reappoint two esteemed Directors, Paul Digney, currently acting Chair, and Jacinta Burns, whose terms were set to conclude at the 2023 AGM. Both have been re-elected to continue their valuable contributions to the organisation and were appointed for a further 12-month term. The decision is important for providing continuity in leadership and ensures that the organisation will benefit from their expertise, knowledge and steadfast commitment to the GCA’s vision. At the first Board meeting following the AGM, the Board will elect the new Board Chair and Deputy Chair, about which a further announcement will be made at that time. Welcome to Mary-Ellen Feeney In an exciting development, we warmly welcome Mary-Ellen Feeney as the new Member-elected Director. Mary-Ellen’s appointment follows a meticulous selection process, in accordance
with the GCA’s constitution and by-laws, which ensured a rigorous evaluation of eligible Member-nominated candidates by the Remuneration and Appointment Committee. Her selection is a testament to her outstanding qualifications and alignment with GCA’s goals. Mary-Ellen has already been contributing through her membership on the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. Her impressive credentials and dedication to the field make her a strong addition to the GCA leadership team. We look forward to Mary-Ellen’s contributions as a Director, and anticipate that her fresh perspective and experience will enhance our ability to continue delivering excellence in the field of geospatial technology. New-look Board There were also two Board-elected Directors appointed during 2023, being Kate Lundy and Stewart Dunne. By February 2024, GCA will have a full Board of nine Directors. Congratulations to all the Directors, both reappointed and new, for their dedication to this vital mission. The new skills-based Board is: • Paul Digney • Kate Ramsay • Kate Lundy • Darren Mottolini • Alistair Byrom • Mary-Ellen Feeney • Roshni Sharma • Stewart Dunne (starting • Jacinta Burns 1 February 2024)
GCA welcomes Claire Gerber as National Events Manager The Geospatial Council of Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Claire Gerber as the new National Events Manager. Claire brings more than 15 years of experience in event management, most recently serving as the National Events Manager for the National Electrical and Communications Association. In her previous roles, Claire has successfully orchestrated a wide array of events, including gala events, networking functions, seminars, industry awards programs, conferences, and brand activations, both nationally and internationally. Welcome aboard Claire! 46 position December/January 2023-24
©stock.adobe.com/au/FR Design
GCA announces directorship updates
©stock.adobe.com/au/Anton
2024 Spatial Source
DIRECTORY A comprehensive directory of companies, products and services for the mapping, geo-information and surveying industries. 12D SOLUTIONS PTY LTD 12d Model offers an integrated solution for the survey, design, modelling, analysis and construction of civil engineering projects worldwide. Specifically designed and created for the civil engineering industry, and used in more than 65 countries, it allows quick and high quality production in a variety of projects. em: info@12d.com web: www.12d.com
1SPATIAL AUSTRALIA
AAM, A WOOLPERT COMPANY
We are a global leader in providing software, solutions and business applications for managing location and geospatial data. Our 1Spatial Location Master Data Management (LMDM) platform and FME products delivers powerful data solutions and focused business applications on-premise, on-mobile and in the cloud. Level 4, 29 Kiora Road, MIRANDA NSW 2228 ph: 1300 290 686 em: andrej.mocicka@1spatial.com web: www.1spatial.com/au/
AAM, a Woolpert Company, is a geospatial technology company, specialising in collection, analysis and integration of geospatial information. AAM believes that digital maps and measurement make our world a better place. By capturing, measuring and presenting geospatial data, AAM helps clients make more informed decisions in an increasingly complex world. Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. The firm has more than 60 offices on four continents. 557 Gregory Terrace, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 ph: 07 3620 3111 em: info@aamgroup.com web: www.aamgroup.com
ACCURATE INSTRUMENTS NZ
4D GLOBAL 4D Global is an end-to-end GPS based solutions and field mobility provider. 4D Global provides the best selection of advanced GNSS/ GPS/ inertial technologies, laser scanning, tablet PCS, PDAs, mapping software and accessories from the world’ s leading brands, to suit both organisational and recreational use. Suite 22, 2 Enterprise Dr, BUNDOORA VIC 3083 ph: 03 9466 5255 em: canderson@rapidmap.com web: www.4dglobal.com.au
192 Marua Road, MT WELLINGTON NZ 1740 ph: +64 9 579 1777 em: philip@accurate.net.nz web: www.accurate.net.nz
ACOUSTIC IMAGING Consulting and software/hardware distributor for the marine survey industry. Over 25 years of experience in conducting and processing the results from marine geophysical surveys. Software and hardware available for lease includes QPS QINSy and Fledermaus, Applanix POS MV and POSPac, Chesapeake Technology SonarWiz SSS+SBP, and Innomar SES-2000 Compact subbottom profiler system. ph: 07 5442 5707 em: dbergersen@acousticimaging.com web: www.acousticimaging.com www.spatialsource.com.au 47
suppliers’ index ACSIS LTD Facilitate professional indemnity and other insurances to the survey and spatial information industries, offering risk management seminars, products and publications. 6 Wood St, ADAMSTOWN NSW 2289 ph: 02 4952 5544 em: management@acsis.com.au web: www.acsis.com.au
ADAM TECHNOLOGY Adam Technology has been developing photogrammetry hardware and software since 1986. Its 3DM Analyst and 3DM CalibCam software packages are designed to improve the ease and safety of 3D data capture and interpretation in most environments. Products are used internationally by mining companies, consultants and in the geotechnical, civil engineering and subsea industries for aerial, open pit, stockpile measurement, underground and underwater projects, and by research institutions and universities. Suite 3, 41 Belmont Ave, BELMONT WA 6985 ph: 08 9479 5575 em: adam@adamtech.com.au web: www.adamtech.com.au
AECSPATIAL PTY LTD Based in SE Queensland AEC Spatial provides Web Based and Desktop Mapping Applications to clients across Australia. We are also CASA licensed Drone Operators and map large and small scale projects relating to Mapping, Surveying, and Asset Management 27 Flamingo Key, BROADBEACH WATERS QLD 4218 ph: 07 5538 8042 em: brian@aecspatial.com.au web: www.aecspatial.com.au
AERIAL ACQUISITIONS Aerial Acquisitions is a Sydney based aerial survey company, established in 2006 to provide afffordable aerial photography services to the geospatial community. We can capture RGB and Multispectral digital imagery Australia wide using our specially modified survey aircraft and digital aerial survey system. Our experienced staff has collected airborne data using a variety of sensor platforms across Australia and the globe. 14 Panaroma st, PENSHURST NSW 2222 ph: 02 9594 5527 em: erron@aerialacquisitions.com.au web: www.aerialacquisitions.com.au
AERIAL SURVEYS LTD Aerial Surveys provides aerial photography and LiDAR surveys throughout New Zealand and Pacific Islands. Company utilises the latest in digital camera technology and operates the Galaxy Prime LiDAR sensor. Unit A1, 8 Saturn Pl, ALBANY NZ 751 ph: +64 9 415 3101 em: jenny.bakker@aerialsurveys.co.nz web: www.aerialsurveys.co.nz
AEROMETREX Aerometrex provides high quality 4-band digital aerial imagery, photogrammetry, LiDAR and 3D modelling services to the Australian and International spatial market. We specialise in digital orthophotos, LiDAR, 3D Models, DTM/DSM, point cloud & vector data for GIS and high accuracy engineering applications. Metromap is an online aerial imagery subscription service provided by Aerometrex, that allows users to access aerial imagery directly from their browser on a userfriendly interface.
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51-53 Glynburn Road, GLYNDE SA 5070 ph: 08 8362 9911 em: ravi.mehta@aerometrex.com.au web: www.aerometrex.com.au
AEROSCIENTIFIC Provides affordable, high-quality aerial mapping software and hardware for aerial surveyors. AeroScientific (a business unit of Spatial Scientific Pty. Ltd.) focus of our aerial imaging technology is the award-winning Aviatrix flight management and aerial camera control system. Our imaging systems make aerial data capture significantly easier, cheaper, and more efficient than any other flight management system available today. Suite 520, 262 Main Road, BLACKWOOD SA 5051 ph: +61 417 060 743 em: info@aerosci.info web: aerosci.info
AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE INTELLIGENCE Airbus Defence and Space - Intelligence has been a trusted provider of earth observation satellite imagery to the Australian market for over 30 years and now our fully integrated optical and radar satellite constellation enables daily acquisitions at resolutions from 25cm for SAR and 50cm for optical. Unit 10B, 2 Brindabella Circuit, CANBERRA AIRPORT ACT 2609 ph: +61 2 6413 5606 em: Fabrice.Triffaut@airbus.com web: www.intelligence-airbusds.com
AIRSIGHT AUSTRALIA Airsight Australia provides advanced practical asset data collection to government and enterprise. This is achieved through a holistic client engagement process, utilising practical application tested airborne and terrestrial robotic technology systems and operating methodologies. Our client partnering ethos ensures the highest ROI and positive outcomes for all stakeholders 2/2 Frost Dr, MAYFIELD WEST NSW 2304 ph: 0405 905 056 em: daniel@airsight.com.au web: www.airsight.com.au
AKUNA CONSULTING Core Services of Akuna Consulting to government and corporate organisations include: Strategic planning and implementation; Industry policy; Business analysis; Requirements definition; Spatial information systems; High resolution satellite and airborne imagery; Web services strategies; Team leadership 18 Westland Place, MANNING WA 6152 ph: 0412 210 576 em: twheeler@akunaconsulting.com.au
ALANTGEO At Alantgeo we specialise in design and delivery of modern mapping solutions in partnership with Mapbox and street-level imagery solutions with Mapillary. We offer consulting involving OpenStreetMap data. Suite 1A Level 2, 802 Pacific Highway, GORDON NSW 2072 ph: 02 8294 5567 em: info@alantgeo.com.au web: www.alantgeo.com.au
aptella.com | 1300 867 266
ALL THAT GEO
ARISING TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
All That Geo was created to deliver learning experiences that are engaging and creative. em: hello@allthageo.com web: www.allthatgeo.com
Provision of high-volume scalable real time GIS, messaging and embedded system consultancy. Commercial product provision is IRGIS MapView and IR-GIS HPS for display and storage of real-time data feeds respectively. The product using middleware messaging and a user extensible xml messaging format permitting users to display and store attributed real-time data in near-real time. 8 Hardy Pl, KAMBAH ACT em: irgis@arising.com.au web: www.arising.com.au/ir-gis
AMRISTAR workflow systems, mapping & geospatial, digital integration and web mapping products which help customers to source data from anywhere and deliver high fidelity location intelligent web maps. Level 4, 76 Kings Park Rd, WEST PERTH WA 6005 ph: 08 6365 9680 em: sales@amristar.com web: amristar.com
ANDITI Anditi processes, classifies, analyses, and visualises a wide range of geospatial data, including aerial, mobile, and terrestrial LiDAR, 360 degree and satellite imagery. Anditi is a world-leading expert in extracting a wide range of road safety attributes and road corridor assets from remote sensing data. With our RoadViewer technology, we are the only company in the world accredited by the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) for the use of LiDAR in Star Rating road assessments, and the only AiRAP accredited company for the accelerated and intelligent extraction of 34 of the road safety attributes required for Star Rating of roads. 287 King St, NEWCASTLE NSW 2300 ph: 1300326170 em: tendering@anditi.com web: www.anditi.com
APTELLA We are Position Partners, redefined. At Aptella, we are innovative thinkers ready to collaborate with our customers and enable them with automation and positioning technology that provides real value. As a team of diverse specialists, we work together to provide advanced solutions that enable real efficiencies for business. We are solutions-led and customer-focused, understanding our customer’s business first, ready to solve their needs with the right innovative positioning technology throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. 42 Enterprise Drive, BUNDOORA VIC 3083 ph: 1300 867 266 web: Aptella.com
AP SPATIAL We work with a wide range of software to unlock the potential of your location data. Our team are educated geospatial specialists with FME Certified Professional status. Wollongong, WOLLONGONG NSW 2500 ph: 423676646 em: alex@apspatial.com.au web: www.apspatial.com.au/
ARLULA Arlula is a marketplace for satellite imagery. We provide two core services, the first being a free to use API that allows users to automate the process of searching for and ordering satellite imagery over the internet. The second is bespoke enterprise solutions for clients that have specific GIS analytics needs. 608 Harris Street, ULTIMO NSW 2007 em: hello@arlula.com web: www.arlula.com
ARTERRA INTERACTIVE 3D animation, 3D renderings, Accurate Photomontage, Visual FX, Sydney CBD, 3D modelling, Interactive media. Level 5, 74 Foveaux Street, SURRY HILLS NSW ph: 02 8203 5100 em: tmacdonald@arterrainteractive.com.au web: www.arterrainteractive.com.au
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING SURVEYORS NATIONAL The Association of Consulting Surveyors National was established in June 2011 with a goal to bring surveying consultancies together from across Australia with a focus on national advocacy. Our research into the skills shortage for the profession has been widely received and used by the industry to advocate for increased importance of the profession for land development across Australia. In 2022 we launched the Surveyors Academy delivering the Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information and Diploma of Surveying. Content developed and delivered by the industry for the industry. Level 12, 49-51 YORK STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 ph: 02 9054 6777 web: www.consultingsurveyors.com.au
ATTAIN INSIGHT’S MAP INTELLIGENCE (FORMERLY INTEGEO) Map Intelligence saves customers the high cost of integrating location analytics into solutions and being locked into particular combinations of business intelligence and GIS products. We have ‘out of the box’, fully integrated solutions with a common end-user interface for combinations of ArcGIS (Server and OnLIne), Precisely Spectrum Special, GeoServer, BusinessObjects, Cognos, Tableau, Qlik Sense, MicroStrategy and Excel. PO Box 533, HAZELBROOK NSW 2779 em: info@attaininsight.com web: www.attaininsight.com www.spatialsource.com.au 49
suppliers’ index AURECON Our winning aspiration is to bring the best geospatial approaches and capability to our clients through our innovative digital solutions. We provide platforms for geospatial data capture, analytics and insights, visualisation and communication. web: www.aurecongroup.com
AUS-EMAPS.COM Provider of free online tools, cost-effective GIS solutions, custom maps and spatial data for customers with tight budgets. Serving individuals as well as multinationals. em: info@aus-emaps.com web: www.aus-emaps.com
AUSTRALASIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SOCIETY Learned society promoting the science of hydrography and marine exploration. Please note, contact phone numbers are for a Perth number, so substitute 08 for 02. 93 Ashworth Ave, BELROSE NSW 6021 ph: 08 6477 4400 em: s.duffield@fugro.com.au web: www.ahs.asn.au
Sydney, NSW 2000 ph: +61 4 0181 0265 em: mborer@blacksky.com
BLUE MARBLE GEOGRAPHICS For over two decades, Blue Marble Geographics has been at the forefront of the GIS data processing software business. Pioneering work in geomatics and spatial data conversion quickly established this Maine-based company as a key player in the GIS software field. Companies and organisations in every corner of the world, who appreciate the importance of maintaining the quality, integrity, and interoperability of their critical data, have come to depend on Blue Marble software. 22 Carriage Lane, HALLOWELL 4347 em: info@bluemarblegeo.com web: www.bluemarblegeo.com
AUTOMATED POSITIONING SYSTEMS APS is an international supplier of leading High Precision Machine Guidance products and fleet management systems. We offer our customers tools for improving productivity, efficiency and cost savings by maximising machine utilisation and increasing operator safety. 803 Beaudesert Rd, ARCHERFIELD QLD 5095 ph: 07 3277 2100 em: sales@apsmining.com web: www.apsmining.com
BENNETT + BENNETT Bennett + Bennett are over 55 years in the making. We have 4 offices in SE Qld & Northern NSW, plus our Major Projects arm who spread across our country. We are a dynamic group of Survey, Planning, Spatial and Digital Specialists with over 150 staff. 95 Upton Street, BUNDALL QLD 4217 ph: 756318000 em: mail@bennettandbennett.com.au web: bennettandbennett.com.au/
BENTLEY SYSTEMS PTY LTD Bentley Systems is a global leader in providing architects,engineers,geospatial professionals,constructors & owneroperators with comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design,construction & operations of infrastructure. Users leverage information mobility across disciplines & throughout the infrastructure lifecycle to deliver better-performing projects & assets. Founded in 1984, Bentley Systems has more than 3,000 colleagues in over 50 countries and more than $600M in annual revenues. Level 8, 545 Queen St, BRISBANE QLD 4000 em: ilonka.coombes@bentley.com web: www.bentley.com.au
BLACKSKY TECHNOLOGY INC When it comes to dynamic monitoring from space, BlackSky, a USlisted aerospace company with presence in Australia is leading the way. The company designs and owns a low orbit, Time-Diverse Dawnto-Dusk satellite constellation that is optimized to cost-efficiently capture imagery where and when our customers need it, and is delivered within hours, not days or weeks.
50 position December/January 2023-24
C.R. KENNEDY SURVEY SOLUTIONS A surveyor-based service business with a range of quality products - Leica Geosystems (Total Stations, GNSS/GIS, 3D Scanners, Construction Lasers, Machine Control and Agricultural Systems), Disto, Pentax, Optech, Riegl, Mikrofyn, MDL and CST. Expert training and support provided, with service in all states carried out by factory-trained technicians. Equipment is available for sale, hire or demonstration; dispatch on FIS basis from the central warehouse in Melbourne. 300 Lorimer St, PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207 ph: 03 9823 1533 em: bedmonds@crkennedy.com.au web: www.crkennedy.com.au/survey
CALLPOINT SPATIAL PTY LTD Callpoint Spatial has been delivering spatial resources since 2000. We are a Full Access Value Added Reseller for Geoscape Australia, and license key datasets including Buildings 3D, Cadastre, Roads and G-NAF, plus our value-added editions. Australia Post datasets we license includes the PAF, and we provide joins between Geoscape and AusPost datasets. Our product line also includes geocoding services and our AQ Pro platform for telcos. We serve customers in the telecoms, real estate, professional services, government, health care, tertiary education, infrastructure and resource sectors. Level 13, 200 Queen Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 ph: 03 9670 1212 em: info@callpointspatial.com.au web: www.callpointspatial.com.au
CARDNO NOW STANTEC Cardno now Stantec’s vision is to be a world leader in the provision of professional services to improve the physical and social environment. At Cardno now Stantec, our aim is to provide strategic business solutions, professional advice and diverse services which add long-term value to our clients — projects and the surrounding community. We form strong partnerships with clients and create opportunities for significant, lasting positive change in both developed and emerging economies.
aptella.com | 1300 867 266
Level 11, 515 St Pauls Terrace, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 ph: 02 4231 9610 em: gis@cardno.com.au web: www.cardno.com
CARLSON SOFTWARE AUSTRALIA Carlson Software specialises in CAD design software, field data collection and machine control products for the land surveying, civil engineering, construction, and mining industries worldwide, providing one-source technology solutions for data collection to design and construction. Carlson Software’s renowned dedication to customer service is unique in the industry. 43 Stubbs Street, KENSINGTON VIC 3031 ph: +61 3 9021 0861 em: apac@carlsonsw.com web: www.carlsonsw.com
COHGA PTY LTD Privately owned Australian company with focus on development of IT products and supply of associated professional services. Offices in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and New Zealand and business partners around Australia, Asia and Europe. Developer of the award winning product, Weave, a spatially enabled Business Integration Framework. Weave Business Integration Framework (WBIF) is a full-stack computer software with User Interface, Application Middleware, Integration Middleware and Database Server as its main Architecture blocks. Suite 40, 443 Little Collins St, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 ph: 03 9036 3711 em: info@cohga.com web: www.cohga.com
CONSULCAD More than 25 years experience providing solutions for the construction, mining, real estate, infrastructure, management and engineering industries. Clients include BHP, Geelong City Council, Major Projects Victoria, Metricon, Skills Victoria and VicTrack. Delivering advice, outsourcing services and products across the drafting, GIS data capture, asset management and project control spectrum. ph: 03 9882 8522 em: cands@consulcad.com web: www.consulcad.com
CONVERGENT COMPUTATIONS PTY LTD CARONI Caroni was born from the need to make businesses work more effectively through innovative use of spatial technologies, improving safety, optimising processes, saving money, and adding competitive advantages. Caroni started from the potential of SLAM technology and how this technology can add value to different stakeholders and industries, and how Caroni can offer immediate solutions through combining easy capture and advanced processing and analysis software. Level 11, 125 St Georges Tce, PERTH WA 6000 ph: +61 8 6189 8709 em: info@caroni.com.au web: caroni.com.au/
CHARTIS TECHNOLOGY Our core philosophy and aim is to utilise complex Australian spatial technology to better our customers and the community’s ability to deal with spatial problems. Chartis Technology is 100% Australian owned and operated. We have a strong commercial partnership with TechnologyOne Spatial (DMS). We distribute IntraMaps, FME (Safe Software) and work with a variety of Open Source Software. Chartis Technology specialise in developing and implementing this complex technology. Suite 17, 291 Stewart Street, BATHURST NSW 2795 ph: 02 6332 3310 em: sales@chartistechnology.com web: www.chartistechnology.com
CIVIL SURVEY SOLUTIONS An Autodesk Partner providing AutoCAD based civil and survey software, technical support and training. We service Australia wide with offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Developer of Stringer Survey and custom developments in the AutoCAD environment for civil and survey clients. 1/29 Business Park Dr, NOTTING HILL VIC 3166 ph: 03 9544 5250 em: andrew.english@civilsurveysolutions.com.au web: www.civilsurveysolutions.com.au
Developer of the survey data processing, adjustment and transformation software application Geoida for the surveying and engineering professions. PO Box 249, MORLEY WA 6943 ph: +61 437 203 290 em: geoida_info@geoida.com web: www.geoida.com
CORPORATE GIS Corporate GIS is an independent strategic management consultancy focused on the spatial information industry. We undertake GIS reviews and strategies, business cases, cost/benefit studies, user requirements/specifications, spatial data management plans, GIS health checks, market research and industry and technology surveys. PO Box 1099, CAMDEN NSW 2570 ph: 418780322 em: bruce@corporategis.com.au web: www.corporategis.com.au
CORSNET-NSW CORSnet-NSW is a precise positioning service that gives users access to fast and accurate positioning and guidance solutions across NSW. ph: 1300 330 233 em: SS-CORSnetCustomerSupport@finance.nsw.gov.au web: spatialservices.finance.nsw.gov.au/corsnet-nsw
COTTRELL, CAMERON AND STEEN SURVEYS A medium sized survey/mapping firm with offices in Brisbane and Dalby (Qld) and a base in the Bowen Basin providing spatially related services to government, industry and the public. All forms of land survey including engineering and mine survey; town planning; aerial photography and LiDAR capture and processing; and photogrammetry incorporating digital Mapping, digital orthophotos, etc. 65 Pratten Street, DALBY QLD 4405 ph: 07 4662 3252 em: brucec@ccssurveys.com.au web: www.ccssurveys.com.au
www.spatialsource.com.au 51
suppliers’ index CRITCHLOW GEOSPATIAL LIMITED Critchlow specialises in geomarketing, geospatial data and solutions, emergency management and business continuity. Using advanced geospatial analysis techniques and the latest GIS software and data, we help clients gain actionable insight into their operations. We offer a full range of geospatial services including data transformation, analysis, geocoding, data quality and geospatial custom application development. 50 Manners Street, Level 6, iCentre, WELLINGTON 6140 ph: +64 4 472 8244 em: info@critchlow.co.nz web: www.critchlow.co.nz
CURTIN UNIVERSITY The Spatial Sciences Discipline within the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University provides quality, internationally recognised teaching and research in the areas of surveying, geographic information science (GIScience), geodesy, GNSS, photogrammetry and laser scanning, and remote sensing. The Department also offers postgraduate GIScience courses that can be fully completed by online learning. ph: 08 9266 7565 em: spatial@curtin.edu.au web: spatial.curtin.edu.au
7B Natasha Street, CAPALABA QLD 4157 ph: 07 3823 1029 em: info@eastcoastsurveys.com.au web: www.eastcoastsurveys.com.au/
ESRI AUSTRALIA Esri Australia is the nation’s leading Geographic Information System (GIS) and location intelligence specialist. For more than three decades Esri Australia has partnered with thousands of government and commercial enterprises to deliver quality GIS solutions that have transformed the way organisations address opportunities and challenges. Level 3, 111 Elizabeth Street, BRISBANE QLD 4002 ph: 07 3211 1310 em: connect@esriaustralia.com.au web: www.esriaustralia.com.au
DIALOG GOOGLE SOLUTIONS PRACTICE
EUCLIDEON INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD
Australia’s largest Google Cloud Premier Partner Specialising in Geospatial Industry Solutions and Google Maps API licensing. As a Premier Google Cloud Partner we are able to bring you the industry leading enterprise solutions. If your organisation needs solutions for today’s ICT Challenges: Geospatial, Big Data, Cloud, Collaboration and Machine Learning, then you should talk with our experienced team. lvl7 /35 Boundary Street, SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101 ph: 07 3247 1000 em: google@dialog.com.au web: www.dialog.com.au/google
With its Unlimited Detail 3D visualisation patent Euclideon delivers unlimited data size and scale visualised and shared in seconds, therefore suited to very large scale projects reliant on sharing massive 3D data sets. A metaverse technology company, with its ongoing investment in AI, Machine Learning, VR ,AR and 3D Hologram advanced visualisation and experiential solutions, it’s core products include udStream visualisation and udCloud data management and collaboration in partnership with Microsoft Azure. Foyer 1, Level 2, 2 Gardner Close, MILTON QLD 4064 ph: +61 7 3556 6290 em: info@euclideon.com web: www.euclideon.com
DMAP dMap offer data exploration, data cataloguing, location intelligence, bespoke mapping. With scaleable delivery via SaaS and a powerful cloud geospatial data warehouse, no project is too big or small. From hard and complex data (e.g. ABS census data) through to simple point data (e.g. office locations), dMap can help you with your next project. 6 Nepean Hwy, BRIGHTON VIC 3186 em: simon.gilligan@dmap.io web: dmap.io
EAGLE TECHNOLOGY GROUP Eagle Technology GIS is a full-service provider of Esri spatial information software, professional services (consultancy, implementation and project management) and support (service-desk and training). Alexandra Park, Green Lane West, NZ 1051 em: marketing@eagle.co.nz web: eagle.co.nz
EAST COAST SURVEYS (AUST) PTY LTD Located in the East Brisbane suburb of Capalaba, we are suitably placed to service projects located not only in the Redlands but throughout the entire South East corner of Queensland. We are a Consulting Surveying practice employing registered Cadastral surveyors and Professional Planners capable of providing quality services to guide you through your development. We can look after your applications and liaise with various Councils, including Redland City, Logan and Brisbane City on a regular basis.
52 position December/January 2023-24
EXTRA DIMENSION SOLUTIONS Implementation solutions, technical support and training for 12d Model Civil Design and Surveying software. ph: 02 9452 6771 em: enquiries@exds.com.au web: www.exds.com.au
FARO The company develops and manufactures leading edge solutions that enable high-precision 3D capture, measurement and analysis across a variety of industries including manufacturing, construction, engineering and public safety. 1/12 Cordelia Street, SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101 ph: +61 7 3029 6000 web: www.faro.com
FRONTIERSI FrontierSI is a not-for-profit company which exists to deliver major benefits to government, industry, the research sector, universities, and the community in Australia and New Zealand. We use our strong partner network and deep expertise in spatial mapping, data infrastructures, digital twins, positioning, geodesy, analytics and standards to solve complex problems. In collaboration with our partners, we have transformed research outcomes into meaningful change in government and industry sectors such as environment, agriculture, defence, health, smart cities, and resources.
aptella.com | 1300 867 266
Door 34 Goods Shed, Village Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3008 ph: +61 406 966 992 em: gkernich@frontiersi.com.au web: frontiersi.com.au
FUGRO GEOSPATIAL Large Australasian provider of products and services which are purely spatial. Valuing the quality of work undertaken for clients in Australia, surrounding regions and worldwide; more than 100 staff throughout Australia; part of the worldwide Fugro group. Fugro Geospatial specialise in remote sensing, satellite imagery, high precision land survey, dimensional control, monitoring and geospatial software solutions and consulting. Level 1, 53 Brandl Street, EIGHT MILE PLAINS QLD 4109 ph: 07 3841 3433 web: www.fugrospatial.com.au
GAIA RESOURCES An environmental technology consultancy that delivers sustainable solutions to companies that work with the environment. We provide holistic solutions in field data capture, data management and a wide variety of spatial and location based services to clients across Australia with an emphasis on open source tools. 1st Fl, Bldg B, 661 Newcastle St, LEEDERVILLE WA 6903 ph: 08 9227 7309 em: enquiries@gaiaresources.com.au web: www.gaiaresources.com.au
GEIS A leading software company specialising in geospatial software, services, web solutions, and enterprise integration. GEIS provides consultancy, solutions, products, services, and Smallworld development to telecommunication, electricity, water, and public sector clients in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. GEIS is a GE Energy Solutions Provider. PO Box 463, SUMMER HILL NSW 2130 ph: 02 9799 7252 em: info@geis.com.au web: www.geis.com.au
GEOCOMP CONSULTING Geocomp Consulting is the developer of GeoCivil spatial software and a provider of associated services including ePlan, A-Spec and the building of spatially accurate digital cadastres. Level 2 / 517 Camberwell Rd, VIC 3124 ph: 03 9809 0011 em: geocivil@geocompconsult.com.au web: www.geocompconsult.com.au
GEOCOMP SYSTEMS PTY LTD. Application development, web mapping, hardware for machine guidance systems, software for 3D visualisation, data manipulaion, hydrographic, photogrammetry, mobile mapping, surveying and Civil Engineering. Suite 4, 2-6 Albert Street, BLACKBURN VIC 3130 ph: 03 9877 8400 em: sales@geocomp.com.au web: www.Geocomp.com.au
GEOCONNECT Geoconnect supplies a wide range of instruments, accessories and consumables for measuring, field work, construction, mapping and surveying applications. We carry a large inventory, and offer a vast selection of unique and branded product at the best prices. We are
a leading Hexagon GeoMax distributor. For the latest products and leading measuring and positioning technology call us today. 4/23 Wadhurst Dr, BORONIA VIC 3155 ph: 03 8644 8106 em: sales@geoconnect.com.au web: www.geoconnect.com.au
GEODATA AUSTRALIA Providing specialised consulting skills in survey and GIS cadastral database management for government and industry. Long term experience understanding survey data, boundary definition processes and developing software tools to achieve the highest accuracy and cadastral intelligence in a database environment. Tools include digitisation and database interoperability and data migration. 18 Elkin Cl, MORPETH NSW 2323 ph: 0412 453 170 em: harper@geodata.com.au web: www.geodata.com.au
GEOGRAPHIC BUSINESS SOLUTIONS (GBS) Founded in 2002 by independent GIS consultants Harley Prowse and Tony Elson, GBS has grown to become a respected resource of expert GIS consultants, project managers and GIS developers. We provide custom GIS solutions so that your people can access, use and share powerful location-based information. Our core capabilities include consulting, solution design and architecture, development of web, mobile and desktop solutions, primarily in the Esri suite. GBS is an Esri Gold Partner. em: info@gbs.kiwi web: www.gbs.kiwi
GEOIMAGE PTY LTD Geoimage is Australia’s leading independent & multiple award winning specialists in Satellite Imagery and Geospatial Solutions. We are suppliers & certified resellers of imagery from a wide range of satellite vendors, including DigitalGlobe, Airbus, BlackBridge, RESTEC, MDA & Japan Space Systems. Geoimage takes a coordinated approach to the services we supply, from acquisition through to mapping, classification and analysis, we provide the most appropriate solution to assist clients. 72 Costin Street, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4004 ph: 07 3319 4990 em: sales@geoimage.com.au web: www.geoimage.com.au
GEOLOCET With precision at the core of our operations, Geolocet paves the way for businesses and individuals to unlock unprecedented insights from geographic information. Our data products stand testament to our expertise in the field of spatial data. Through a rich blend of location, local area, and spatial data, we cater to a wide range of industry needs. Beyond products, Geolocet offers a suite of data services that ensure the data you work with is of the highest standard. Our services include data cleansing, deduplication, processing, modeling, and reporting. em: sales@geolocet.com web: geolocet.com
GEOMETRY PTY LTD Software development company with core competencies of consulting, software design and development with specialised expertise in innovative database and web applications for the spatial community. Geometry solutions deliver business advantage through enabling organisations to manage their information spatially.
www.spatialsource.com.au 53
suppliers’ index Geometry also has expertise in the design and delivery of web and mobile spatial applications. An innovator in mobile GIS: developed the iGIS application for iPhone and iPad. 31 Salamanca Square, BATTERY POINT TAS 7004 ph: 03 6223 1999 em: info@geometry.com.au web: www.geometry.com.au
GEORADAR AUSTRALIA Hydro excavation, underground cable locators, concrete scanning, cleaning of sewer drains, smoke machine pipe testing, laying of asset locator marking balls, survey services, mining industry radar consultancy, water leak detection. ph: 0425 677 227 em: payney@georadar.net.au web: www.georadar.net.au
27-29 Napier Close, DEAKIN ACT 2600 ph: 02 2628 2228 em: info@geospatialcouncil.org.au web: https://geospatialcouncil.org.au/
GEOSPATIAL FRAMEWORKS PTY LTD Geospatial Frameworks staff and associates are subject matter experts (SMEs) in their respective fields and have a wide variety of skills and experience, and a range of backgrounds across public, private and academic sectors. Our dynamic team of experts are skilled in legal and policy matters, standards and guidelines, strategy and implementation planning. 71 Darlington Road, DARLINGTON WA 6070 ph: 0414747408 em: lesley.arnold@geospatialframeworks.com.au web: www.geospatialframeworks.com.au
GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER The Geospatial Intelligence Center’s (GIC), a not-for-profit insurance consortium, mission is to provide the most comprehensive, precise, and up-to-date location information to insurers through geospatial imagery and data. Suite 102, 1470 WALNUT ST CO 80302 em: info@geointel.org web: geointel.org
GEOSCAPE AUSTRALIA
GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE PTY LTD
Geoscape Australia provides national location data. We continuously source, process and deliver data to various endpoints, including APIs and a self-service portal. We’ re a critical collaborator, delivering spatial data to enable economic, social and environmental outcomes across the economy. Our vision is achieved through a wide and sustained ecosystem of partnerships and collaboration. Geoscape data delivers a clear picture of our complex cities, regional centres and rural communities as they change. Unit 6, Level 2, 113 Canberra Ave, GRIFFITH ACT 2603 ph: 02 6260 9000 em: info@geoscape.com.au web: www.geoscape.com.au
Geospatial Intelligence Pty Ltd, a Canberra-based Australian company, has been providing geospatial solutions to public and private sector customers since its inception in 2002. Location is accepted as strategically important information for policy and operational decisions. Geospatial Intelligence supplies clients with an integrated set of geospatial solutions across geospatial information systems (GIS), satellite imagery and analysis, satellite AIS, consulting, training and knowledge transfer services. Level 2, 42 Macquarie St, BARTON ACT 2600 ph: +61 2 6273 0111 em: info@geoint.com.au web: www.geoint.com.au
GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA
GEOSPATIAL PTY. LTD.
Australian government spatial gateway. Cnr Jerrabomberrra Ave & Hindmarsh Dr, SYMONSTON ACT 2601 ph: 02 6249 9111 em: mapfeedback@ga.gov.au web: www.ga.gov.au
Geospatial Australia was founded in June 2016 with an objective to provide the highest quality geospatial services to government agencies and private companies in the agriculture, engineering and environmental fields in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. 274 Macquarie Street, DUBBO NSW 2830 ph: 02 68852664 em: info@geospatial.land web: www.geospatial.land
GEOSPATIAL SERVICES - SPATIAL VENTURES
GEOSPATIAL COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA The not-for-profit national body representing surveying and spatial science professionals from Australia, New Zealand and abroad. GCA actively promotes and advances the surveying and spatial disciplines, representing professionals in: land surveying, spatial information and cartography, remote sensing and photogrammetry, hydrographic surveying, and engineering and mining surveying.
54 position December/January 2023-24
Areas of expertise are Natural Resource Management, Conservation Planning; Hydrogeology/Groundwater; Health Geography; Skilled in spatial database development; Field data surveys; Web Mapping, GIS programming and automation; Capacity building GIS. Ross Rd, ALTONA NORTH VIC 3025 ph: 03 9327 3645 em: services@spatialventures.com.au web: www.spatialventures.com.au
aptella.com | 1300 867 266
GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD The regional sales partner representing Vexcel Imaging (VI)- a leader in remote sensing technologies and services across the world. Providing a broad range of geospatial solutions and expertise. These include terrestrial, aerial and radar systems for fast, efficient data capture. Also VI offers advanced image processing and geospatial integration with Vexcel Imaging’s mapping technologies including the highly successful UltraCam digital aerial camera range . 16 Drummonds Approach, SECRET HARBOUR WA 6173 ph: 08 9524 9980 em: pwjones@iinet.net.au web: www.vexcel-imaging.com
GLOBAL SURVEY 19F Triton Dr, AUCKLAND NZ em: neil@globalsurvey.co.nz web: globalsurvey.co.nz
GLOBALPOS For the past 15 years we have provided sales, support, training and rentals for mapping into industries including forestry, mining and exploration, surveying and government services. 42A Patrick Street, MEREWETHER NSW 2291 ph: 1800 636 627 em: sales@globalpos.com.au web: www.globalpos.com.au
GHD
GPSAT SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Around 6000 employees across five continents with clients in water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation industries. Spatial services include cartography, data capture and presentation, site and corridor selection, environmental modelling, visual impact analysis, surveying, remote sensing, image analysis, database design and GIS business analysis and implementation. 145 Ann St, BRISBANE QLD 4001 ph: 07 3316 3000 web: www.ghd.com
The company is a leader in delivering to industry innovative satellite navigation equipment, technical GPS / GNSS system solutions, research and consultancy services. The sole regional distributor for NovAtel Inc precision GPS/GNSS receivers and Spirent Communications GNSS simulation equipment. Providing quality engineered solutions to defence and industrial satellite navigation applications. Offering multidisciplinary skills in electronics, software, geomatics and comms engineering and more. Suite 1, 22 Aberdeen Rd, MACLEOD VIC 3085 ph: 03 9455 0041 em: info@gpsatsys.com.au web: www.gpsatsys.com.au
GIS PEOPLE GIS People is a Brisbane-based, multi-award winning, global leader in geospatial technology. Our core services are geospatial consulting, software development and creating innovative software products that solve business and processing problems using location data. Armed with this expertise, we’ve hand-created two successful software products that implement GIS technology to solve business problems: www.gruntify.com and www.opendeclare.com 27 Commercial Rd, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 ph: 1800 684 543 em: info@gispeople.com.au web: www.gispeople.com.au
GIS RECRUITMENT GIS RECRUITMENT is a specialist recruiter that provides high quality, permanent and subcontract labor-hire recruitment service to the GIS, Spatial Sciences and related Environmental Engineering industries across Australasia. Since 1991 Managing Director Peter Dalton has fostered specialist recruitment services in the GIS industry. All developed under one in-house process, we have created a cost effective specialist recruitment services. We focus on selling your reputation as an industry leader to our GIS candidates which enables us to deliver to you the best GIS candidates in the market. Queen Street, BRISBANE QLD 4001 ph: 07 3832 4477 em: admin@gisrecruitment.com.au web: www.gisrecruitment.com.au
GREY FIN SERVICES Possessing a blend of, strategic, project management and technical skills and a vast knowledge of industry. Grey Fin Services is a company focused on providing consulting services in the Geospatial, Utilities and Engineering domains. ph: 0424 152 431 em: Marty@greyfin.com.au web: www.greyfin.com.au
GUTHRIE CAD/GIS SOFTWARE Manufacturer of CAD and GIS data conversion software, producing cost-effective software for data translation and viewing. 237 Jacksons Hill Road, GUMERACHA SA 5233 ph: 08 8389 1915 em: sales@guthcad.com web: www.guthcad.com
HANDLEY SURVEYS Handley Surveys provides engineering and licensed surveying for major infrastructure projects throughout Australasia, specialising in the modular construction of petrochemical, power and other processing plants. 5/985 Woodbrook Road, KARRATHA WA 6714 ph: 08 9337 2300 em: admin@handleysurveys.com.au web: www.handleysurveys.com.au
GLOBAL GBM
HEXAGON GEOSPATIAL
Global GBM specialises in best-in-class enterprise mobility solutions that connect field services with business workflows. We deliver location intelligent, real time data collection and reporting services that empower and transform business. Global GBM is a division of Exa-Min Technologies, developer of GBM Mobile, GBM Web and a complete range of location Intelligence based business solutions for smart phones and tablets. Level 2, 143 Charlotte St, BRISBANE QLD 4000 ph: 07 3210 0741 web: www.globalgbm.com
Hexagon Geospatial is the world’s leading provider of geospatial software and solutions. Organisations and government agencies in more than 60 countries rely on our software to visualise, organise, communicate and transform vast, complex data into dynamic, usable intelligence. Our software empowers customers to build and operate processes, infrastructures and cities better, safer and smarter. Level 3, 420 St Kilda Road, MELBOURNE VIC 3004 ph: 03 9292 9600 em: ap.marketing@hexagongeospatial.com web: www.hexagongeospatial.com www.spatialsource.com.au 55
suppliers’ index HIGHEXPOSURE Perfect camera for capturing images and recording videos. Keep up great work As a professional UAV aerial services provider, our company uses only state of the art high-resolution cameras and mapping software. 17/2-4 Frances St, RANDWICK NSW 2031 ph: 1300 751 931 em: info@highexposure.com.au web: www.highexposure.com.au
HI-TECH METROLOGY Metrology (Measurement) Equipment 2 Carl Crt, HALLAM VIC 3803 ph: 03 9702 3911 em: info@hitechmetrology.com.au web: www.hitechmetrology.com.au
HXGN SMARTNET With more than 4,000 reference stations based on Leica Geosystems technology that ensure position accuracy in any application, the service is provided 24/7 by a highly-available infrastructure and professional support team with more than 10 years of experience delivering the service. SmartNet is an open-standard correction service, able to use with any GNSS device, and is constantly monitored for integrity, availability and accuracy. Level 3, 420 St Kilda Rd, MELBOURNE VIC 3004 ph: 03 9914 2268 em: au.support@hxgnsmartnet.com web: hxgnsmartnet.com/en-AU/
IFM - INTEGRATED FACILITY MANAGEMENT PTY LTD With offices in Sydney and Perth, we are resellers and distributors for software such as Archibus FM, EcoDomus PM & BIM, Cadcorp SIS & GIS. Developers of SISfm, our Spatial Information Solution — a single multi-user license, a secure web portal interface, facilitating access to all business system data, georeferenced site and building facilities and asset information, CAD drawings, 3D BIM, diagrams, photographs, a user friendly tool for management, staff and contractors. Suite 2, Technology Park, 4 Sarich Way, BENTLEY WA 6102 ph: 08 9472 6886 em: sales@integratedfm.com.au web: integratedfm.com.au
IGNSS SOCIETY A not for profit association incorporated in Queensland, Australia for professionals with an interest in the GNSS disciplines. ph: 07 5599 5007 web: www.ignss.org
IIC TECHNOLOGIES PTY LIMITED IIC provides end-to-end geospatial solutions to the Aeronautics, Defense, Government, Infrastructure, Marine, Oil & Gas, Transportation and Utility sectors. 4 Palawan Place, TORBAY NZ 630 ph: +64 (0) 272 772722 em: david.crossman@iictechnologies.com web: www.iictechnologies.com
HYVISTA CORPORATION
INDUSTRIAL MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS
Specialising in the supply of airborne hyperspectral remote sensing data, large format digital imagery and value added information products. 11/10 Gladstone Rd, CASTLE HILL NSW 1755 ph: 02 8850 0262 em: hvc@hyvista.com web: www.hyvista.com
As Australian measurement specialists IMS provides high precision measuring systems for mapping and industry. These include integrated single-box GPS INU systems for advanced surveying, UAV and mapping applications with direct interfacing with optical and laser scanners or custom integrated solutions. IMS also provides high end laser trackers and other metrology solutions with software for inspection and reverse engineering. 3/15-17 Beaumont Rd, MOUNT KURING-GAI NSW 2082 ph: 02 9457 7794 em: bruce@measure.com.au web: www.measure.com.au
ICON SPATIAL Icon Spatial’ s focus is on Capture, Consume, Collaborate & Innovate. Capture includes Drone/UAV Missions, Asset Pickup & 360 Image Capture. Consume includes GIS Integration, Data Feeds, & Data Consumption. Collaborate includes Real Time, Web Mapping & Social. Innovate includes VR, AR & Mixed Reality, Smart Farm & Build and the Autonomous Site. 25 Willow Crescent, WARRAGUL VIC 3820 ph: 0400 738 357 em: info@iconspatial.com.au web: www.iconspatial.com.au
ICONYX - A DIVISION OF RAPIDMAP Iconyx provides efficient mobile applications for multiple, concurrent field inspectors to capture and maintain spatial data for use in a wide range of management systems including: Assets, Works, Inspections, Weed Vector or Disease Management to increase organisation wide productivity. Our Summit solutions also provide secure integration, web services, and custom APIs to leverage Open data sources and share new geospatial intelligence with other corporate systems and stakeholders to support collaboration and engagement for smart cities initiatives in near real time. Suite 22, 2 Enterprise Dr, BUNDOORA VIC 3083 ph: 03 9466 5200 em: lterrett@iconyx.com web: www.iconyx.com
56 position December/January 2023-24
INSIGHT GIS GIS software and services provider, specialising in the implementation of GIS into organisational business processes and core information systems. Long track record developing spatial solutions, especially in green field sites. 2 Gregory Street, SANDY BAY TAS 7005 ph: 03 6234 5833 em: info@insightgis.com.au web: www.insightgis.com.au
INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS NSW (ISNSW) The independent professional organisation representing surveyors and survey related professionals in NSW since 1891, with over 1300 members in Australia and overseas. Level 4, 162 Goulburn St, SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 ph: 02 9264 2076 em: isnsw@surveyors.org.au web: www.surveyors.org.au
INTECH SOLUTIONS Intech solves difficult data quality and data matching challenges especially involving customer data and location for Australian
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and NZ organisations. Our solutions include address verification, phone number and email verification, geocoding and geoboundary tagging, and advanced probabilistic data matching for deduplication, data integration, entity extraction, intelligent search, master data management and single customer view. Solutions available as on premise software, SaaS and hybrid. Level 7, 35 Spring St, BONDI JUNCTION NSW 2022 ph: 02 8305 2100 em: sales2016@intechiq.com web: www.intechsolutions.com.au
INTERNATIONAL MAP INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION A worldwide organisation of the mapping, geospatial and geographic information industry. Membership has the potential to increase business, enable networking with peers and further knowledge and understanding of the mapping industry. Membership spans more than 50 countries on six continents, representing over 500 companies and organisations. 147 Unley Rd, UNLEY SA 5061 ph: 08 8357 1777 em: imiaap@chariot.net.au web: www.imiamaps.org
IXBLUE PTY LTD iXblue and its partners have extensive experience acquiring aerial Imagery and LiDAR data. iXblue brings together significant experience in the geospatial industry through its exclusive agreement with its partner Woolpert, Inc. This partnership provides the team with the technical capability and resources required to meet any project specification and timelines. 30 North Road, WYNNUM WEST QLD 4178 ph: +61 7 3396 0991 em: matthew.james@ixblue.com web: www.ixblue.com.au
JACOBS GROUP (AUSTRALIA) With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. In Australia and New Zealand, Jacobs is comprised of engineers, project managers, geospatial professionals, surveyors, planners, scientists, and ICT specialists. 177 Pacific Highway, NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060 em: ANZDigitalSolutions@jacobs.com web: www.jacobs.com
IOJ AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
JENSEN BOWERS
IOJ provides a wide range of aerial survey, mapping and environmental monitoring services across Australia using high-res metric, 4 band, digital imagery and simultaneous HDV. From infrastructure asset recording to small habitat mapping, we offer cost-effective, rapid response and processing. HDVI imagery also available for measurement of plant vigour derived from 4band imagery. 79 Chastons Rd, APSLEY VIC 3319 em: ian@ioj.com.au web: www.ioj.com.au/
Jensen Bowers is a Brisbane based consultancy of professional surveyors, town planners and development advisors. We specialise in property development, resources, infrastructure, government and institutional sectors and for over 100 years have been servicing Queensland’s development industry with all their land surveying, development approvals and town planning needs. Our professional expertise includes cadastral surveying, town planning, urban design and development and planning advisory. 72 Costin Street, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4004 ph: 07 3852 1771 em: enquiry@jensenbowers.com.au web: www.jensenbowers.com.au
ISA SOLUTIONS ISA Solutions provides innovative, sophisticated & affordable GIS, Spatial & Web based solutions to the business problems of commercial, not for profit and government organisations. We specialise in Esri ArcGIS & open source GIS software such as QGIS, PostGIS, PostgreSQL, MapServer & MapProxy. em: info@isasolutions.com.au web: www.isasolutions.com.au
JIROTECH Jirotech is a leading systems integration and software development company, with core expertise in geospatial systems, open source software, standards development, information management, the PostgreSQL database, web based systems, IT infrastructure, enterprise support and training.
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suppliers’ index Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf, 19-21 Pirrama Rd, PYRMONT NSW 2009 ph: 02 8099 9000 em: sales@jirotech.com web: www.lisasoft.com
JOHNNY APPLESEED GPS With our first store opening in 1999, Johnny Appleseed GPS is a 100% Australian owned and operated independent GPS specialist store, operating in QLD, NSW, VIC and servicing all of Australia by our overnight freight service. Our goal is to offer the widest range of GPS and accessories in the world, with the best specialist product knowledge, and competitive pricing. 5/1311 Ipswich Rd, ROCKLEA QLD 4106 ph: 07 3717 8555 em: sales@ja-gps.com.au web: ja-gps.com.au
KEAYS SOFTWARE Keays Software develops software for civil engineers and surveyors. Software for road design, surveying, surface modelling, 3D Visualisation, water supply, sewerage, drainage. Interface to AutoCAD. Development of software in AutoCAD. ADAC and A-Spec data transfers. 9/621 Coronation Drive, TOOWONG QLD 4066 ph: 07 3870 1711 em: products@keays.com.au web: www.keays.com.au
LAND INSIGHT Using advanced data analytics paired with an extensive database of risks and hazards, Land Insight has automated the process of identifying and understanding nformation relating to environmental risks. Land Insight takes large and complex environmental data and turns it into clear and simple insights enabling anyone to make better and more sustainable land and property decisions. 388 George St, SYDNEY NSW 2000 em: orders@landinsight.co web: www.landinsight.co/
LAND SOLUTION AUSTRALIA An award-winning professional consulting surveyors business specialising in spatial data capture and management, including land title and urban planning, engineering and construction surveying, UAV surveying, precise GNSS, site management and quality control, as constructed documentation, terrestrial laser scanning, BIM modelling, automated monitoring and 3D documentation. 24 Finchley Street, MILTON QLD 4064 ph: 07 3366 3525 em: Survey@landsolution.com.au web: www.landsolution.com.au
LAND SURVEYS With over 140 professional and committed staff, Land Surveys provides full surveying services specialising in resources surveying, infrastructure surveying, commercial construction surveying, land development surveying and 3D mapping and modelling, including aerial surveying and laser scanning. Land Surveys has offices around Australia; Karratha, Port Hedland, Darwin, Mackay, Brisbane and its head office based in Perth. 19 Brennan Way, WA 6984 ph: 08 9477 4477 em: admin@landsurveys.net.au web: www.landsurveys.net.au
LANDAIR SURVEYS KONECT MOBILITY SOFTWARE FROM GLOBAL GBM Konect offers mobility solutions that are an exact fit for your business, allowing you to set up your own maps, data forms and workflows without developer assistance and turning them into an economical solution that can scale from one to 1,000 users. Konect works with any device, anytime and anywhere. You can customise, modify and personalise; the tailored solution for your business.. GPO Box 3202, BRISBANE BRISBANE QLD 4001 ph: + 61 7 3844 3105 em: media@globalgbm.com web: www.konect.today
LAND EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LEI are an experienced and progressive international development consulting organisation specialising in land administration, land governance, land policy and urban management. Our expertise encompasses design, implementation, evaluation and a range of training options across land sector projects. LEI have managed projects across more than 25 countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Pacific. Suite 12, 74 Kembla St, WOLLONGONG NSW 2520 ph: 02 4227 6680 em: kanthony@landequity.com.au web: www.landequity.com.au
58 position December/January 2023-24
Land engineering and aerial surveyors 1/87-91 Heatherdale Rd , RINGWOOD VIC 3134 ph: 1300 130 158 em: erik@landair.com.au web: www.landair.com.au
LANDGATE 1 Midland Square, MIDLAND WA 6936 ph: 08 9273 7373 em: accountmanagers@landgate.wa.gov.au web: www.landgate.wa.gov.au
LANDGIS An Australian company dedicated to providing professional GIS services for managing land-related information. Our customised solutions help organisations in the local and state government and private sectors maximise the benefits of GIS technology. 9 Jindalee Close, ROWVILLE VIC 3178 ph: 03 8740 3186 em: manager@landgis.com.au web: www.landgis.com.au
LANDPARTNERS LIMITED (SYDNEY) LandPartners is a leading built environment firm, bringing together professionals working nationally across inter-discipline projects and one of the largest built environment consultancies in Australia. Company works with major property developers and government agencies -landmarks which are innovative concepts, structures
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or systems of their era across the following disciplines: Surveying, Mapping and GIS, Town Planning, Urban Design, Water and Sewer Servicing. 23-29 South Street, RYDALMERE NSW ph: 02 9685 2000 em: roy.lowe@landpartners.com.au web: www.landpartners.com.au
LASER AND SURVEY SOLUTIONS Brisbane based company offering measurement solutions and systems for metrology, scanning, coordinate and traditional survey needs. Drawing on world leading manufacturers including Faro, Sokkia, Spectra Precision, Juniper Systems and Ashtech, offering instrument solutions for all measurement and positioning needs. Fully experienced support, service and repair team. 237 Montague Rd, WEST END QLD 4101 ph: 07 3846 3385 em: sales@laserandsurveysolutions.com.au web: www.laserandsurveysolutions.com.au
LASER TECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIA P/L LTA distributes the TruPulse range of laser rangefinders plus a variety of related apps for Android and iOS. we have bundled packages including lasers, brackets, rugged Android devices and data capture apps. Training and consultation on field data capture projects is also offered. U9/58 Mahoneys Rd, THOMASTOWN VIC 3074 ph: 03 94604000 em: info@lasertechnology.com.au web: www.lasertechnology.com.au
LATITUDE AUSTRALIA SOFTWARE Latitude is a comprehensive business management solution for surveying, spatial science and engineering organisations that handles project workflow, project costing, quoting, billing, time and disbursement tracking, project management, staff tasking, work notification, work logs, file management, communications tracking, project reporting & analysis, links with GIS, KMZ, Excel, etc., exports to accounting and payroll software, including Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, Reckon, Sage, etc. 268-272 Victoria Ave, CHATSWOOD NSW 2067 ph: 02 8002 4087 web: www.LatiBiz.com
LEICA GEOSYSTEMS With close to 200 years of experience pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyse, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyse easily, and visualise and present spatial information. Level 3, 420 St Kilda Rd, MELBOURNE VIC ph: 03 9292 9600 em: info.anz.geo@leica-geosystems.com web: www.leica-geosystems.com
LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY Lightwave Technology offers an extensive product range of Survey Consumables, Optical Instruments, Lasers, Total Stations, GPS and Machine Control Systems. Lightwave Technology are suppliers for Sokkia, FARO, Ubexi, AGL, CST and David White. Our Bayswater facility has a full electronic and mechanical workshop staffed by experienced factory trained technicians. We are able to service all brands, both optical and laser-based instruments, plus machine control components and metrology instruments. 14 Stephenson Rd, BAYSWATER NORTH VIC 3153 ph: 03 9720 6222 em: justin@lightwavetechnology.com.au web: www.lightwavetechnology.com.au
LISTECH PTY LTD Our agile software solutions are specifically designed to solve the complex problems associated with surveying and engineering. Shaping data into actionable information vital for understanding, planning and executing work, our solutions empower everyone to be most efficient and productive. Level 3, 420 St Kilda Rd, MELBOURNE VIC 3004 ph: +61 3 9005 1105 em: support@listech.com web: www.listech.com/default.aspx
LOCUS We provide professional GIS and data integration consultancy services, short or long-term project support, FME training and technical advice. GPO Box 344, SYDNEY NSW 2000 ph: +61 436 298 406 web: locusglobal.com
M2M CONNECTIVITY M2M Connectivity is a supplier of GNSS antennas from Tallysman, We also supply 3G/4G and satellite wireless modems to connect equipment from remote locations. ph: 03 9696 3011 em: info@m2mconnectivity.com.au web: www.m2mconnectivity.com.au
MANGOESMAPPING PTY LTD National distributor of Emlid’s cutting edge RTK GNSS receivers. We supply: NextCore LiDAR drones, Honeywell IMU/INS products, Atmos UAV, DJI and Topodrone RTK & PPK Drones, Rugged tablets, Carlson Survey Software, and Survey Accessories. Suites 12-13, 1 Jack St, ATHERTON QLD 4883 ph: 07 4004 9714 em: sales@mangoesmapping.com.au web: www.mangoesmapping.com.au/products
MAP GEAR
LESLIE & THOMPSON SURVEYORS
Map Gear is your one-stop, online shop for mapping, surveying and high-end positioning and navigation components. Big brands, local stock and fast shipping! 100% Australian-owned. em: hello@mapgear.com.au web: www.mapgear.com.au
For the past 20 years, Leslie & Thompson has been providing expert surveying and land mapping services to the Shoalhaven region. From our office in Nowra, we serve the South Coast of New South Wales from Bateman’s Bay to Wollongong. 1st Floor, 52 Berry St, NOWRA NSW 2541 ph: 02 4422 1233 em: mail@lesliethompson.com.au web: www.lesliethompson.com.au/
An authorised distributor of surveying instruments and GIS/GPS equipment from companies such as Nikon, Ashtech (Magellan Professional), CHC and other leading brands. Supplying products for surveying, GIS, construction and engineering professionals, including total stations, theodolites, laser levels, automatic levels, surveying accessories and rugged field PDAs and Tablet PCs; full support for
MAPC
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suppliers’ index all products. Software includes ArcPAD, ARES 3D CAD, SiteMaster, EziField, and ProLog. 1st Fl, 92 Lambton Rd, BROADMEADOW NSW 2291 ph: 02 4950 9882 em: info@mapc.com.au web: www.mapc.com.au
software. Ease of set up, portability, rapid and safe data acquisition and powerful, in-built processing and modelling tools are hallmarks of Maptek laser scanners. Maptek, 31 Flemington St, GLENSIDE SA 5065 ph: 08 8338 9222 em: solutions@maptek.com.au web: www.maptek.com
MARVEL GEOSPATIAL SOLUTIONS
MAPDATA SERVICES Established in 1998, MapData Services has grown from humble beginnings to become one of Australasia’s most well-known and respected authorities in digital mapping and location-based data. Today, the company delivers customised mapping products, consulting services, data and hosted online applications to a range of commercial, community and government organisations. Level 1, 414 Kent St, SYDNEY NSW 2000 ph: 02 8436 2800 em: info@mapdataservices.com web: www.mapdataservices.com
MAPPING & HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS An Australian hydrographic survey company; 40 years experience on projects within Australia, South East Asia, Papua New Guinea, Africa, the Pacific and Middle East. MHS offers a range of hydrographic disciplines executed by specialised hydrographic surveyors, geophysicists and marine scientists using advanced technologies and systems. 31 Byron St, BULIMBA QLD 4169 ph: 07 3399 8566 em: john@mhshydro.com web: www.mhshydro.com
MAPPT Mappt is a powerful low-barrier-to-entry GIS app that allows users to harness the power of offline mobile data collection with one light, compact device. Mappt is easy to use, low-cost and breaks away from the traditional dependency on pre-existing desktop packages. Furthermore, Mappt is completely offline and built to be agnostic and interoperable. 28/12 Cowcher Place, BELMONT WA em: hayley@takor.com.au web: www.mappt.com.au
An international leader providing Geospatial Technology Solutions and Data Management Services. Marvel is committed to maintaining partnership with our clients and building new business development initiatives by delivering customised, high-quality solutions in an affordable and timely manner. 9/39-41 Abigail St, SEVEN HILLS NSW em: bharath@marvelgeospatial.com web: www.marvelgeospatial.com
MERCURY PROJECT SOLUTIONS Our team combines years of consulting craftsmanship, with geospatial expertise and strategy development. We care about finding unique location-based solutions that deliver results that matter. Our broad area of expertise is focused on location intelligence and its applications. We provide services to private and public sector clients at home and abroad to implement our unique, trusted solutions. 2b Alsop Walk, CARINE WA 6020 ph: 0408 054 565 em: info@mercuryps.com.au web: www.mercuryps.com.au
MIPELA GEOSOLUTIONS Combining the latest technology with 20+ years of innovation and experience, Mipela GeoSolutions continue to automate our clients business processes, integrate systems and deliver reliable solutions that stand the test of time, assisting people and businesses to make informed decisions by connecting people with information. 5 Prospect St, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4001 ph: 07 3252 5589 em: sales@mipela.com.au web: www.mipela.com.au
MONITUM Monitum is a gloabel leader in structural and geotechnical montoring for complex infrastructure maintenance and construction projects. Accredited international standards ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015 and AS/NZS4801:2001 24 Finchley Street, MILTON BRISBANE QLD 4064 ph: 07 3554 0291 em: admin@monitum.com.au web: www.monitum.com.au
MAPSOFT
NAVIGATE
Producing software for the spatial industry including custom software for clients with special needs. Promising on time delivery at an affordable price with personal service. Flagship product is miniCAD. 34a Cranstons Road, MIDDLE DURAL NSW 2158 ph: 02 9680 3999 em: ian@mapsoft.com.au web: www.mapsoft.com.au
NAVIGATE’s major business specialities include geospatial database design and construction as well as data engineering and the provision of tailored geospatial datasets. These skills enable our team to efficiently build the NAVMap and PSMA Data product suites. Our finished data products incorporate a unique set of engineering enhancements to the raw data and our re-engineered products are able to be implemented immediately into the client geospatial technology environment without further processing by the end user thus saving significant End User time and effort. Suite 202, 10-12 Clarke St, CROWS NEST NSW 2065 ph: 02 9436 3820 em: navigate@navigate.com.au web: www.navigate.com.au
MAPTEK A global provider of software and hardware technology for the mining industry, specialising in 3D applications that add value to exploration, survey and mine planning. Maptek I-Site systems combine highly accurate 3D laser scanning hardware with point cloud processing
60 position December/January 2023-24
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NEARMAP.COM
OMNILINK PTY LTD
nearmap is a global leader in the provision of geospatial map technology for business, enterprises and government customers. We have a history of working successfully with small and large organisations across the building & construction, architectural, defence and utility industries. Built around Australian innovation, nearmap.com has developed a complete technology solution that enables it to quickly capture and process PhotoMaps and digital elevation data and to serve that data online with unprecedented frequency, clarity and accessibility Level 6, 6-8 Underwood St, SYDNEY NSW 1225 ph: 02 8076 0700 em: queries@nearmap.com web: www.nearmap.com
Backed by over 30 years — industry experience, OMNILINK provides data services to more than 300 education, government and business organisations across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Suite 4.01, 655 Pacific Highway, ST LEONARDS NSW 2065 ph: 02 9804 8807 em: info@omnilink.com.au web: www.omnilink.com.au
NEXTCORE NextCore is changing the game of drone LiDAR with its NextCore Cloud post-processing platform allowing you to generate point clouds easily with the control you need. NextCore has a refined, straightforward workflow meaning you can be sure you’re getting the data you want, every time. 2 Frost Drive, MAYFIELD WEST NSW 2304 ph: +61 417 633 781 em: contact@airsight.com.au web: www.nextcore.co
NGIS At NGIS, we have a team of geospatial experts, data scientist and software engineers who work closely with our clients to deliver value-adding solutions that meet their specific needs. We have partnered with some of the world’s largest organisations, including Federal and State Governments, multinational resource companies, utilities, international aid programs, and businesses in sectors such as property, environmental, mining and engineering, and logistics and transport. ph: (08) 9355 6000 em: hello@ngis.com.au web: ngis.com.au/
NORTH SURVEYS PTY LTD T/A NORTHGROUP CONSULTING NorthGroup Consulting offers a full range of Surveying, Mapping, Data Management and Town Planning solutions that surpass client’s expectations. Our mission is to maintain and enhance the companies — reputation for providing innovative, visionary, practical, viable solutions and to provide excellence in surveying services across the entire industry spectrum of operations while enhancing staff satisfaction and career paths in a safe and healthy work environment. 3A/32 Billabong Street, STAFFORD QLD 4053 ph: 07 3354 9700 em: jarmstrong@northgroup.com.au web: northgroup.com.au
NOVATEL OEM Supplier of GNSS receivers, enclosures and antennas; its Span technology couples GNSS and inertial navigation technology to provide reliable, continuously available, position, velocity and attitude data - even when satellite signals are unavailable. The Inertial Explorer software efficiently post-processes GNSS and inertial raw data. All products are developed for rapid integration. em: rod.macleod@novatel.com web: www.novatel.com
OPEN SPATIAL AUSTRALIA Providing enterprise spatial solutions to utilities, local and central government, campuses and airports. Our solutions are based on Open Geospatial compliant technologies through partnerships with Autodesk and Oracle. Open Spatial, established 10 years ago, is an Australian owned and operated company. Early success in the region is attributed to tier one water utilities and councils manifest by more than 40% market share in Victorian water utilities. Level 8, South Tower, 1-5 Railway St, CHATSWOOD NSW 1515 ph: 02 9904 7077 em: iedwards@openspatial.com.au web: www.openspatial.com.au
ORBIT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Established in 1994, Orbit Australia provides spatial information products and services. Orbit produces raw satellite imagery for various applications and GIS-ready imagery products, for government and private sector users. Orbit is committed to maintaining a partnership with our clients by delivering customised, high-quality solutions in an affordable and timely manner. 100 George St, PARRAMATTA NSW 2150 ph: +61 2 8005 4864 em: sales@orbitaustralia.com web: www.orbitaustralia.com
OUTLINE GLOBAL Outline Global are an industry leading provider of geospatial imagery and location based Artificial Intelligence. We specialise in custom captures leveraging our core technology the GTechTM camera pod system which is Australia’s first high resolution, survey grade portable camera pod. The flexibility of our system allows us be where you need us, when you need us to target specific capture times and targets. Applications of our products and services can be seen across mining, oil & gas, environmental projects, biosecurity, forestry, infrastructure and urban areas. Suite 7, 1014 Doncaster Rd, DONCASTER EAST VIC 3109 ph: 1300 945 216 em: hello@outlineglobal.com.au web: www.outlineglobal.com.au
PELICANCORP PelicanCorp is a niche provider of software and services to Utilities, Asset owners and to the Before You Dig industry specifically for the ‘Protection of Essential Infrastructure’. Our team has over 40 years experience working with Councils and Utilities to deliver improved management of Dial Before You Dig processes as well as Corridor Access and Works permitting and works collaboration. Level 2, 600 Victoria St, RICHMOND VIC 3121 ph: 03 8413 5200 em: anz.sales@pelicancorp.com web: www.pelicancorp.com
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suppliers’ index PERMUTO
RESOURCE & EXPLORATION MAPPING
Through our Information Transformation processes we gather what you have and provide direction and leadership on how you can better represent your business information. Our staff is some of the best in the industry. With over 20 years experience delivering quality solutions to customers across Australiasia. In our short time we have delivered services to both Commercial, Government and NFP clients. em: sales@permuto.com.au web: www.permuto.com.au
Resource & Exploration Mapping (REM) is a Geographic Information System (GIS) company servicing the mining, exploration and environmental industries globally. REM was formed in 1998 and has extensive experience and expert knowledge in GIS, providing responsive and reliable GIS consultancy services that exceed clients’ expectations. REM focus on data compilation and map production for (but not limited to) exploration, mining and environmental companies. Suite 8, 290 Boundary St, SPRING HILL QLD 4000 ph: 07 3832 1600 web: realserve.com.au
POSITION PARTNERS — SEE APTELLA POZI
RIECON PTY LTD
Pozi (formerly Groundtruth) enables organisations to use locationbased information to better engage customers and improve staff productivity. Pozi is a powerful map-based enquiry tool that brings together live data from internal and external authoritative sources. Level 7, 575 Bourke Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 ph: 03 9017 6850 web: pozi.com
Riecon is a multidisciplinary company in the AEC sector. We use a wide range of services to manage the reproduction of digital data sets of the built environment. Services we utilise for full spatial comprehension include, but are not limited to Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), terrestrial laser scanning, aerial LiDAR, photogrammetry concrete scanning and vibration monitoring. em: mail@riecon.com.au web: riecon.com.au
PRECISELY Precisely is a new company with a remarkable heritage. It formed when Syncsort and Pitney Bowes Software & Data combined, bringing together decades of experience and expertise in handling, processing and transforming data. Level 1, 68 Waterloo Rd, MACQUARIE PARK NSW 2113 em: locate.anz@precisely.com web: www.precisely.com
QLD SURVEY PEGS QSP QLD Survey Pegs (QSP) has been developing and manufacturing quality hardwood peg and smooth stake products for over three decades. Combining experience Ed Bowden and family members have had in the surveying, mining and construction industries they offer safer, quality products plus fast, reliable service. Many years of sourcing hardwood downfall from Australian timber mills has enabled QSP to build relationships with suppliers, ensuring continued supply of QSP Brand of pegs and smooth stakes. 36 Burrows St, WONDAI QLD 4606 ph: 07 4169 0585 web: www.qldsurveypegs.com.au
RAPID MAP SERVICES RapidMap has provided the following spatial data services to Local and State Government, utilities and private industry since 1994: Asset data capture including condition assessment and defect identification; GIS and desktop mapping, data analysis and data management; High accuracy GPS surveys; Compliance audits including DDA assessments and costs of reparatory works; Data auditing and cleansing. Suite 22, 2 Enterprise Dr, BUNDOORA VIC 3083 ph: 03 9466 5200 em: info@rapidmap.com.au web: www.rapidmap.com.au
REALSERVE AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND You can contact one of our 8 offices based in Australia and NZ to start confident on your next survey/scan/mapping project requirements. Suite 29, 6 Meridian Pl, BELLA VISTA NSW 2153 ph: 1800 961 668 em: sales@realserve.com.au web: www.realserve.com.au
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RIVERINA INSTITUTE TAFE The Spatial Information Services courses offered at Riverina Institute are tailored to anyone interested in the Spatial Information sector. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), we’re able to offer you state-of-the-art training that will launch you into a career in your chosen field. Whether you need to study from afar or prefer a blend of on-campus/distance education, our flexibility means you get to study in a way that suits you. web: www.rit.tafensw.edu.au/
RJ CONSULTING Geographic Information Systems, GIS, spatial, information management, documentation, metadata, training, quality assessment. ph: +61 414 898 035 em: rjconsult@outlook.com web: au.linkedin.com/in/rosscjohnson
RMIT UNIVERSITY RMIT University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education and outcome-oriented research. At RMIT University, we work closely with industry to provide up-to-date training in the real-world skills highly sought after in this growing field. Job opportunities in the surveying industry are abundant and employers all over the world are crying out for trained graduates in surveying. GPO Box 2476, MELBOURNE VIC 3001 ph: 03 9925 8359 em: thierry.demathieu@rmit.edu.au web: www.rmit.edu.au
RPS With one of Australia’s largest Surveying and Mapping teams, RPS uses state-of-the-art technology to capture, interpret and present the spatial data you rely upon. From high resolution point cloud scans to high-accuracy LiDAR and photogrammetric mapping, our specialists operate from 21 locations across metropolitan and regional Australia. RPS is a leading provider of spatial services for urban growth, infrastructure, energy, mining and natural resource management projects.
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743 Ann St, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 ph: 07 3237 8899 em: bill.farry@rpsgroup.com.au web: www.rpsgroup.com.au
RTK NETWEST ph: 9450 3590 em: geoff@rtknetwest.com.au web: www.rtknetwest.com.au
SBG SYSTEMS SBG Systems offers a complete line of inertial sensors based on the state of the art MEMS technology, such as Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Inertial Navigation Systems with embedded GPS (INS/GPS), etc. SBG Systems products are suitable for defense, industrial & research projects such as unmanned vehicle control, antenna tracking, camera stabilisation, and surveying applications. em: sales@sbg-systems.com web: www.sbg-systems.com
SCHLENCKER MAPPING Providers of 3D Mobile Laser scanning, point cloud analysis, feature and asset extraction and measurement of building floor levels. Photogrammetry, GIS, Imagery and LiDAR specialists. New highly portable Optech Maverick Mobile Laser Scanner now operational and available for hire. Unit 4/10 Depot St, BANYO QLD 4034 ph: 07 3256 9955 em: tye.s@schmap.com.au web: www.schmap.com.au
SOKKIA Sokkia is a world-leading manufacturer of precision measuring systems. Sokkia’s diverse product line provides complete measurement solutions for surveying, mapping and GIS, industrial measurement and construction applications. Sokkia provides turn-key solutions for surveyors worldwide. Sokkia Corporation markets Total Stations, Data Collectors, Digital Levels, and a full complement of field accessories through a nationwide distribution network. web: www.sokkia.com
SPACESIUM Spacesium is a web-based digital reality platform that allows for the integration of 3D survey data with custom API integrations. Our goal is to provide a wide selection of APIs that can be used to enhance your geospatial data. We are building the next generation of management systems for surveying equipment and data analysis. Our disruptive vision that takes surveying to the next level with high quality 3D tools, real-time data processing, and interactive maps with real-time analytics. 7 Avebury St, WEST END QLD 4110 ph: (07) 3211 9496 em: hongt@spacesium.com web: spacesium.com
SENDERO RESOURCES
SPATIAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS
Sendero Resources provides integral solutions on the Geospatial and Environmental consultancy industry. We are a highly trained and qualified interdisciplinary team committed to provide our clients with the best quality of products. em: alejandro.vega@senderoresources.com.au web: senderoresources.com.au
Spatial Business Systems Spatial Business Systems provides advanced software and services solutions to the utility and telco industry world wide. The company has an unparalleled combination of talent and software offerings to help companies leverage their investments in geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD). As a full-service provider, we provide solutions that range from management consulting to detailed technical delivery services. Suite 12, 799 Springvale Rd, VIC 3930 ph: 03 8555 2663 em: greghouse@spatialbiz.com web: www.spatialbiz.com
SIMPLE GIS SOFTWARE Provides lightweight but powerful GIS mapping software for Windows PCs, laptops, and tablets. Supports, creating, editing, and publishing of spatial data as well as geocoding, routing, GPS integration, and navigation support. Customize and extend through integrated scripting environment. web: simplegissoftware.com
SKYLINEGLOBE AUSTRALIA SkylineGlobe Australia Pty Ltd is the authorised reseller of Skyline Software Systems Enterprise 3D Visualisation suite in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Malaysia. With SkylineGlobe Enterprise Edition, you have all the software necessary to create, view, analyze, edit, and share 3D environments. This all-in-one solution provides a full Application Programming Interface (API) that enables you to customize, develop and deliver advanced solutions suited to you and your customers requirements. em: sbowd@skylinesoft.com web: www.skylinesoft.com
SPATIAL INTELLIGENCE Application developers, web developers and GIS consultants. Offering innovative solutions to meet client business requirements, and maintaining long term successful relationships through professional support and cost effectiveness. Developer of map enabled applications to provide powerful and efficient spatial business solutions. Suite 105, 11 Chandos St, ST LEONARDS NSW 2065 ph: 02 9438 4600 em: info@spatialintelligence.com.au web: www.spatialintelligence.com.au
SPATIAL SCIENTIFIC PTY. LTD. Spatial Scientific is the owner of the AeroScientific brand, a global leader in aerial camera control software (the Aviatrix flight management system) and FlightPlanner flight planning software. AeroScientific products are configured to work with large, medium and small format aerial cameras, mounted on both manned aircraft and UAVs. Spatial Scientific also provides remote sensing and airborne imaging solutions spanning a range of industries, such as agriculture, viticulture, and mining. www.spatialsource.com.au 63
suppliers’ index PO Box 520, BLACKWOOD SA 5051 ph: 0405 141 647 em: info@aerosci.info web: www.aerosci.info
1 Midland Square, WA 6936 ph: 08 9273 0787 em: spur@landgate.wa.gov.au web: www.spur.wa.gov.au
SPATIAL VISION Spatial Vision is a leading specialist in information and spatial technologies. Integrating geographic and organisational data, we provide business systems, advanced spatial analyses, reliable planning systems and practical mapping applications to address some of the country’s most pressing environmental, economic and resource issues. For more information, visit spatialvision.com.au Level 8, 575 Bourke St, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 ph: 03 9691 3000 em: info@spatialvision.com.au web: www.spatialvision.com.au
SPATIALISED Spatialised is a consultancy with deep experience creating innovation in field research, data services, and business thinking. A technical background in science logistics, field data collection, airborne LIDAR and image analysis, massive data wrangling and earth systems science gives Spatialised an ability to develop — full stack — projects — from planning observations to collecting data to delivering products. PO Box 210, BENAMBRA VIC 3900 ph: 427091712 em: adam@spatialised.net web: spatialised.net
SPECTERRA SERVICES The company’s primary focus is to design, develop and build optical instruments, processing systems and analysis tools for vegetation specific manned and unmanned airborne remote sensing projects. The output high resolution Digital Multi-Spectral Imagery is a powerful tool for mapping and monitoring vegetation status across intensive and extensive landscapes; working to improve the economic, agronomic, technical and environmental performance of landresource based projects. 4/643 Newcastle St, LEEDERVILLE WA 6007 ph: 08 9227 9644 em: info@specterra.com.au web: www.specterra.com.au
SPECTRA PRECISION Spectra Precision is a division of Trimble Navigation Limited and focuses on meeting the core needs of surveyors and field data collection specialists. The product family of Spectra Precision includes the following: - Optical Instruments - GNSS receivers - Survey Data collectors - Software - GIS mobile mapping systems. This includes the Spectra Precision, Nikon, Ashtech and SECO brands. Level 1, 120 Wickham Street, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4004 ph: 07 3216 0044 web: www.spectraprecision.com
SPUR, POWERED BY LANDGATE SPUR is a location technology hub, powered by Landgate with a proven track-record in innovation, ambitious to help your venture succeed. Whether you are from government or industry, a developer or start-up, a researcher or a business, SPUR brings together Landgate’s services in a fresh, dynamic way providing you with access to data, resources and key contacts, in the one place. We aim to nurture a pipeline of partnership, investment and support for emerging WA-based location technology businesses.
64 position December/January 2023-24
STEP GLOBAL Since 2006 we’e been supporting our customers through the supply of technology leading products. Initially it was just the resell of Trimble Navigation OEM products. Over the years we have expanded our product range to include suppliers such as GPSSource, Harxon, PCTel, MobileMark, iBase, CalAmp. At the same time, we have expanded our engineering capability in order to provide bespoke system level solutions to our customers. 1 Arco Lane, HEATHERTON VIC 3202 ph: +61 3 9551 7334 em: sales@stepglobal.com web: stepglobal.com
SUPERGEO TECHNOLOGIES SuperGeo Technologies Inc is a leading global provider of GIS software and solutions. Since its establishment, SuperGeo has dedicated itself to providing state-of-the-art geospatial technologies and comprehensive services for customers around the world. SuperGeo is the professional GIS vendor, providing GIS-related users with complete GIS solutions for desktop, mobile, server and Internet platforms. 5F, No. 71, Zhouzi Street, Taipei, 114, TAIWAN em: staff@supergeotek.com web: www.supergeotek.com
SURDEVEL PTY LTD SurDevel is a Surveying and Project Management firm who are experts in all types of Land information and Survey services. Our work covers most of NSW. Our latest services include integrated land titling (including eplan) and coordinated land information systems and project management, as well as our standard survey services. We provide professional services that are unique and cutting edge, utilising the latest technologies and management systems. 137 King Street, NEWCASTLE NSW 2300 ph: 02 4925 2556 em: survey@surdevel.com.au web: www.surdevel.com.au
SURVEY SOLUTIONS SURVEY SOLUTIONS supply a range of the latest GNSS receivers and 3D scanners. SOUTH GNSS has prices starting from A$9,000+GST. SOUTH is accurate and reliable with extensive reference sites all over NZ & Pacific. 3D scanners available include ARTEC, and GEOSLAM. Survey accessories can be ordered through our SHOPONLINE. Service, repair, training and technical support is available. We are surveyors with 25 years experience worldwide. Unit 3, 16 Curly McLeod Way, Mount Maunganui, HAMILTON 3175 ph: +64 7 262 2110 em: info@surveysolutions.co.nz web: www.surveysolutions.co.nz
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SURVEYING SA Want a profession that doesn’t box you in? Surveying and spatial science professionals work indoors and outdoors, travel the world using the latest technology and liaise with architects, engineers or developers - the variety is limitless. Lvl 7 West, Zurich House, 50 Grenfell St, ADELAIDE SA 5001 ph: 08 8212 0343 em: trysurveying@alifewithoutlimits.com.au web: www.alifewithoutlimits.com.au
SURVEYING TASK FORCE Want a profession that doesn’t box you in? Surveying and spatial science professionals work indoors and outdoors, travel the world using the latest technology, and liaise with architects, engineers or developers - the variety is limitless. Suite 204, 21 Bedford St, NORTH MELBOURNE VIC ph: 03 9326 8173 em: trysurveying@alifewithoutlimits.com.au web: www.alifewithoutlimits.com.au
TAYLORS Taylors have a team of over 160 professionals including town planners, urban designers, architects, landscape architects, civil engineers, licensed surveyors, field surveyors, draftspeople, project managers and development strategists. Having both Australian and international experience, our extensive network extends nationally through Victoria and Queensland, and to the Asia-Pacific region through New Zealand and Indonesia. We offer a unique integrated and seamless approach to consulting across four core businesses in Urban Development, Built Environments, Infrastructure and Engineering and Project Management. 8/270 Ferntree Gully Road, NOTTING HILL VIC 3168 ph: 03 9501 2800 em: n.pendlebury@taylorsds.com.au web: www.taylorsds.com.au
ph: 03 9290 7000 em: grant.young@tetratech.com web: www.tetratechcoffey.com
THE SPATIAL DISTILLERY CO. We help organisations focus on their core business while we distill the complex world of location intelligence and provide business ready software & data solutions. We are a Google Maps Premier Partner & MapInfo (Precisely) Strategic Partner. 425 Smith St, FITZROY VIC 3065 ph: +61 3 7014 0806 em: sales@spatialdistillery.com web: www.spatialdistillery.com
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT A growing population, urbanisation, loss of biodiversity, climate change and natural resource management are some of the biggest issues facing our world today and threatening our future. The School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management is at the forefront of tackling these issues through innovative research, worldclass teaching and our links with government and industry. University of Queensland , ST LUCIA QLD 4072 ph: 07 3365 6455 em: gpem@uq.edu.au web: www.gpem.uq.edu.au
THOMPSON SURVEYING CONSULTANTS Thompson Surveying Consultants are a leading provider of surveying services in the South West and greater Western Australian region. Survey House, 6/18 Casuarina Dr, BUNBURY WA 6231 ph: 08 9721 4000 em: info@thompsonsurveying.com.au web: www.thompsonsurveying.com.au
TELEDYNE OPTECH Optech develops, manufactures and supports advanced LiDAR and imaging-based survey instruments. With operations and staff worldwide, Optech offers both standalone and fully integrated LiDAR and digital camera solutions for airborne mapping, airborne laser bathymetry, mobile mapping, mine cavity monitoring and industrial process control, as well as space-proven sensors. web: www.teledyneoptech.com
TERRASCENE PTY LTD
TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS
TerraScene 360° image capture provides control when compared to uncontrolled, ever-changing, public streetviews and image services using low-resolution or poorly orthorectified products that are currently available online. PO Box 169, FRESHWATER QLD 4870 ph: 0416 967 260 em: info@TerraScene.com.au web: www.terrascene.com.au
Designs and manufactures precise positioning products and solutions for the global surveying, construction, agriculture, civil engineering, mapping and GIS, asset management and mobile control markets. Parent company, Topcon Corporation (Tokyo Stock Exchange - 7732), was founded in 1932. 7400 National Dr, LIVERMORE CA 94550 em: information-tps@topcon.com web: www.topconpositioning.com
TETRA TECH COFFEY
TOTAL HYDROGRAPHIC
Tetra Tech Coffey uses the latest tools to provide clients with the data intelligence and geospatial solutions they need to make more informed decisions about constraints, priorities, and risks on projects. Our geospatial team is stable and mature, having worked on over 1,000 GIS projects since forming in 2005. These GIS projects have ranged in timeframe from 1 month to 12 years and have required all combinations of geospatial, graphics and GIS services. Level 11, 2 Riverside Quay, SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
Total Hydrographic specialises in shallow water hydrographic surveying. We utilise many unique devices such as remote control vessels and amphibious survey vessels to capture data through the entire transition from land to water. Bathymetric surveys, Sonar, Beach monitoring, Dredging surveys and Hydrology surveys. 5 Driftwood Close, SEABROOK VIC 3028 em: tim@totalhydrographic.com.au web: www.totalhydrographic.com.au
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suppliers’ index TRIMBLE GEOSPATIAL
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Trimble is a leading provider of advanced positioning solutions. By integrating sensors, field applications, real-time communications, field and back-office processing, modeling, and analytics, Trimble Geospatial solutions facilitate a high quality, productive workflow and data exchange to drive efficiency, productivity, safety and value in organizations of all sizes. The result is rich accurate data that can be transformed into the intelligence you require to make informed decisions. web: www.trimble.com/geospatial
Teaching and research in surveying and geospatial engineering, with special emphasis on Earth Observation (Geodesy, Lidar, photogrammetry, optical and radar remote sensing), Navigation/ Positioning technology (GPS/GNSS, indoor positioning, multi-sensor integration, signal processing and receiver hardware design, Locata), Positioning Algorithms, Positioning Infrastructure studies (geodetic datum and CORS network design), and Space Systems Engineering (micro-satellite spacecraft and mission design) Surveying & Geospatial Engineering Group, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES NSW 2052 ph: 02 9385 4205 em: c.rizos@unsw.edu.au web: www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/civil-engineering/typesof-surveying-and-geospatial-engineering
TRIMBLE POSITIONING Trimble correction services provides reliable and accurate satellite delivered positioning technology throughout the world. Trimble is suitable for a wide range of applications and industries including agriculture, mining, mapping and GIS, survey, land administration, construction and defense. Our precise, accessible services help GNSS professionals in an ever-expanding range of industries to achieve new levels of accuracy and productivity. To find out more visit www. trimble.com/positioning-services. 1 Puccini Crt, STIRLING WA 6872 ph: 08 9322 5295 em: au_corrections@trimble.com web: www.trimble.com/positioning-services
UAS AUSTRALIA (UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS & UAS SURVEY GEAR) UAS are Country Distributors for CHC (RTK- GPS Base & Rover Packages) & Hydrographic boats and Tablet GIS solutions. Also Exclusive Distributors for SMART-PLANE (made in Sweden) survey and mapping end to end solution. Distributor for AgiSoft - Matashape for Education, Government and private practice. Level 5, 63 Pirie St, ADELAIDE SA 5000 ph: 08 8363 4111 em: sales@UAS-Australia.com.au web: www.UAS-australia.com.au
UDG Specialist provider of wide format printing equipment, software, consumables, and expert advice on GIS printing applications. Supplier to major government departments, and to Department of Defence [holder of NATO Commercial and Government Entity Code - Z0HA6]. Suite 4, 84 Church St, RICHMOND VIC 3121 ph: 03 9690 7888 em: sales@udg.com.au web: www.udg.com.au
UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS 326 Pacific Hwy, LINDFIELD NSW 2070 ph: 02 9416 5335 em: henry@universalinstruments.com.au web: www.universalinstruments.com.au
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QLD (USQ) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING We have developed a reputation as a leading provider of engineering and surveying programs across Australia and internationally. Our high quality, flexible delivery programs have seen us grow to become Australia’s leading provider of engineering and surveying programs to the workplace. Within our undergraduate and postgraduate programs you can specialise in GIS, Surveying or Urban and Regional Planning. West St, University of Southern Qld, TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350 ph: 07 4631 2525 em: jonesra@usq.edu.au web: www.usq.edu.au
UNSW - SCHOOL OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Teaching and research in surveying and geospatial engineering, with expertise in Optical and Radar Remote Sensing, Multi-GNSS and CORS, Datum Modernisation, Geodesy, UAVs, Hyper-spectral, Lidar, indoor positioning and sensor integration. Australia’s highest ranked school in remote sensing (ARWU), UNSW is a research intensive Go8 university producing leading undergrad and postgrad students. School of Civil and Enviro Engineering, UNSW SYDNEY EAST NSW 2052 ph: +61 2 9385 4464 em: c.roberts@unsw.edu.au web: www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/civil-engineering/
UPG (ULTIMATE POSITIONING GROUP) UPG brings innovative technology to the market including the most advanced GNSS, mobile mapping, 3D laser scanners, UAS, and total station solutions available to geospatial professionals. 33 Allison St, BOWEN HILLS QLD 4006 ph: 1800 800 874 em: qldoffice@upgsolutions.com web: www.upgsolutions.com
UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
VERIS
The Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics offers 3-year degrees in Environmental Science, IT, Science and Education. Within these degrees are undergraduate units in Geographic Information Systems. Standard entry requirements apply for all study at UC - see UC website at www.canberra.edu.au. Staff members also engage in academic research and consultancies on specific projects within their expertise in environmental science and ecology. Faculty of Education, Science, Technology & Maths, BRUNCE ACT 2617 ph: 02 6201 5650 em: george.cho@canberra.edu.au web: www.canberra.edu.au
Veris is a leading provider of spatial data services. With over 530 personnel and 18 office locations across Australia, we combine a national operating platform with local knowledge and expertise to ensure the best outcomes for our clients. We drive smarter decision-making and value through the power of spatial data. Our multi-disciplinary teams deliver end-to-end solutions across our Engineering Survey, Property Survey, Digital & Spatial, Planning & Urban Design service lines. Suite 4, First Floor, 40 Hasler Rd, OSBORNE PARK WA 6915 ph: 08 6241 3333 em: communications@veris.com.au web: www.veris.com.au/
66 position December/January 2023-24
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VEXCEL IMAGING
WALKER GEOSPATIAL
Developing cutting-edge digital aerial cameras, mobile mapping systems and photogrammetric software with innovative approaches beyond well-trodden paths together with constant product upgrades and a world-class support has made Vexcel Imaging one of the market leaders in this area. High-resolution aerial UltraCam imagery along with derivative 3D data products is being offered through the Vexcel Data Program (VDP), a cloud-based imagery service providing the most diverse image collection of its kind. web: www.vexcel-imaging.com
We provide consulting services to a diverse range of clients across Australia, including government organisations and businesses. We have the most up-to-date Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities, ensuring that we make full use of geographic information as a powerful tool to communicate and visualise location-based information and your business objectives. 68 Beatty Lane, YACKANDANDAH VIC 3749 ph: 0429 350 103 em: info@walkergeospatial.com.au web: walkergeospatial.com.au
VISION COMMUNICATORS Offering specialist, high resolution, vertical and oblique aerial imagery for all GIS applications; also terrestial imagery using equipment that elevates the remote camera to 12 metres. Australia-wide operation; no job too small. Pro-video also acquired with or without geo locations. All projects guaranteed as fit for purpose. 28 Kensington Ave, DUBO NSW 2830 em: visionco@bigpond.net.au web: www.visioncommunicators.com.au
VISIONMAP Founded in 2004, VisionMap is a leading manufacturer of state-ofthe-art digital automatic airborne mapping systems VisionMap’s innovative data acquisition and automatic image processing systems optimize mapping work, setting a new standard for productivity in the geospatial data industry. em: info@visionmap.com web: www.visionmap.com
VIZMAP Providing computer based, interactive, real time, 3D visualisation of accurate geographic data. A visualisation/simulation (Vis/ Sim) database allows clients to interactively fly�through a geographical environment. Create visualisations with entities that move, walk, change state, burn, crash and even explode; dedicated Defence-accredited simulation software is used to produce visualisations. 2/167 Bradman Ave, MAROOCHYDORE QLD 4557 ph: 07 5309 6417 em: info@vizmap.com.au web: www.vizmap.com.au
VW MAPS PTY LTD Our work appears in print, on the web, in videos and on 3-dimensional models. Among our clients are publishers such as National Geographic, Penguin and Melbourne University Publishing; government organisations such as City of Port Phillip, Wine Australia and the Consulate of Switzerland in Melbourne; businesses such as real estate companies Elders and CBRE and numerous wineries and wine associations; and not-for-profits such as the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. 3 Younger Court, KEW VIC 3101 ph: 0424 127 492 em: mvw@vwmaps.com web: www.vwmaps.com
WATER TECHNOLOGY A specialist consultancy offering GIS and remote sensing services supporting our leading skills in coastal, water resources and natural resource management. Our team delivers spatial information services with a focus on GIS data creation, analysis and mapping for flood studies, coastal hazard and sea level rise risk assessments and ecological studies. Our key staff have developed high quality spatial products for national, state and regional projects with success. 15 Business Park Dr, NOTTING HILL VIC ph: 03 8526 0800 em: georgina.race@watech.com.au web: www.watech.com.au
WHEREIS MAPS At WhereIS Maps, we realise that people want a selection of navigation tools to suit a variety of needs. New technologies don’t replace old ones, they complement them, giving us even more control over how we get around. That is why WhereIS has developed an entire range of digital mapping products that can be used across every medium. From the web, mobile and smart phones, to in-car and portable GPS systems - not to forget our specialised products for business and government. Level 5, 175 Liverpool Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000 ph: 83122207 em: b2bsales@locationavigation.com.au web: www.whereismaps.com/business-solutions.aspx
WYSIWYG 3D PTY LTD Wysiwyg 3D is a leading 3D laser scanning service provider. Founded in 2003 our multi disciplinary firm comprises both professional engineers and surveyors with a wealth of experience in all aspects of 3D laser scanning, 3D Measurement and 3D Inspection services. Our range of laser scanning technologies are a combination of both laser and structured light scanners including portable co-ordinate measuring machines (CMM’s) to our terrestrial scanners and vehicle mounted scanning systems. 1/22-24 Norman St, PEAKHURST NSW 2210 ph: 0408 367 549 em: leanne@wysiwyg3d.com.au web: www.wysiwyg3d.com.au
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