Position 127 October-November 2023

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Push the boundaries of 3D laser scanning with powerful in-field automated registration, on-the-fly measurements, and annotations. Trimble® 3D laser scanning systems enable you to visualise and verify your projects before leaving the site, so you can capture complex real-world data with the confidence of getting it right the first time.

Nearly 233,000 ha have been updated in Queensland.

Faster fixes for Galileo users

Users of the Galileo constellation can now obtain first position fixes up to three times faster than before, depending on location, thanks to an improved ‘I/NAV’ navigation message that is better at correcting decoding errors and recovering lost data. In addition, receivers have faster access to the ultra-precise Galileo System Time without the need to decode the entire navigation message.

The improved I/NAV message was first demonstrated on the two most recently launched (December 2021) Galileo satellites. Prior to the launch, ESA — in cooperation with the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), and the European Commission’s Joint Research Center — tested the new elements in the I/NAV message to ensure they would be backward compatible with legacy receivers. Tests of a wide variety of commercial Galileo receivers showed that there was no negative impact.

The European Space Agency (ESA) subsequently used its Galileo Time and Geodetic Validation Facility (a global network of monitoring stations) to show

that all broadcast data are correct, and the as-measured performance is aligned to targets set in the design phase. And following the satellites deployment, ESA’s Navigation Laboratory drove two Telecommunications and Navigation Testbed Vehicles through the Dutch countryside and the centre of Rotterdam to test the performance improvements in rural and urban environments.

“The Galileo signals do provide the world’s most precise accuracy, down to decimetre-scale precision,” said Stefan Wallner, head of ESA’s Galileo G1 Signal in Space Engineering Unit.

“In order to benefit from the excellent accuracy of the Galileo system, the user has also to retrieve the corresponding navigation message from the Galileo signal even in challenging user environments — so the faster the better. In the Galileo navigation message, there was sufficient spare data capacity available to address this improvement.”

EUSPA has upgraded all in-service Galileo FOC satellites to broadcast the enhanced I/NAV message. n

Upcoming Events

12–13 October: SmartSat CRC Conference smartsatcrc.com

13 October: WAIS Mini-Conference and AGM surveyorswa.org.au

17–18 October: Southern Space 2023 geosmartindia.net

20 October: Queensland Geospatial Conference & Awards Dinner geospatialcouncil.org.au

23–24 October: Indo-Pacific Space & Earth Conference spaceandearthconference.com

26–28 October: CSA of NSW October Conference countrysurveyors.com.au

27 October: SA Geospatial Excellence Awards geospatialcouncil.org.au

7–10 November: Map the Gaps Symposium 2023 mapthegaps.org/symposium-2023

15 November: WA Digital Twin Summit & APSEA-WA geospatialcouncil.org.au

16 November: 2023 ACT Geospatial Conference & Awards geospatialcouncil.org.au

6 December: 16th Australian Space Forum forum.andythomas.foundation

9–11 January 2024: GeBIZ Summit geobuiz.com/summit-2024

7–9 February 2024: IGNSS 2024 ignss.org.au/ignss2024

6–7 March 2024: Geo Connect Asia 2024 geoconnectasia.com

18–20 March 2024: APAS2024 Conference apas.org.au

7–9 May 2024: Locate24 Conference locateconference.com

13–16 May 2024: Geospatial World Forum 2024 geospatialworldforum.org

22–25 October 2024: ISPRS Technical Commission IV 2024 Symposium geospatialcouncil.org.au

For more events, go to www. spatialsource.com.au/event-listing

ESA’s four wheel-drive test vehicle.

Image courtesy ESA/G. Porter.

ESA’s Telecommunications and Navigation Testbed Vehicle carries antennae, computers, a rubidium atomic clock and other specialised equipment.

Image courtesy ESA/Anneke Le Floc'h.

Mapping the future of infrastructure with INS

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In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, precision is no longer just a luxury — it’s an absolute necessity. From navigating the intricate labyrinth of underground sewers to inspecting towering power transmission structures and detecting hidden defects on buildings, accuracy is the key that unlocks progress. In this pursuit of precision, inertial navigation systems (INS), tightly coupled with GNSS, emerge as unsung heroes, empowering drones to create comprehensive ‘as-built’ digital twins of both the visible and the concealed world around us.

Leading this transformation is RapidMap, armed with its groundbreaking 360 Mobile Mapping technology enriched by cutting-edge Applanix inertial measurement unit (IMU) equipment. In a collaborative partnership with Advanced Navigation, a pioneer in providing precise inertial navigation in complex urban environments, RapidMap is rewriting the rulebook for large-scale road maintenance.

IMUs calculate from a known position, through a method called dead reckoning, the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object, all without relying on external references such as GNSS signals. While GNSS provides a starting location

as a precise coordinate, typically each second, the IMU is updating the location in multiple dimensions from 20 to 200 times per second.

RapidMap’s core mission revolves around the digitisation of asset infrastructure for life cycle management, paving the way for sustainability and enhanced efficiency. Its innovative Road 360 Mobile Mapping intelligence platform empowers asset engineers to verify the condition of infrastructure and the status of the environment (e.g. following bushfires or other natural disasters), while revolutionising road inspections to increase safety and significantly reducing costs. With scalability at its core, its adaptability enables seamless coverage of local road networks, bustling urban landscapes, and even entire states or nations.

Traditional methods for assessing road conditions relied on visual inspections and reactionary responses to complaints — a sluggish and labour-intensive process. Recognising this, RapidMap embarked on a mission to reshape the status quo using 360 Mobile Mapping, GNSS, INS and AI. Its innovative ‘road network intelligence’ solution operates on a ‘road survey as a service’ model, billing clients based on the

volume of road surveyed. The system adapts to various vehicle types, deploying them to traverse designated routes, much like traditional land-based mapping.

The meticulously processed 360 Mobile Mapping imagery, enhanced by AI algorithms, facilitates automatic identification of points of interest, yielding a readily accessible dataset for clients. 360 Mobile Mapping and 3D map data simplifies visual identification, using colour-coded metrics to spotlight issues such as cracks, potholes, lane markings, signage and barriers. Measurement data assists in creating accurate spatial records of assets or defects while evaluating severity, prioritising repairs and estimating the necessary materials, equipment and labour.

In achieving all this, RapidMap’s primary challenge lay in maintaining navigational precision and timing, especially in dynamic and intricate urban environments. While GNSS excels in open areas, it falters in locations with obstructed satellite visibility, such as cities riddled with towering structures and tunnels.

RapidMap needed an INS capable of withstanding the rigours of vehicle mounting, navigating challenging terrains, accommodating high-speed travel and delivering pinpoint accuracy. This is where Applanix IMU equipment entered the picture, elevating spatial accuracy, surmounting the obstacles posed by urban environments and providing unparalleled precision in spatial data capture of imagery, sensor data or LiDAR. n

Creating street views for preand post-disaster mapping, defect recognition and vegetation surveillance.

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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

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Land and sky — inextricably linked

This year marks 50 years since formal approval was given by the US government for civilian use of GPS. Initially intended solely for US military use, it has, of course, been adopted by just about everyone on the planet. Thanks to the steady advance of science and technology, we now have several decades of civilian application of GPS and its sibling systems under our belt… usage that has changed many sectors of society for the better and spurred the development of whole new industries. We have become almost fully reliant on GNSS, with its satellites circling the planet in their silent orbits, to provide us with the extraordinary precision we now expect and demand when navigating, surveying and mapping.

This modern dependency on artificial Earth satellites for positioning, navigation, timing, Earth observation and communication, reminds us that the land and the sky have been inextricably linked throughout human history. Observation of the apparent daily and annual movement of the stars, as well as study of the seasons, drove our adoption of various timekeeping methods, while measurement of stellar positions gave us the ability to judge latitude. Combining the two gave us the ability to fix our position anywhere on Earth with ever-increasing precision. And today, VLBI observations of distant stellar objects — so far away that they are effectively changeless — give us the ultimate reference frame.

Yet this link between the terrestrial and the celestial is, for most people, invisible — they go about their days oblivious to the ‘background’ technologies that help locate and build their homes and roads, map their forests and fishing grounds, and direct the supermarket delivery driver or ambulance officer to the correct destination. But that’s the way of the modern world — we rely upon professionals who practice their skills within a multitude of critical infrastructure sectors, including the space and spatial sectors. We should be proud that Australia has more than its fair share of such dedicated professionals working at the forefront of the geospatial realm, helping to make our nation and the wider world, a better place in which to live.

Jonathan Nally Editor

The Intermedia Group takes its 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.

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2023–24 — Issue 128

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SpatialSource, Interpoint Events and The Intermedia Group acknowledge 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.

NSW Gravity Model now 90% complete

The Live NSW NSW Gravity Model has reached the 90% data capture point, and preliminary data has been made publicly available via the Geological Survey of NSW’s MinView online portal.

The NSW Gravity Model aims to provide a consistent high-quality, high-density dataset of measurements, comprising two-kilometre spacings across the whole state — around 800,000 square kilometres — and out to 50 kilometres off the coast.

Capture of the data is being funded by the NSW Government through the Digital Restart Fund as part of the Live NSW Spatial Digital Twin program. The purpose of the new dataset is to assist and improve:

• Exploration and management of groundwater stores

• Earthquake hazard detection

• Inform land use decision making

• Bushfire and natural disaster recovery efforts

• Large infrastructure projects

• Property, construction, agriculture, mining & surveying, and

• Flood mapping

According to Spatial Services, “The gravity data captured from this project will be used to create a much-improved NSW quasi-geoid model an essential part in determining ‘real-world heights’ using GNSS positioning (including GPS).”

“This model will form one of the critical building blocks for an accurate

and reliable foundation upon which current and future 3D and 4D digital twins can be built.”

The data is being captured in five stages, using an aircraft equipped with an airborne gravity sensor. The survey is being accomplished with the support and expertise of the Geological Survey of NSW (Department of Regional NSW) and Geoscience Australia.

Victoria’s alpine regions LiDAR scanned

Aerial LiDAR technology has been used to capture data to generate a 1-metre-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of parts of Victoria’s Alpine and Mt Buffalo National Parks, including Mt Buffalo, Mt Feathertop and the Razorback. The data was acquired by the Coordinated Imagery Program within Vicmap Spatial Services on behalf of Parks Victoria and will be used to optimise the design of hiking trails.

The data will show where water will flow over the terrain surface during high rainfall periods and thereby help to identify areas that are likely to flood or hold water. The DEM data will also assist in identification of areas that need drainage controls to mitigate erosion, as well as supporting emergency planning

and management. Having such highly accurate data means that the number of field trips can be reduced, thereby improving worker safety and reducing disruption to the sensitive environment.

As well as the overall terrain, the LiDAR scans also captured some iconic huts, such as the oldest surviving hut in the Victorian Alps, Wallace Hut, built in 1889.

The new data will be added to the Vicmap LiDAR Point Cloud and Vicmap DEM Collections — both of which can be accessed through the Coordinated Imagery Program — as well as being incorporated into the forthcoming Vicmap 1m DEM, planned for release in late 2023.

The NSW Gravity Model survey is being conducted in five stages, with 90% of data capture now complete.

A LiDAR-derived image of Mount Buffalo and The Horn.

Australian miner shifting to autonomous road trains

Australian mining company, Mineral Resources (MinRes), has chosen Hexagon to provide an autonomous haulage solution for a fleet of 120 fully autonomous road trains at its Onslow Iron project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The core of the autonomous platooning system will be Hexagon’s autonomous solutions stack integrating drive-by-wire technology, with an autonomous management system to orchestrate vehicle movement in road train haulage.

According to Hexagon, the autonomy solution includes a GNSS localisation system through a NovAtel PwrPak7D-E2 with OEM7 dual receivers and TerraStar-C PRO Correction Service. The PwrPak7D-E2 incorporates SPAN GNSS+INS technology that couples inertial measurements from an internal Epson G320N MEMS IMU with satellite measurements. The TerraStar-C PRO can achieve a 2.5cm-level accuracy with convergence in as fast as three minutes across a satellite or Internet network.

“We’re excited to announce our agreement with Hexagon to deliver

Latest DEA Coastlines shoreline data released

The latest release of Digital Earth Australia (DEA) Coastlines shoreline data brings the available dataset up to the year 2022.

DEA Coastlines takes satellite data and combines it with tidal modelling to map the typical location of the Australian coastline at mean sea level, year by year for every year since 1988. The result is a representation of the national shoreline along with detailed rates of change that reveal how beaches, sandspits, river mouths and tidal flats have changed over time.

The updated version of DEA Coastlines includes 2022 continental-wide data and builds on the Coastlines 2.0 release, which incorporated data for several offshore islands and exposed reefs that had not been covered in previous releases.

As of earlier this year, Landsat 9 data has been and will continue to be added to DEA Coastlines to provide imagery from 2022 onwards, with annual dataset updates expected to be released in July each year.

the world’s first fleet of autonomous road trains, which will be an essential part of Onslow Iron’s safe, efficient and dust-free solution for hauling ore,” said Mike Grey, Chief Executive, MinRes. “Automation will remove the risk of driver fatigue, lower operating costs and reduce fuel use and emissions. There’s enormous potential for these vehicles to transform mining across the world.”

“I’m excited to see how similar solutions can be applied in other off-road markets such as agriculture and heavy industry,” added Paolo Guglielmini, President and CEO, Hexagon.

New printable GEBCO world ocean maps released

A new release of the GEBCO world map is now available, showing global bathymetry in the form of shaded relief for the world’s oceans. The map, which is based on the 2022 release of the GEBCO grid and is supplied as very high-resolution downloadable files, has been released on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the initiation of the GEBCO chart series.

Three versions are available: in standard projection centred on 90 degrees west or 150 degrees east, and a Spilhaus projection. The two main versions are suitable for printing at A0 size.

Also available are downloadable versions of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) and International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) V2.

The IBCAO initiative aims to develop a digital database containing all available bathymetric data north of 64° north, while the aim of IBCSO is to gain better knowledge of the sea floor topography in the Southern Ocean by collecting and compiling bathymetric data from hydrographic offices, scientific institutions and data centres to produce the first regional digital bathymetric model that covers all circum-Antarctic waters.

DEA Coastlines reveals the northward sand movement over time at Cervantes, WA. Source: DEA Coastlines.

South Australia to develop new career pathways

A new pathway to get more South Australian students into built-environment careers such as surveying, will be developed under a key agreement reached between the education and builtenvironment sectors.

The agreement outlines out how students from preschool to high school, will be able to acquire the training and skills needed to become surveyors, planners, architects, property valuers, conveyancers and designers.

South Australia’s Department for Education will work with state government built-environment experts to build on relevant curriculum such as geography, design and technology, as well as looking at ways for students to obtain first-hand industry experience.

“This partnership will immerse students into the world of the built environment professions, providing real world applications to their learnings,” said South Australia’s Surveyor-General, Bradley Slape.

Key foci of the endeavour include:

• Developing student understanding of built environment career opportunities and tertiary education requirements.

• Increasing access to built environment-based teaching and learning activities and resources.

• Establishing work experience, professional engagement and trainee programs.

An industry group — established to bring together stakeholders to build the study pathways and deal with the skills shortage — will collaborate on the agreement.

The industry group’s advocacy was an essential factor in Flinders University’s decision to introduce a new Bachelor of Surveying from next year (see page 13), as well as TAFE SA expanding its tertiary options with a new planning diploma.

Canberra commits $42m for free G-NAF

The federal government has signed a contract extension with Geoscape Australia and committed $42.4 million to ensure G-NAF data remains freely available until mid-2029. The G-NAF dataset of more than 15 million addresses is freely available and updated every three months.

A 2022 study by Lateral Economics estimated that open G-NAF would provide $1.4 billion in economic benefit to the Australian community over 15 years.

G-NAF is managed by Geoscape, a company owned by Australia’s federal, state and territory governments. Geoscape has been creating location datasets for government since 2001; the G-NAF data was first made public in 2015.

G-NAF data has been used and continues to be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

• helping emergency services locate building access points

• validating addresses for online forms

• optimising Australia Post delivery routes

• managing border crossings during COVID-19

• infrastructure and land use planning

• helping banks and insurers assess property risk

• improving the quality of Census data

• helping the Australian Electoral Commission manage the electoral roll.

OGC to form space standards group

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has announced its intention to form a Space Standards Domain Working Group (DWG). According to the OGC, the aim of the DWG will be to “serve as a forum to identify requirements for standardisation that are unique to the Space Domain, identify any organisations that may be addressing those requirements, and promote harmonisation and integration of shared concepts across all Space Standards”.

The OGC says that the space domain is currently “composed of a wide collection of initiatives, each addressing one part of the whole, and each developing their own standards and conventions,” adding that attempts to “harmonise across these initiatives are limited, and there remains no common concept of ‘space standards’.”

The Consortium says that, while it can’t solve the entire problem, it can “make sure that the concepts of space and time are consistent and interoperable across the domain” and identify emerging space domain standards that may influence OGC standards and encourage the affected OGC SWGs and DWGs to take action.

Australian, UK space partners’ funding boost

The UK Space Agency has announced the first recipients of the first phase of its £20 million International Bilateral Fund, helping them to forge R&D partnerships with organisations in other countries, including Australia.

The collaborations involving Australian partners — each of which will receive up to £75,000 of the initial £2.1 million investment — are:

• University of Glasgow (UK) and the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth Consortium (Australia) — Development of a novel approach to lunar regolith sampling.

• University of Exeter (UK), University of Leicester (UK) and an international coalition across the USA, Japan, Canada and Australia — Development of fluorescent deep space petri pods.

• Deimos Space (UK), SJE Space (UK), Silentium Defence Trading (Australia) and Exa Research (USA) — Complementary use of different sensing technologies to increase coverage.

• Telespazio UK (UK), Symbios Communications (Australia) and National Physical Laboratory (Australia) — Developing a new quality assurance platform for Earth observation data.

• Vertical Future (UK), University of Cambridge (UK), University of Adelaide (Australia), Axiom Space (USA) and Saber Astronautics (Australia and USA) — Autonomous agriculture to support space exploration.

• Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (UK), Assimilia (UK), RALSpace (UK), CSIRO Space and Astronomy (Australia) and Smartsat CRC (Australia) — Creation of an integrated ground-

©stock.adobe.com/au/Oleksii

to-space national water quality monitoring system.

• Assimila Biosecurity (UK), Cervantes Agritech (Australia) and CABI (Australia) — Using Earth Observation, climate and weather data to predict and manage biosecurity risks.

• D-Orbit (UK) and High Earth Orbit Robotics (Australia) — Responsive in-orbit inspection service.

“Working with other space agencies and organisations across the globe through our International Bilateral Fund allows us to draw on skills that enhance our homegrown expertise and capabilities, drive up investment in the UK, and support world-class science and discovery,” said Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.

Energy Queensland selects geospatial solution

Energy Queensland has awarded a three-year contract to Fugro for the provision of its ROAMES solution for the identification and reporting of conductor clearance (minimum legislated distance between conductors to ground or structures) for overhead powerlines.

The ROAMES solution will use LiDAR and aerial data capture to gather geospatial data to efficiently manage the critical overhead safety clearances.

“Fugro ROAMES’ solution has proven to be efficient in the provision of survey services for Energy Queensland’s network, which is critical in managing such an important safety risk for our customers,” said Carmelo Noel, General Manager Asset Standards for Energy Queensland. “We look forward to utilising their expertise to drive operational efficiency and deliver value to our stakeholders, communities and customers.”

Energy Queensland, through its network businesses Ergon Energy Network and Energex, serves approximately 2.3 million households across the state.

techrentals

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NOAA removes restrictive EO licence conditions

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) office — a division of the Office of Space Commerce — has announced a modification of operating licenses of multiple commercial satellite systems, which previously had been prevented licensees from offering their full remote sensing capabilities to the public.

“This action cuts out significant red tape in private remote sensing systems regulation and keeps with the Department’s commitment to accelerate U.S. leadership in the fast-growing commercial space industry,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.

Under the new regulatory approach, operating conditions on completely unique capabilities may only be retained for up to three years — giving the government time to develop mitigations. Conditions can only be extended beyond three years if the US Secretary of Defense or Secretary of State personally requests and justifies such an extension.

On July 19, 2023, the first set of ‘Tier 3’ conditions — imposed on the US’ most capable commercial remote sensing systems — permanently expired. NOAA modified the licenses of its Tier 3 licensees to remove 39 individual temporary conditions.

Other changes include: a reduction of global imaging restrictions for certain imaging modes to permit imaging and distribution for all but less than 1% of the Earth’s surface; removal of some Non-Earth Imaging & Rapid Revisit conditions; and most notably, a removal of all current X-Band synthetic aperture radar temporary conditions.

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IBM geospatial model on open AI platform

IBM’s watsonx.ai geospatial foundation model — built from NASA satellite data — is now openly available on open-source AI platform Hugging Face. According to IBM, this will be the largest geospatial foundation model available on Hugging Face and the first-ever open-source AI foundation model built in collaboration with NASA.

The model — trained jointly by IBM and NASA on Harmonised Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) satellite data over one year across the continental United States, and fine-tuned on labelled data for flood and burn scar mapping — has demonstrated to date a 15% improvement over state-of-the-art techniques using half as much labelled data.

With additional fine tuning, the base model can be redeployed for tasks like tracking deforestation, predicting crop yields, or detecting and monitoring greenhouse gasses. IBM and NASA researchers are also working with Clark University to adapt the model for applications such as time-series segmentation and similarity research.

“AI remains a science-driven field, and science can only progress through information sharing and collaboration,” said Jeff Boudier, head of product and growth at Hugging Face. “This is why opensource AI and the open release of models and datasets are so fundamental to the continued progress of AI, and making sure the technology will benefit as many people as possible.”

“We believe that foundation models have the potential to change the way observational data is analysed and help us to better understand our planet,” said Kevin Murphy, Chief Science Data Officer, NASA. “And by open sourcing such models and making them available to the world, we hope to multiply their impact.”

Canberra selects ICEYE for disaster data

The federal government has selected ICEYE to supply flood and bushfire hazard data for all states and territories across the country. The announcement expands on the existing relationship between ICEYE and the federal government, which has been using ICEYE’s Flood Insights product since October 2022 to support response and recovery activities across more than 30 agencies at both state and federal level.

During that period, ICEYE analysed eight major floods. To date, the company has analysed 18 large-scale flood events across Australia.

ICEYE can deliver flood and bushfire insights in near real-time via its own constellation of more than 25 synthetic aperture radar satellites.

“Understanding the true impact of floods and bushfires quickly, can transform response and improve recovery outcomes for survivors,” said Gary Wood, Government Solutions, Asia Pacific, ICEYE. “This partnership is about bringing that transformation to federal, state, and territory level agencies across Australia.”

ICEYE’s flood and bushfire data will be made available to agencies via ArcGIS.

NASA

SA’s surveyor schooling shortage solved

A new degree course at Flinders University will see surveyors continue to be trained in South Australia.

The problem of how to train the next generation of South Australian surveyors, after the existing university course in South Australia stopped taking new students in mid-2022, has been solved with the introduction of a new course at Flinders University.

Students will be able to apply to undertake study at Flinders via a new Bachelor of Surveying (B.Surv), which will be part of a four-year degree within the Bachelor of Geospatial Information Systems (B.GIS).

The B.GIS-B.Surv will be available from 2024, meaning first year B.GIS students in 2023 will be able transfer to the second year of the double degree next year. Applications are now open via SATAC.

The degree will result in students attaining the necessary skills to go on to become Licenced Surveyors. Importantly, it will also enable them to study in South Australia rather than being forced to go interstate.

“The establishment of this new degree by Flinders University is critical to the longevity of the surveying profession both locally and nationally,” said SurveyorGeneral of South Australia, Bradley Slape.

“The skills shortage we are facing will directly impact our capacity to service infrastructure projects and the property needs of South Australians. Flinders University will be delivering a degree that safeguards a pipeline of talent and built environment professionals.”

The new course is a result of the work of the South Australia Government’s Built Environment Education Liaison Group (BEELG), which brings together key stakeholders to build study pathways and support industry growth.

It follows strong advocacy from the Surveyor General, the Surveyor’s Board of South Australia and the wider

industry to train local talent to address a skills shortage in builtenvironment roles.

“Flinders University recognises that addressing the workforce shortage in surveying — an area of critical need — is vital to our state’s ability to grow and prosper and find solutions to the issues around housing shortages,” said Flinders University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Stirling.

“We’re committed to supporting the state government’s vision for a locally developed highly skilled workforce to deliver complex outcomes in sustainable planning.”

BEELG has also overseen the expansion of additional tertiary options with the establishment of a new planning diploma at TAFE SA, designed to bridge the skills gap and fill entry-level vacancies, particularly in regional councils.

Strong demand saw all available places in the new planning course’s first intake quickly filled, enabling students to become para-planners and find work within local government.

In addition, UniSA has worked with the state government to introduce a new grant program to support its existing Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree.

The grant, valued at $10,000, will be allocated to the tuition fees of five undergraduate students who intend to enrol in the master’s degree. n

SA Minister for Planning Nick Champion (back, third from right) and Surveyor General of SA Bradley Slape (back, second from right) visited Flinders University to launch the new double degree.

GIS student Elijah Rieger, left, with Flinders University lecturers Dr Tessa Lane and Associate Professor David Bruce.

Locate before you dig

A highly affordable GNSS receiver has become a game-changer for those in the utility location business.

Ben Minutoli is a busy man. As a certified locator and proprietor of Geelong Cable Locations in Victoria, he spends his days doing underground detective work — hunting for buried pipes, wires and other subterranean services. With clients ranging in size from individual households to surveying and infrastructure companies, he’s seen it all when it comes to locating below-ground features.

And it’s important work. Preventing underground electrical cable strikes and pipeline ruptures is crucial, not only for the cost of the damage that can be caused, but also for the safety of workers. That’s why Before You Dig Australia (formerly Dial Before You Dig) fields around 2 million requests for information annually. That’s a lot of digging going on across the country.

It’s why locators such as Ben play such a vital role. Equipped with a ground penetrating radar (GPR) unit, he can scan the ground and see what’s underneath the surface.

“I’ve been doing it for a bit over 20 years now and I love it. I absolutely love what I do,” says Ben.

Traditionally, Ben would paint marks and lines on the ground to indicate where those services are. Then he would have to determine the precise position of those

marks and translate them onto a plan or diagram. Then along came GPS. Ben’s first GPS unit years ago cost $21,000 (for a bottom-of-the-range device) and was very old school. “It had 100-millimetre accuracy when it was working at its best, but most times you would struggle to get that,” says Ben.

Enter Emlid

What’s changed over the last few years is the availability of newer, affordable surveygrade GNSS receivers from Emlid. Emlid receivers are ground-breaking, not just for their affordable pricing but also for their open and flexible approach to working with other equipment and software.

“Receivers like the Reach RS2+ are fantastic in terms of value for money,” says Ben. “The quality you get with Emlid — years ago you would have had to pay $50,000 for. The Emlid Reach RS2+ that I have is under $4,000, and, depending on your requirements, other models such as the Reach RX are even more affordable and compact.”

The flexibility of Emlid receivers enables phones or tablets to be used as survey controllers. They integrate well with other systems, outputting precise positioning to third-party devices such as GPR units

Emlid Reach RS2+

Type: RTK GNSS receiver

Multi-band: GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo

Fix: Survey accuracy up to 60 km in RTK, 100 km in PPK

Storage: 16 GB (160+ days logging at 1 Hz)

LTE: Built-in, with 2G/3G fallback

Battery: Up to 22 hours data logging on one charge; up to 16 hours as an LTE rover

using an NMEA string via Bluetooth or serial cable.

Another Emlid user, Anthony Johnstone from pipe and cable locator equipment company Access Detection, sums it up: “Reliable coupling of survey-grade positioning from Emlid receivers into Impulse Radar GPR units, automates precise positioning of GPR logs and drives productivity and precision improvements for us and our customers”.

“Underground service locators are often single-person operations who don’t have deep pockets and can’t invest time in adopting a complex technical solution,” says Alistair Hart, general manager of Map Gear. “Emlid’s Reach family of GNSS receivers are an ideal solution for them. Emlid provides survey accurate positioning with flexible software and simple connectivity — there aren’t even any cables. Just switch it on and off you go.”

Simplified workflow

Another major advantage of the Emlid system is the mobile mapping app, Emlid Flow, which works with iOS and Android devices. Unlike some other manufacturers, who essentially force users to adopt their company’s software, Emlid users are quite at liberty to use other software. But that’s not necessary, according to Ben; Emlid Flow is all he needs.

“What I like about Emlid Flow is how simple it is to use, so user friendly and straightforward,” says Ben. “I can literally

walk along the job site and I’ll pick up all the stuff that I’ve located and then export it into CAD. And then I get an aerial image of the site and I’ll import that into the CAD plan and that’s it.”

“I should clarify that we’re not surveyors; I make it very clear to customers that we are not surveyors,” adds Ben. “Back before we had GPS, you’d use a pen and pad, tape measure it all up and come back to the office and draw it all up into CAD. It just took forever. It was slow, it was awkward; I hated it. But that’s what we did because we weren’t surveyors and I couldn’t afford total stations, and a lot of times customers didn’t want to pay for a surveyor to come on site.”

Alistair agrees that the industry needs to open its eyes to possibilities of affordable technologies such as the Emlid Reach family of receivers and hopes to see more locators and contractors moving away from older practices. “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen articles talking about spray-painted survey marks on the ground,” he said. “What happens when the paint is no longer visible — why isn’t all this stuff digital?”

Man on a mission

According to Ben, the RS2+ is so user friendly that even plumbers and electricians should be using it when installing underground electrical cables and pipes. “A lot of these guys have to submit plans to relevant authorities anyway. So we actually do it for a few electricians — they call us out and get us to map where the lines are so that they can then get their compliance.”

As for locators, in Ben’s view every certified locator in Australia should be using the RS2+.

“They can have the higher end stuff, but why? It’s hard enough teaching staff as it is how to use ground penetrating radars and locators and all sorts of stuff,” he says. “With the Emlid there’s very little learning curve. It’s so simple to use and it’s just so affordable too.”

“That’s why I love the gear and why I recommend it to everyone I speak to.”

“Ben is really passionate about improving the professionalism of the locating industry and the value locators deliver to their clients,” adds Alistair. “He’s on a crusade.” n

RS3 model just released

Emlid has just announced its brand new tilt-corrected RTK GNSS receiver with integrated 450MHz radio receiver, the RS3. Priced competitively at $4,799.

For more information visit www.mapgear.com.au

“With the Emlid there’s very little learning curve. It’s so simple to use and it’s just so affordable too.”

Ben Minutoli, Geelong Cable Locations

Ben Minutoli of Geelong Cable Locations in the field with the Emlid Reach RS2+, which easily and seamlessly connects with iOS or Android devices.

Q&A

with Lisa Bush

Lisa Bush’s geospatial career has seen her shift from military mapping and intelligence to leading the development of vital civilian systems.

As National Location Information Branch Head at Geoscience Australia, Lisa Bush is playing a key role in the delivery of vital national geospatial capabilities and innovative projects such as the Digital Atlas of Australia. She came to the role having had a long and distinguished career as a geospatial expert and leader within the Australian Defence Force, with deployments both overseas and at home.

At the time of writing, Bush had recently returned from New York, where she had led the Australian delegation to the 13th Session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).

Lisa Bush, National Location Information Branch Head at Geoscience Australia.

What were some of the outcomes of the recent UN-GGIM Session, and what was Australia’s involvement?

For me it was a week of extreme contrasts. During my deployment some years ago with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, I was focused on tactical delivery for UN geospatial initiatives. Fast forward a few years to leading the Australian delegation at UN-GGIM, and I had the privilege to be part of the strategic decision making at the UN-GGIM at the UN headquarters in New York. It was such an eye-opening and humbling experience.

Some key developments included updates on the UN-GGIM Centres of Excellence — in particular, the establishment of the Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence in Germany, with Geoscience Australia’s own Nick Brown moving to Bonn, Germany, to take on the role as Head of Office. The endorsement for the establishment of a new UN-GGIM Geospatial Centre of Excellence in Saudi Arabia was also an exciting update. Geoscience Australia is looking forward to working closely with these initiatives in years to come.

Australia presented a significant body of work on the Global Geodetic Reference Frame that is important not only for Australia but also on a global scale. This is especially crucial given our increased

reliance on position, navigation and timing services to underpin so many activities, many of which are critical to a healthy GDP.

There was a lot of work on the development of geospatial standards and some interesting discussions about authoritative data versus ‘fit-for-purpose’ data. These evolved into the recognition that what we often care most about is actually understanding and articulating the level of trust in geospatial data — something we are actively exploring at Geoscience Australia as part of our delivery of the Digital Atlas of Australia.

The discussions at UN-GGIM also delved into the realm of geospatial ecosystems and how to better connect them given the rapid growth in technology in recent years such as Integrated Geospatial Infrastructure. The Australian delegation provided insights into a number of Australian initiatives including the wins and lessons learned from the Digital Atlas of Australia, as well as the impressive spatial digital twin journeys that quite a few of our states and territories are on right now.

How would you rate Australia’s public sector geospatial ecosystem maturity compared to that of other countries?

As a geospatial professional, I see the gaps and the massive opportunities. When I look at what is happening in this space

around the world, Australia’s public sector geospatial scene is in many areas holding its own. We’ve made impressive strides with initiatives like the Digital Atlas of Australia and Digital Earth Australia from Geoscience Australia, and the successful digital twin initiatives from the states and territories.

While some countries might be further along, our commitment to innovation and collaboration keeps us competitive. It’s a journey, and we continue to be well regarded in the international geospatial landscape.

Your team is leading the delivery of the Digital Atlas of Australia. Can you briefly outline what it is and what its aims are?

The Digital Atlas of Australia is an Australian Government initiative that’s bringing together, curating and connecting trusted location data from across government. Powered by an Integrated Geospatial Infrastructure, it enables data to connect across borders, jurisdictions and patterns, to improve access and use of location data, boosting insights for smarter decision-making. Whether it’s for government, businesses or the public, the aim is to make location data work better for everyone.

We’re in the beta phase, so there is a long and exciting road ahead for the Digital Atlas. Our plan is to continue to work hand

“When I look at what is happening in this space around the world, Australia’s public sector geospatial scene is in many areas holding its own.”

While serving in the ADF, Bush deployed on OPERATION ASLAN as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in 2012.

in hand with partners across government to beef up functionality and expand the data available. Looking ahead, what we would really like to do at Geoscience Australia is identify and fill the gaps in our national foundation data to truly realise the potential of location-enabled decision-making for all Australians.

What are some of the challenges you faced in developing the Atlas?

Developing the Digital Atlas came with its fair share of challenges, and among these, three significant hurdles come to mind. Foremost, finding the right technology that can seamlessly handle interoperability and scalability to ensure the platform can grow and adapt with changing needs is essential.

Wrangling and harmonising the diverse range of data from a range of sources and critically assessing if they are fit for purpose

The recent beta release of the Digital Atlas is a game-changer in how we harness geospatial data for smarter decisionmaking. Designed as a scalable and futureproof platform, the Digital Atlas holds enormous potential, particularly with future possibilities of AI and ML integration — when we are ready!

But, beyond the tech and data, we’re facing some other challenges. Finding and keeping skilled geospatial professionals isn’t a walk in the park. Thankfully, government and industry partners are actively collaborating to bolster our existing workforce and plan for the future. Moreover, the governance piece is pivotal. Establishing robust data governance ensures seamless connectivity, upholding standards and quality, and shaping a robust foundation for geospatial progress.

domestic and international appointments and deployments. Some pivotal postings include as the geospatial intelligence officer for OPERATION RESOLUTE, the wholeof-government approach to border security; and designing and establishing the Military Mapping Program for the world’s newest country as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

Most recently I was able to lead the small but mighty Foundation Military Intelligence Directorate in spearheading enterprise reform for Full Spectrum Targeting, Intelligence Mission Data and the optimisation of the Defence Geospatial Requirements and Prioritisation Framework. This included the pitch for, and establishment of, some game-changing major defence projects.

Now, as the National Location Information Branch Head at Geoscience

is a big one. What is currently available in the Digital Atlas is the best available, but we know it could be better. It could have more current and accurate data, and so we are focused on working with data producers and suppliers to get the right data, at the right quality and currency needed to support meaningful outcomes and, ultimately, leave no gaps in our foundation data.

Another major challenge lay in accommodating the needs of a diverse user base. Our aim was to create an accessible platform that caters to users with varying levels of geospatial experience. Striking a balance between providing information in a straightforward format for novices while also offering detailed metadata for geospatial experts was no small feat. It’s an intricate dance of simplicity and comprehensiveness that we will continue to choreograph.

How much needs to be done to ensure Australian government geospatial systems and services remain up to the task?

Definitely, there’s some work to do in keeping our geospatial game strong. Tech keeps evolving, and with more data and new demands, it’s sometimes hard to see what’s coming. Connecting various departments, upgrading tech and keeping up with user needs is pushing us to innovate and stay sharp in this ever-changing landscape. However, we are on the right path.

What are some other projects or initiatives we should know about?

My main focus is building out improved data and functionality for the Digital Atlas over the next two years before our 2025 go-live date. Hand in glove with this are two significant interlaced bodies of work. The first is democratising and therefore significantly improving the provision of foundation geospatial data to enable ‘one geography’ from the national level to street level. The other is working with a range of stakeholders to improve national geospatial leadership, inclusive of clear roles and responsibilities. Who is the trusted producer of which geospatial information? How is it governed? How is it paid for? How is it accessed?

It’s a massive body of work and a key initial step is getting enough resources — it’s a journey we’ve got to take on as a nation. Why? To reduce duplication of effort, boost currency and coverage of at least our priority data sets, and most importantly, create a location-enabled Australia underpinned by informed data driven decisions… whether you’re sitting in an office in Canberra or out on deployment in parts unknown.

Tell us about your military geospatial career.

I joined the Australian Army a very long time ago and since then I’ve had a range of

Australia, I’m driving the delivery and enhancement of key geospatial capabilities and projects such as the Digital Atlas. I’m also working with a range of geospatial leaders across government and industry to ensure effective governance and strategic alignment as we work towards and support a cohesive vision for the future of geospatial across different sectors.

I have had the incredible pleasure and privilege to spend most of my career, whether in the military or the Australian Public Service (APS), geospatially enabling decisions makers so that they are able to make timely and relevant decisions. I’m keen to continue to lead meaningful change and reform, and I’m dedicated to positioning the geospatial community for continued progress and meaningful impacts in the years to come.

What were some of the challenges during your military deployments?

The expression ‘swimming in sensors and drowning in data’ is often used to articulate the information component of operations. There is just so much data and it is increasing daily, hourly. How do we make sense of it? In many instances, the common thread is its location in time and space – and this is as true for unstructured data as it is structured. To achieve decision advantage, commanders need timely and relevant actionable insights. They increasingly rely

“Connecting various departments, upgrading tech and keeping up with user needs is pushing us to innovate and stay sharp.”

on geospatial professionals to achieve this by fusing multiple data sources together through their location component and running a bunch of smart analytics.

There are heaps of other challenges as well. How do we best ensure there is one common operating picture? How do we best keep that updated? How do we share classified information? How much trust do we have in the data? Have we got the right balance between investing in resource and time intensive ‘just-in-case’ data, likely to be critical to mission success, versus gathering data at the last moment when needed? Have we got enough capability and capacity in our staff? Can we grow it? Can we integrate our systems or are we air gapping everything?

Honestly, the list is near endless! However, the one common thing is that geospatial professionals are smart and innovative, especially when they are supporting operations of national importance. My greatest challenges have always been centred around how to best enable them to crack on and work their magic.

Does the military have a different approach to geospatial compared to the public and private sectors?

Yes and no. The constraints are often different, but the underlying tenets remain the same. For example, the need for Integrated Geospatial Infrastructure to connect various forms of data to underpin

decision making is the same, but the data, stakeholders, security classification and time imperatives may be different. The need for robust data standards and data sharing agreements and a need to understand the level of trust in our data, is shared. The application between the APS and Defence will be different, particularly when data needs to be shared in a multi-lateral, coalition or international environment for Defence.

Resourcing issues are universal; however, in Defence, bids for additional resources will be placed in the context of how they reduce the threat profile. In the civilian or public service setting it will be in terms of benefits. But essentially, it’s the same.

I note that like Defence, the wider Australian geospatial environment is an ecosystem for both our data and our people. Without senior levels championing and some robust spatial leadership underpinned by a shared vision and a series of ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks,’ you will find duplication of effort, inefficiencies and frustration in all facets of this complex environment.

Was it hard to make the switch from military to civilian work?

It was hard to make the decision to transition. I’ve had so many opportunities and worked with super-talented people and some amazing tech and data. Stepping away from all of that wasn’t easy. But the

opportunity to lead the delivery of the evolutionary Digital Atlas of Australia was too good to pass up. Once the decision was made, the transition was not so massive.

The team at Geoscience Australia probably say I brought with me a lot of acronyms and strong preference for focused discussions. I would like to think that I have continued to lead by example with authenticity, integrity, empathy, courage and a clear and considered focus — and a mantra to ‘lead, follow or get out of the way’.

My experience and learnings in ‘mission command’ would have to be one of the most valuable things I have brought to my team. This includes a clear understanding of strategic intent and making sure each team member understands their role in achieving that intent. It includes the notion of ‘schwerpunkt,’ or the ‘focus of effort to achieve decisive outcomes’, which basically means focusing your resources in an area that will lead to success. It also recognises and supports the need to fail fast and iterate.

This experience also extends to understanding strategic intent, critically analysing where we are at and what steps need to be taken to achieve that intent. This includes pitching for and then delivering major projects, geospatial or otherwise. I have had to draw on that knowledge a lot in the last year as we iteratively develop and deliver the Digital Atlas of Australia. n

Bush led the Australian delegation at the 13th Session of the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).

Australian atomic clock headed for orbit

An Adelaide-based team hopes to revolutionise the PNT world with its innovative atomic clock technology.

ANobel Prize-winning breakthrough has led to the development of a new generation of compact atomic clocks suitable for position, navigation and timing (PNT) applications in orbit and on the ground.

QuantX Labs is a privately owned Australian company that describes itself as a “world-leader in high-precision timing and quantum sensor technologies” involved in the development of a “suite of quantum sensor and precision timing products to enhance communications, navigation, surveillance and defence systems…”

Established in 2016, the company currently has around 20 staff and is based at the Lot Fourteen innovation precinct in Adelaide, surrounded by many other innovated space-related enterprises. The business and many of its key staff members have had, and still have, a very close relationship with the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), itself a world-leader in precision quantum sensing technologies.

In June 2023, a consortium of industry and academic teams led by QuantX was awarded $3.7 million under the

Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative, for the upcoming KAIROS space mission. This will see a next-generation optical atomic clock launched into orbit for testing. The clock’s technology was originally demonstrated at IPAS and received initial funding through the SmartSat CRC; the Moon to Mars funding will enable to team to convert it into a space-ready payload.

To find out more about QuantX Labs’ precision timing technology and the company’s long-term goals, we spoke with its general manager, Associate Professor Martin O’Connor.

The name KAIROS is presented in capitals, so is it an acronym for something? Presumably it is from the Greek for ‘time’?

Not an acronym, but yes, it is referencing the ancient Greek meaning for time. Kairos fully translates to ‘the right, critical or opportune moment’. More so, a proper or opportune time for action, which perfectly represents our work on the optical atomic clock… both in its reference to time, but also to a critical opportune moment for the development of such technology.

“The goal is to make a lowcost clock that offers much higher frequency stability than current on-orbit clocks.”

Martin O’Connor, QuantX Labs

The QuantX Labs team at the company’s headquarters in Adelaide.

QuantX Labs’ compact rubidium atomic clock.

For the uninitiated, what is an atomic clock and how does a typical one work?

An atomic clock, as the name suggests uses atoms to define time. One can think of atoms as microscopic ‘bells’ that ring at very particular, but very high, frequencies. If we excite them with exactly that particular frequency, then we can induce them to jump into a new state and we can detect that change of state. By choosing the right atom, and keeping it in well-controlled conditions, that frequency can be very well defined and be unaffected by changes in its environment.

This is exactly the basis of all clocks — one needs something to oscillate in a very regular way — whether this is a pendulum in a grandfather clock, a piece of quartz crystal in a watch, or an atom in an atomic clock. The final step for a clock is to count these ‘ticks’ with some electronic or mechanical system and then display the time.

What is the novel approach you’ve taken with your C-ROC atomic clock?

Traditional atomic clocks use microwave radiation to excite the atoms with frequencies in the gigahertz range (billions of cycles per second). Our clocks make use of optical excitation (hundreds of trillions of cycles per second). This much higher operational frequency delivers us a lift in the performance of the clocks. Further, and most excitingly, the much smaller wavelength of optical radiation than microwave radiation allows us to shrink the dimensions of the clock, making it both smaller and lighter. This is an awesome win when combined with the higher performance.

You might ask why no-one had done this before? The reason was that the optical output of these new generation clocks has cycles that are so fast that no electronics are able to count them. As an example, our latest clock has an output in the green part of the spectrum near 500 trillion cycles per second. A Nobel Prize-winning breakthrough (awarded in 2005) gave us the tool — called an optical frequency comb — that could finally count the cycles of a light beam. We have managed to shrink this frequency comb so that it can be incorporated into a very small clock.

Are there any other atomic clocks that use the same or similar approach?

There are a few handfuls of such optical clocks in the world, but they are nearly all confined to national measurement laboratories. Ours is one of the first that can be operated in the real world.

What kinds of improvements do you hope to make over current on-orbit clock systems?

The goal is to make a low-cost clock that offers much higher frequency stability than current on-orbit clocks. This potentially offers more precise ground navigation if many other elements of satellite-based navigation can be improved at the same time.

Which elements or capabilities will be tested during the preliminary KAIROS launches?

We are planning a series of launches of increasing maturity and technical complexity from subsystems of the atomic clock. On-theground environmental testing will be performed to validate the quality of the solutions and orbital flights are planned to demonstrate the core technologies of our optical atomic clock.

Have you chosen a launch supplier?

We are currently in discussions with a number of providers.

What sort of orbital flight duration will you need to validate the technology?

The 2025 tech demonstrator mission aims to validate the novel atomic interactions of our clock technology in orbit. This requires weeklong measurement intervals, and we aim to perform multiple measurement cycles to assess the performance. Our minimum timeframe is six months with an extension goal of two years. n

Adelaide atomic clock group wins two awards

The Adelaide University Atomic Clock Team has been presented with two measurement awards by the National Measurement Institute (NMI). The team took out top spot in the NMI Measurement Impact award for measurementrelated achievements demonstrating real-world impact, and top spot also in the People’s Choice award.

The group was among seven finalists who showcased their work during the awards ceremony, held during National Science Week, at which the audience voted for their favourite for the People’s Choice award.

The team — which comprises 10 core early-career researchers and engineers who have been working to develop alternative secure, independent precise sources of time for the Australian Defence Force — was awarded the NMI Measurement Impact Award for its world-first portable, autonomous atomic clocks.

The technologies hold the promise of providing assured timing signals in GPS-denied environments and of out-performing GPS-derived timing by many orders of magnitude.

The team’s portable optical clocks were tested on a naval vessel off the coast of Pearl Harbor during military exercises earlier this year, during which they proved to be vastly superior to current defence technologies. The clocks are the first of their kind to operate outside a laboratory.

QuantX Labs’ general manager, Martin O’Connor; Australian Space Agency head, Enrico Palermo; and QuantX Labs’ co-founder and managing director, Andre Luiten.

GPR + GPS reveals the underground world

Multi-channel ground penetrating radar is uncovering new possibilities for surveying companies.

The field of sub-surface locating is undergoing something of a revolution, with newer-generation ground penetrating radars (GPR) enabling faster, more efficient work and better, highly accurate data outputs.

One of those GPRs is the Stream DP from Italian firm IDS GeoRadar, distributed in Australia by C.R. Kennedy. The unit, about the size of a lawnmower, is gaining traction among the locating community as well as the traditional surveying sector.

IDS GeoRadar’s Stream DP’s large multichannel array — 30 channels in double polarisation; 19VV plus 11HH — enables accurate 3D detection of underground utility networks, other assets and voids in a single scan. It features Equalized scrambled Technology, or EsT, which enables it to exploit the entire radiating performance of the antenna for full control of the GPR signal, whilst at the same time performing noise rejection and capturing both lower and higher frequencies for extended depth range and an ultra-high resolution. For positioning accuracy, it has an integrated encoder and PPS and a user-fitted external GPS and TPS.

Designed for easy transportation, the

Stream DP’s light weight (maximum 20 kg per part) and compact size means that it can fit inside a standard vehicle and be assembled and deployed by a single person. It’s designed to handle a variety of scenarios from asphalt (with pivoting wheels) to rugged ground (terrain wheels) and has a scan swath width of 83 cm.

“It’s pretty awesome,” says Philip Byrne, C.R. Kennedy’s National Sales Manager, GIS and Detection, Survey Division. “A lot of survey companies are getting into utility detection — they see the benefit. And Stream DP is just so far ahead of the other systems in the market.”

“GPR generally is quite complex to read,” he adds. “But with 3D GPR, because you’re getting more data, you can form a tomographic view — it just makes your data a lot more visible and easier to decipher.”

©stock.adobe.com/au/S. Leitenberger

The view down under Surveying and spatial solutions firm MNG, which has offices in Victoria and Western Australia, has been putting the Stream DP to good use. One such application has been for the City of Gosnells in Perth, which was facing erosion in areas of stormwater pipe joins due to an absence of rubber seals during initial installation. Heavy rainfall caused significant amounts of soil to enter the pipes, leading to the formation of sinkholes near high traffic areas such as road roundabouts. For public safety reasons, it was important to accurately map these void areas.

MNG proposed the use of Stream DP, not only for the accurate result it would provide, but also to cut down on the disruption to road traffic. MNG Locate technicians, with the assistance of MNG SubSpatial, conducted Stream DP capture over three separate sites, including a 120-metre section of road and verge. The work was completed in less than three hours.

“Its multi-antenna, multi-array means you’re basically capturing almost a subsurface scan,” said Adam Neale, Project Manager, Locate & Engineering, MNG. “Here in Perth, ground conditions are pretty favourable — we’re getting a lot higher penetration than we would otherwise. And when you’re running a scan, it really minimises that risk of not spotting an asset or running along the length of an asset — which normally makes it almost invisible — because you have antennas at different orientations. It increases your ability to find assets and identify them, and it has really good accuracy as well.”

“Back in the day we’d get our locate team out in the field to put spray marks on the ground and then a surveyor would come along and survey it all. With Stream DP, you add on a GPS and it’s referenced spatially as you go, which makes it far more efficient.”

Adam says the company used to have another GPR unit that had the ability for the GPS to hook on to it, but it had severe limitations such as connectivity issues. “It never really worked too well and ended up kind of collecting dust in the corner,” he said. “And prior to that we just had standard single-antenna GPRs. The Stream DP is the first multi-channel, multi-antenna unit that we’ve had.”

The next step

“It’s really taking that next step,” says Tavis Lavell, Manager, MNG SubSpatial. “Where the Stream DP stands out against the rest is if you’re in, say, tough conditions like a road. If you need to shut down a road, the Stream DP is 19 times quicker; you’re on the road a shorter amount of time. You can just capture the data, and because it’s linked with a GPS, all that information is geo-

Adam Neale, MNG

referenced and located. You can get in and get out a lot quicker and produce drawings.”

But it’s not just roads and utilities for which the Stream DP is suited.

“We had a job recently in Melbourne at one of the old schools. During World War Two, it was used as a practice facility for digging trenches, which were then backfilled and now it’s just an oval. Using the Stream DP you can really map the trenches,” said Tavis.

“It’s even good for geology such as horizontal directional drilling. We’ve been using a Stream DP along an alignment to locate any large boulders or any type of geology which may inhibit the drilling that’s about to take place.”

“MNG has always had that ethos to utilise cutting-edge technology to capture spatial data for our clients’ needs.”

Digging for data

Data collection and post-processing are handled by the uMap and IQMaps software, respectively. The former has an easy-to-use interface suitable for unskilled operators, while the latter enables advanced analysis of the GPR data.

“IQ Maps is where you decipher the data and pick points, and then you export that data straight into software packages such as 12D. The data imports to these packages seamlessly as a 3D model while retaining all attributes from IQ maps,” says Philip.“Previous systems 10 years or so ago were very clunky and you’d spend a lot of time in the processing,” adds Tavis. “But IQ Maps is very user friendly and does a lot of the pre-processing for you.”

Overall, Adam says the Stream DP is

enabling MNG to offer services that they couldn’t do before. “It’s almost like a new product that we can offer to LGAs, and they’re quite keen to see this sort of thing,” he said. “I’ve been locating with MNG for a couple of years, and even in that period, just the sheer requests that we get now from engineers — usually they’d ask for a feature survey; now they’ll ask for feature survey and utilities location as well. It is becoming more and more prevalent.”

In summing up the advantages of the Stream DP, Adam says that “It’s extremely beneficial for what we do. I couldn’t imagine operating without it.” n

For more information about the Stream DP, contact C.R. Kennedy survey.crkennedy.com.au

“With IDS GeoRadar’s Stream DP, you add on a GPS and it’s referenced spatially as you go, which makes it far more efficient.”

LiDAR and quantum tech tested at sea

The ADF has conducted test surveys with a LiDAR-equipped camcopter, while atomic clock tech has been trialled aboard a warship.

The Royal Australian Navy has used a LiDAR-equipped S-100 camcopter to map a region of seabed and beach for amphibious troop landings as part of a trial during Exercise Sea Raider 23. The trials aimed to determine the optimal balance between flying low to collect data and tactical flying.

The S-100, made by Austrian firm Schiebel, has a maximum take-off weight of 200 kg, a maximum speed of 220 km/h, an operational ceiling of around 18,000 feet and can be used day or night in most weather conditions.

“We generate survey plans for landing areas, then

create 3D flight profiles and gradients, either electronically or paper, which are used as a briefing tool of shallow water bathymetry, beach, back of beach topography,” said LCDR Thomas Lennards, who has had wide experience with the S-100 as part of his work in hydrographic and geospatial collection.

“The surveys are used to navigate hazards, beach entry and exit points, helicopter landing zones, bridges, hinterland and terrain.”

“We have overlays of nautical charts and satellite imagery used to make sure the information is current with our collection and compare

anomalies with what’s scanned compared to what is charted.”

The laser-generated 3D views of beaches, forests and terrain can be used for detection analyses, including battlefield damage assessment.

The S100 can navigate via programmed GPS waypoints or by a control unit, and can be integrated into a ship’s system.

Defence Science and Technology Group scientist Dr Alexander Lee and his team used the LiDAR sensor as part of the S-100 introductioninto-service trials on board HMAS Adelaide

“We participate in major exercises to understand how the outputs of scientific research

can be accelerated through the transition into operational use. This seeks to make the war fighter more effective for their missions,” Dr Lee said.

“The data it generates allows us to better understand the limits of the LiDAR data collected from airborne platforms like the S100,” he said, adding that “Pretty much everything that ADF does, there’s probably a scientist that’s looking into it.”

Time for maritime LiDAR isn’t the only geospatial technology being trialled at sea. At a recent Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) multi-national naval exercise, a

New Zealand warship carried a pair of Australian-built quantum clocks to see how they performed on the ocean waves.

The clocks were hosted aboard the Royal New Zealand Navy logistics ship, HMNZS Aotearoa, and operated by Dr Ben Sparkes, a quantum technologist from the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), who worked alongside a team from the University of Adelaide.

According to Dr Sparkes — who has been with Defence for three years and has also been part of the team developing the two different clocks used during the trial — standard commercial clocks perform poorly at sea due to ships’ movement. But the Australian quantum clocks were unaffected.

“The clocks were compared with others from our collaborators, and they held their own against the best…,” Dr Sparkes said. “They performed better than the commercial benchmark at short-to-medium timescales, especially in terms of mechanical stability.

Unlike traditional clocks, which measure a mechanical device that oscillates, quantum clocks measure energy transition inside an atom. In the case of this trial, the clocks under test were a rubidium clock that uses two infrared lasers and a ytterbium clock that uses a green laser.

“The two atoms we are using,

the rubidium and the ytterbium, are identical anywhere in the universe. That gives us good reference,” said Dr Sparkes. “We effectively drive the atomic transitions using different colour laser beams, making super stable lasers.”

An additional laser, called a frequency comb, down-mixes the clocks’ stabilised laser frequencies from terahertz to giga and megahertz, providing a stable read out signal.

The program was begun three years ago after the DSTG Quantum-Assured Position Navigation and Timing STaR Shot funded the researchers to deploy the clocks at RIMPAC.

The rubidium clock project, which is now with QuantX Labs (see page 20), recently received a $3.7 million grant under the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative, to test the technology under orbital conditions.

“Timing is important for everything we do in Defence. Currently we rely on GPS to provide this timing. However, as it comes from satellites, by the time it reaches the signals are very weak and can easily be jammed or spoofed. Having our own clocks allows us to stay in sync for longer without receiving GPS signals,” Dr Sparkes said.

“The team learnt a lot from RIMPAC and they are now designing bespoke parts to try and shrink everything down to make things smaller, better, faster and stronger.” n

“The clocks were compared with others from our collaborators, and they held their own against the best”

Dr Ben Sparkes, DSTG

S-100 operators from 822X Squadron and scientists from Defence Science and Technology Group work with the S-100 camcopter aboard HMAS Adelaide during bathymetric LiDAR sensor trials as part of Exercise Sea Raider 23.

Image by ABIS Rikki-Lea Phillips, courtesy Defence.

Crew members from 822X Squadron and Defence Science and Technology Group scientists confer during the LiDAR trials.

Image by ABIS Rikki-Lea Phillips, courtesy Defence.

Defence Science and Technology Group scientist Dr Ben Sparkes works on Australian-built quantum clocks at the University of Adelaide. Image courtesy University of Adelaide.

The economic promise of precise positioning

Half a billion dollars will be injected into the economy by 30 June 2038 through government investment in precise positioning infrastructure, according to a new report commissioned by Geoscience Australia.

The report, produced by consultancy ACIL Allen, examined the economic benefits of the National Positioning Infrastructure Capability (NPIC) program. It found that a unified approach to the management of the nation’s positioning infrastructure is paying and will continue to pay dividends, enabling more efficient operations across agriculture, construction and mining.

The NPIC is a nationwide network of more than 700 continuously operating global navigation satellite system reference stations (CORS) operated by 11 different organisations. It supports the provision of centimetre-level positioning across most areas that have mobile phone coverage.

According to the report, the Australian Government invested around $64 million into better positioning to support Australian businesses between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2022 and around $12 million annually from 1 July 2023 to maintain the NPIC program. Of this, around $44 million and $10 million respectively has been directly invested in the NPIC network.

“We know that investment in the NPIC’s positioning infrastructure is having a real impact across our regions and industries, with an expected return of $2.58 in direct

benefits for every dollar we spend,” said Ryan Ruddick, GA’s Director of Global Navigational Satellite System Infrastructure.

The report focused on the direct economic impacts of NPIC on four sectors that have been early adopters of precise positioning services: surveying and mapping, agriculture, construction and mining. It also reviewed the impact of NPIC on research and innovation.

The report found that the NPIC will benefit the national economy to the tune of more than half a billion dollars across two decades, including economic lifts of:

• $163 million in agriculture

• $91 million in mining

• $68 million in construction

• $43 million in surveying and mapping

• $180 million of other, indirect benefits across the entire economy

And the benefits will span the country, providing an estimated $194 million boost in Victoria, $176 million in New South Wales, $101 million in Queensland, $44 million in Western Australia, $16 million in Tasmania and $12 million in South Australia.

The analysis found that only the Northern Territory would experience “a relative negative result due to limited mobile phone coverage outside of the main population centres restricting the ability to deliver precise positioning services over the internet”. But the authors emphasised that this “is a relative effect and does not mean that the Northern Territory economy

contracts in absolute terms”.

The report found that there will be a larger relative increase in output in the regions compared to the output of the capital cities because of NPIC, as a result of capital and labour mobility. It says this “reflects in part the fact that the agricultural and mining sectors are largely located in regional areas. A significant component of heavy engineering is also located in regional areas.”

Ruddick pointed out that the use of precise positioning advancements in agriculture “such as auto-steering and yield monitoring systems is delivering productivity and environmental benefits across grain, cotton, sugar, viticulture and horticulture sectors,” adding that “precise positioning used in machine guidance for earthworks is providing increased precision and safety on construction work sites”.

The report also find that precise positioning will have a positive impact on employment across the country, with 2,316 full time jobs expected to have been created over the 20 years to 30 June 2038.

The full report (PDF) can be found at tinyurl.com/bdzyk79r. n

Public sector investment in the nation’s precise positioning infrastructure system will pay dividends over the next two decades.

Estimated economic benefits from the NPIC program in the 20 years to June 2038. Courtesy GA.

Geospatial tech needs a PR overhaul

TOM O’SULLIVAN

Geospatial technology has the power to be truly transformative. It can solve a whole world of problems, from urban planning and precision agriculture to humanitarian crises and disaster relief coordination.

But it suffers from a chronic lack of recognition and education, which means investors tend to focus their attention — and their money — on opportunities in more visible sectors such as fintech. The geospatial sector is too often reduced to being an underlying component of other sectors, not a standalone industry in its own right. Or even worse, it is completely misunderstood as an overly technical venture.

This has stunted the sector’s growth. As Joe Seppi, CEO of Woolpert, pointed out in this magazine (Aug/Sep 2023, p.39), Silicon Valley and Wall Street have not considered the geospatial sector as a viable destination for investment, let alone been aware of its existence.

Geospatial technology isn’t necessarily ‘undervalued’. Take Australia, for example — a country I’m familiar with as I was stationed there on a military exchange. Australia has a strong tradition of surveying, remote sensing and GIS science, and has established a geospatial capacity vital to the functioning of the nation. The USA — the MVP of the geospatial market — is estimated to boast upwards of US$67.13 billion in market revenue from GNSS and positioning technologies. The Asia-Pacific is playing catchup and is the fastest-growing market in the industry.

Geospatial technology is

clearly a highly profitable sector with strong potential for robust future growth. But it’s often still not seen as an attractive option for private investors.

That’s despite the fact it can unlock billions in economic benefits, spanning cost-saving, revenue generation, innovation and long-term societal investment. But if geospatial technology is to reach its full potential, it is essential that we raise awareness of its current and potential uses.

The recent UK Geospatial Strategy 2030 highlights this issue. One of its core missions is to build awareness of the power of geospatial technology and location data. However, the only way it seeks to do so is through publicising the delivery of geospatial applications — this does not go nearly far enough.

The strategy is a step in the right direction, but it only scratches the surface in addressing the true problem. Europe lags behind the US

to thrust the word of geospatial technology through those office doors in Silicon Valley, Singapore, London and Dubai. This could involve heavily funded publicity campaigns

huge scope for innovation in the sector as AI and machine learning continue their rise to the top of the tech food chain.

However, this future is only possible with more investment into geospatial technology. The pace of start-ups entering the industry is too slow, the industry is too low-profile, and it is not attracting sufficient interest.

in the market share, and the UK needs to turbocharge its geospatial ecosystem by showcasing its potential to investors.

Which is precisely why I think the geospatial sector needs a PR overhaul — a wellfunded publicity splurge to raise awareness of its huge potential benefits for investors. This should be a unified effort, with both public and private sectors,

that shake off the sector’s associations with military or security operations and shed light on its more purposedriven applications.

A high-profile IPO in the geospatial sector would also go a long way to addressing some misconceptions and shine a spotlight on the industry.

The global geospatial market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% by 2032. There’s also

The UK has made its geospatial bed, but the geospatial ‘fanatics’ such as Australia have an opportunity to become global leaders in the industry. n

Tom O’Sullivan is CEO of Animus Bytes, a specialist developer of geospatial tech and apps such as Migrant Watch, which can pinpoint the real-time location of vulnerable migrants in need of rescue at sea. He previously served in the British Army and later founded a boutique cybersecurity consultancy.

The geospatial sector is facing a crisis that is crippling its global potential.

Tom O’Sullivan, CEO, Animus Bytes

If geospatial technology is to reach its full potential, it is essential that we raise awareness of its current and potential uses.

Tackling coastal decline using Earth observation

Leaning how to turn research concepts into business ideas using Earth observation data and computing power.

Australian and South-East Asian scientists and students have been supported to build market interest for products and services that use Earth observation data to tackle the effects of climate change across South-East Asia, as part of an initiative led by CSIRO and Geoscience Australia.

The Earth Observation for Climate Smart Innovation (EOCSI) program saw participants pitch concepts for business services using CSIRO’s Earth Analytics, Science and Innovation (EASI) platform.

EASI is a high-performance computing system through which users can access and analyse large volumes of satellite data on commercial cloud infrastructure.

“Earth observation data is valuable to many different industries. Building connections and capabilities, this initiative is strengthening regional science relations, supporting climate resilience, and promoting sustainable growth and development,” said Project Lead and CSIRO Centre for Earth Observation Director, Dr Amy Parker.

The program included a week-long ‘hackathon’ for more than 80 participants, featuring presentations, seminars, demonstrations and brainstorming sessions. Three of the teams were chosen to develop their concepts into real products with the help of additional technical and business training.

The Sarawak, Malaysia-based Saraqube team — comprising Dr Moritz Muller, Jenny Choo, Asilah Awang and Florina Richard — used the hackathon seek ways to address the decline in coastal ecosystems from urbanisation, aquaculture and climate change.

“South-East Asia is very affected by climate change,” Dr Muller said. “And a big issue is coastal developments.”

The team’s aim was to find a way to address the requirements of the blue-carbon

market, i.e. the carbon captured by coastal mangroves, sea grasses and marshes. The first step was to map mangroves along the Sarawak coastline.

“Using the EASI platform, we can identify spots of change and identify areas for reforestation,” Dr Muller said. “But we also used the platform to look at a larger scale; this is something we can’t do on a ground map. We don’t know what happens, we don’t see the changes. With Earth observation technology we can check 20 years’ worth of data.”

The team found great value in being able to work with other scientists, data analysts and business advisors.

“The ability to bounce ideas is really valuable, so we can actually work on products that we can trust,” Dr Muller said. “It’s not just something we derive, we make a code, we get an image that works. We get expert advice that the image we’re looking at makes sense and that we can use the data.”

“Working with the EOCSI project we have all increased our scientific knowledge and skills quite a bit.”

Florina Richard said that, for her, the best part of the hackathon was learning how to convert ideas into a potential business. “We do science,” she said. “We don’t know how to make it into a service, how to price it. This has been an incredible platform for all of us.”

“We found that participants really want to be part of a community that uses practical STEM approaches to act on climate change,” added Geoscience Australia Project Lead, Rachel Horwood. “And through the initiative, we were able to support them in transforming these ideas into reality.”

The EOCSI initiative is funded by the federal government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Supporting Australian Innovation in Asia Initiative, along with contributions from regional partners. n

“With Earth observation technology we can check 20 years’ worth of data.”

Dr Moritz Muller, Saraqube team

Point cloud creation and processing in Global Mapper Pro v25

Pixels to Points is a photogrammetric processing tool within Global Mapper Pro that creates photo-textured 3D models, orthoimages and high-resolution point clouds via Structure from Motion (SFM) and Multi-View Stereovision. Using overlapping UAV-collected images, these generated data models can be used in Global Mapper to measure terrain volume, assess structures, create detailed base maps and more. The new version 25 release improves the Pixels to Points tool, including significant speed advancements to decrease processing time, and revisions to the Input Wizard to streamline your workflow further than before.

The Pixels to Points Input

Wizard is designed to increase ease of use for existing users and make photogrammetric processing more approachable to new users with the streamlining of settings choices. Simply import your images and choose your most important output, including the option to run a quick output for quality assessment. Global Mapper adjusts the Pixel to Points settings to match your input, providing an optional followup option to tweak the settings if desired. Use the primary dialog to add control points and assess more advanced settings such as masking and colour harmonisation. With Global Mapper Pro’s powerful point cloud processing tools, Pixels to Points provides a powerful and streamlined option for creating

and editing your spatial data.

Global Mapper Pro’s point cloud processing tools allow you to classify, extract vector features, create terrain data, and more, within the same workspace in which the point cloud was generated. Along with accurate automatic classification tools within Global Mapper, the Segmentation tool allows you to create dynamic, custom lidar classifications. Many objects represented in point cloud data have a ‘fingerprint’ of shared characteristics between the points, such as intensity

values, return number, normal, curvature etc. The Segmentation tool lets you classify by these parameters to extract desired features from the point cloud. Segment a cloud by colour to extract paint lines from roads or by curvature to separate areas based on changes in slope. After classification, vector feature extraction tools can create 3D point, line, and area features to display structures, trees and powerlines present in the data. Learn more about Global Mapper Pro and download a free trial at bluemarblegeo.com. n

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Marking the journey

S+SNZ’s 2023 annual conference coincided with celebrations for the University of Otago School of Surveying’s 60th birthday.

Having the annual Survey and Spatial New Zealand (S+SNZ) conference at the University of Otago in Dunedin was always going to result in a good attendance, and this proved to be true with the 135th conference. Held in early September, the conference, along with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the University of Otago School of Surveying, was a strong drawcard for members, especially those who had attended the survey school as students.

More than 350 delegates enjoyed taking part in the three-day event, which offered more than 70 presentations covering a diverse range of topics, including technical papers on infrastructure, hydrography, surveying, technology, protecting heritage buildings, GIS, GNSS, LiDAR, UAVs and point clouds. There also were presentations covering emergency management, subdivision governance, diversity, statutory matters and Landonline reforms.

Following the Mihi Whakatau, the traditional Māori welcome, the conference was opened by various dignitaries including the Minister for Toitū Te Whenua, Land Information New Zealand the Hon. Damien O’Connor. Key plenary sessions included an

update on NZ activities by Toitū Te Whenua’s Surveyor-General, Anselm Haanen.

The theme of ‘Marking the Journey, Hāpaia’ encapsulated the career trajectories of surveying and spatial professionals: the journey of seeing a project through to completion, the journey of data from capture to deliverables, and the professional development journey… and of course, coming full circle back to the university, the 60-year journey of the School of Surveying.

A powerful presentation within this theme was given by Luke Keats of Aurecon, who described New Zealand’s biggest infrastructure project following the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016. The magnitude 7.8 event struck the northeast coast of the South Island and resulted in landslides, tsunamis and areas of huge ground uplift across the complex fault rupture. The destruction severed key transport links including the Main North Railway Line and the State Highway 1 coastal road, which connected Kaikoura with Picton at the top of the South Island. These major pieces of infrastructure support the movement of freight, tourists and information around the country, all essential to keep New Zealand

ANDREW BLACKMAN

working. The presentation described the incredible journey of those involved in the reconstruction project, which was carried out over the course of 3.5 years, and the sharing of valuable lessons learnt. The work involved providing engineering and geospatial services to support the recovery effort — from the re-establishment of geodetic control, extensive topographical survey and laser scan capture through rail tunnels to support assessment efforts; to the design and visualisation of proposed roading and rockfall protection solutions; and the as-builting of completed works.

Another thought-provoking presentation, by Wally Sandford of LandPro, raised the issue of protecting historical survey features such as trig beacons from developing technologies, changing priorities and cultural considerations — a topic that is close to the hearts of many surveyors.

The Awards Dinner — generously sponsored by long-term partner, GSI Insurance Partners, led by Glenn Stone — is always a highlight of each conference. A black-tie event, it provides the ideal vehicle for honouring the impressive achievements of S+SNZ members throughout the year.

The S+SNZ conference began with a Mihi Whakatau (traditional Māori welcome ceremony).

Both individual and team project excellence was celebrated with the presentation of the Bogle Young Professional of the Year, the Cadastral Survey Award, Professional Project Excellence Award, Professional Stream Awards and the Consulting Surveyors of NZ Leadership Award. Neale Faulkner, long-term S+SNZ member and Chair of the NZ Cadastral Survey Licensing Board, was the well-deserved recipient of the McRae Supreme Award. We also welcomed two new Fellows: Dr Kat Salm and Jayne Perrin.

It was fitting that a book detailing the history of one of New Zealand’s most prolific and wellrespected surveyors, Archie Bogle was featured at the conference and made available for purchase. Publication of The Measure of the Man (reviewed in Position, Aug/Sep 2023, p.36) was supported by the Kairūri Community Trust, and it is proving to be very popular amongst S+SNZ members.

The School of Surveying celebrated its 60th birthday by holding several events before, during and after the conference. This included a well-attended Anniversary Dinner attended by past and present staff and students, along with entertaining speeches from various deans of the school.

A series of workshops were offered by the School, giving people the opportunity to attend sessions on 12d software updates, Landonline capture and cadastral boundary definition, hydrographic developments and the new S+SNZ certification framework, and ending with a Q&A session on cadastral licensing.

A tour of the School’s premises proved popular with past students and recent graduates, giving them a chance to see what had changed. However, for many of the more senior S+SNZ members, who were more familiar with the previous location, it was a chance to see the School’s current home for the first time.

The finale of the School’s celebration came when current staff members, Richard Hemi and Emily Tidey, presented a light-hearted journey back through 60 years of fun and learning, including many old photos and some costumes.

S+SNZ is very grateful to all its sponsors and supporters — their continued support is critical to the success of the conference. This year we thank our Premier Commercial partners GSI Insurance Partners, 84 Recruitment, Global Survey and Allterra; and the Conference Sponsors Landpro, 12d Model, Quickmap, PIX4D, Position Partners, Buildmax, Ferntech, Synergy Positioning, Toitū Te Whenua, Land Information New Zealand, GNS Science Te Pū Ao and Abtrac, as well as the University of Otago.

Feedback on the conference has been extremely positive and congratulations goes to all involved. We are now looking forward to next year’s event, to be held in Napier in the Hawkes Bay wine country. Further information on that event will be posted at www.surveyspatialnzconference.org. n

Andrew Blackman is a NZ Licensed Cadastral Surveyor practising in Auckland and an S+SNZ Independent Councillor.

The awards night entertainment.

The theme of ‘Marking the Journey, Hapaia’ encapsulated the career trajectories of surveying and spatial professionals.

Neale Faulkner, a long-term member of S+SNZ and the well-deserved recipient of the McRae Supreme Award and the Professional Excellence in Cadastral Surveying Award.

S+SNZ Bogle Young Professional of the Year Award recipient, Géneviève Abrey.

Attendees enjoyed some quality networking time.

Queensland’s spatial cadastre updated for Inland Rail

Atwo-year project to survey and model nearly 233,000 hectares of land — equivalent to the size of the Australian Capital Territory — in order to upgrade Queensland’s spatial cadastre, has been completed as a vital part of delivering the Inland Rail project.

The spatial cadastre is used to accurately identify the location of the new rail line and to manage land use and ownership along the route.

Working with the Queensland Department of Resources (DoR), Inland Rail has updated more than 7,699 land parcels, including 601

easements, covering a total of 232,811 hectares.

The team conducted extensive ground-based surveys and used field data to develop detailed and accurate reference files to further enhance and update the accuracy of the spatial cadastre.

Five new Continually Operating Reference Stations (CORS) have been installed along the alignment to enhance coverage between the Queensland/New South Wales border and Toowoomba. This work was done in collaboration with Geoscience Australia as part of the Positioning Australia initiative.

“Updating the Queensland spatial cadastre is an important step in ensuring accurate information is available for use by the Inland Rail when engaging with key stakeholders,” said ARTC Inland Rail Survey Program Manager, Mark Pierce.

More than 450 new permanent survey marks were added to the survey control register as part of the control network being installed to support the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of the rail line.

“These Survey Control marks are now part of Queensland’s geodetic network and positioning infrastructure, and support ARTC’s commitment to enhancing regional infrastructure and providing legacy community benefits for future surveying, engineering, road building and mapping purposes,” said Pierce.

“This is a significant achievement for the DoR and ARTC as it marks another milestone in the development of this important project.”

Department of Resources Cadastral, Geodetic & Permit Data Manager, Gordon Szczepina, said that the primary focus for the Department is the

accuracy of the information for future land management and planning.

“The accuracy of the spatial cadastre is a critical aspect of any project, especially one of this size and importance,” Szczepina said.

“Our team has been working closely with Inland Rail for the past two years to upgrade the spatial accuracy of the Inland Rail corridor to 0.1–1 metres for more than 300 kilometres from the Queensland/New South Wales border to Kagaru.

“We have taken their data and assessed it against highresolution imagery to upgrade the current land parcels to represent a more accurate spatial cadastral fabric.”

Szczepina added that upgrading the accuracy of the spatial cadastre for the Inland Rail project is a vital aspect of ensuring the project is delivered in a timely and efficient manner with minimal impacts on the environment and local communities.

“The updating of the spatial cadastre and enhancement of the survey control register are great examples of strong collaboration between ARTC and the Department,” he said.

A train running on the Inland Rail line. All images courtesy ARTC.

A team has spent two years updating 7,699 parcels to ensure the accuracy of the Inland Rail route through Queensland.

An alignment map showing the section between the NSW border and Toowoomba where most of the survey work was done.

A member of the cadastral survey team in the field during the project to update more than 7,699 land parcels.

NZ elevation project passes halfway mark

More than 50% of New Zealand has now been 3D LiDAR scanned, with the project on track for 80% coverage in 2024.

New Zealand’s National Elevation Programme has passed the 50% coverage mark, following the release of 3D LiDAR mapping data for the Waikato and Southland regions.

The LiDAR information is combined with other data to produce precise, 3D digital elevation models, which can be freely accessed via the Toitū Te Whenua LINZ Data Service.

In 2016, Toitū Te Whenua LINZ, in partnership with Regional Councils, began the project to procure and make available a nationally consistent baseline elevation data set for Aotearoa New Zealand. By 2024, 80% of the country will be covered and the data will be available on open licence.

The project will provide three data sets once the aerial LiDAR capture is complete:

• 1-metre digital elevation model (DEM) — a model of the bare Earth.

• 1-metre digital surface model (DSM), which includes nonground features such as buildings and infrastructure.

• A point cloud, with data points classified into sets of likely feature types, such as water features, vegetation groups and buildings.

“There is great demand for the data by local government, private sector companies, academia and Crown Research Institutes, and this demand continues to grow as the national coverage expands,” says Bjorn Johns, Toitū Te Whenua Technical Leader Imagery and Elevation.

“These are invaluable to councils and regional industries for planning and will help with land management, flood and landslide hazard mapping, engineering design and 3D visualisation.”

“Having baseline data will make it easier to assess changes resulting from major events like earthquakes and severe weather events,” Johns added.

“Areas can be re-surveyed and the new images compared with base data to better understand the impact of the events and to support the response and recovery phases of an emergency.”

The release of the Waikato and Southland data adds to that already collected and released through a project co-funded by regional councils and Kānoa, the Regional Development and Investment Unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (formerly the Provincial Growth Fund).

“Having early access to data covering parts of the country at this level of detail is fascinating as we see the many different types of landforms and relief features that are ‘unearthed’ by elevation data,” said Location Data Analyst Emory Beck, who is working on quality control of the new data.

According to Toitū Te Whenua Manager Partnership Programmes, Andrew Ferrel, there is a real sense of satisfaction, not just in reaching the 50% milestone but also in seeing how the data is being used.

“Making this data available supports innovation and gives all businesses and other operators access to detailed information that would otherwise be unavailable to many.”

Co-funding from Kānoa–RDU is supporting the substantial regional expansion of the New Zealand National Elevation Programme, which is based on partnerships between Toitū Te Whenua and councils across all 16 New Zealand regions. n

A view of Waihi showing the Waihi Mine with LiDAR adding depth to aerial photography. Images courtesy New Zealand National Elevation Programme.

Flood plain of the Buller River, Westport from West Coast LiDAR 1m DEM (2020-2022).

3D image of Mataura River, Southland’s longest awa.

LiDAR leads to locating Roman roads

Data from the UK’s National LiDAR Programme has shown that not all Roman roads led to obvious destinations.

ARoman road network that spanned Devon and Cornwall in the UK and connected significant settlements with military forts across the two counties, as well as wider Britannia, has been discovered for the first time.

Archaeologists at the University of Exeter have used laser scans collected as part of the Environment Agency’s National LiDAR Programme to identify new sections of road west of the previously understood boundary.

The research was led by Dr Christopher Smart and Dr João Fonte, specialists in landscape archaeology and the heritage of the Roman Empire, in Exeter’s Department of Archaeology and History. Dr César Parcero Oubiña, from the Institute of Heritage Sciences, Spanish National Research Council in Spain, specialist in geospatial technologies applied to archaeology, led the modelling of the road network.

“Despite more than 70 years of scholarship, published maps of the Roman road network in southern Britain have remained largely unchanged and all are consistent in showing that west of Exeter, Roman Isca, there was little solid evidence for a system of long-distance roads,” Dr Smart said. “But the recent availability of seamless LiDAR coverage for Britain has provided the means to transform our understanding of the Roman road network that developed within the province, and nowhere more so than in the far southwestern counties, in the territory of the Dumnonii.”

The National LiDAR Programme was conducted between 2016 and 2022 by the UK Environment Agency, covering the whole of England, and the data was made available via the DEFRA Data Services Platform. It transformed the amount of terrain mapped of Devon and Cornwall, which had previously stood at just 11%. The Exeter team, working with public volunteers, and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Digital Skills for Heritage initiative, studied the scans and together, they were able to map around 100 km of additional roads.

Although this represented a significant advancement, the overall picture remained fragmented and patchy, with large portions of the map showing no evidence of Roman roads. So, the team developed a GIS predictive model, which could intelligently fill in the gaps as to the likely layout of the network.

Using an approach based upon Least Cost Paths — the optimal connections between two or more points — and other methods, such as focal mobility networks and transit corridors, the team began to plot primary and secondary ‘nodes’ across the two counties, including military fortifications. They then calculated the easiest routes between these points. And when the team returned to the LiDAR scans, they were able to identify a further 13 kilometres of Roman road within a short distance predicted by the model.

The final stage saw the researchers use focal mobility networks and transit corridors to extend the road network to areas that lay beyond the main Roman sites known in the region, suggesting some secondary or tertiary routes alternative to the single best optimal path in the process. This established a number of new

‘terminal points’, particularly in the far west of Cornwall and along its south coast.

“In terms of chronology, it is likely that the proposed network is an amalgam of pre-existing Prehistoric routeways, Roman military campaign roads or ‘tactical roads’ formally adopted into the provincial communications system, and of those constructed during peacetime in a wholly civilian context,” says Dr Fonte.

The research concludes that the main rationale for the network was to facilitate animal-drawn vehicles and circumvent those areas where flooding was possible. It could also influence, say the authors, future archaeological research in the region.

The findings are explored in Remote Sensing and GIS Modelling of Roman Roads in South West Britain, which has been published in the Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology. n Information and images courtesy of the University of Exeter.

Ancient Roman roads can be seen in the LiDAR-derived terrain models.

The full network of discovered Roman roads, incorporating fuzziness around their paths.

Tilt-compensated RTK GNSS receiver

Emlid has announced what it says is the most powerful and flexible RTK GNSS receiver in its product line, the Reach RS3, available in Australia from www.mapgear.com.au. Building on the capabilities of the RS2+, the RS3 features factory calibrated IMU tilt compensation for survey grade data acquisition in hard-to-reach locations, with accuracy of RTK + 2 mm + 0.3 mm/degree of tilt. Tilt compensation will be available in the Emlid Flow app, along with a new stakeout mode utilising IMU heading. The Reach RS3 also has expanded UHF radio support — while continuing to work with LoRa, it now incorporates TrimTalk™ at 450 MHz, enabling users to receive corrections from third-party bases and external radios, and making integration with other GNSS brands and existing on-site infrastructure more flexible.

Inertial measurement units

Advanced Navigation has launched two new fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) navigation solutions, the Boreas A90 and Boreas A70. The devices are strategic-grade inertial measurement units that deliver acceleration and orientation under all conditions with no reliance on GNSS using the company’s patented Digital FOG technology (which uses a specially developed digital modulation technique that passes spread spectrum signals through a closed-loop optical coil). They also feature automatic gyrocompassing which, the company claims, has led to a reduction in size, weight, power and cost compared to competing systems on the market. Advanced Navigation is targeting applications that require ultra-high accuracy orientation and navigation capabilities, such as marine, surveying, subsea, aerospace, robotics and space.

Add-in for integrating field data

Trimble has released the Trimble Terra Office add-in for Esri ArcGIS Pro, a new product for integrating Trimble TerraFlex field data collection software with GIS systems of record. ArcGIS Pro users can now create and manage TerraFlex geospatial data collection projects without leaving the ArcGIS environment, with connectivity to feature services (and hosted feature layers) published in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise, as well as traditional on-premise enterprise or personal geodatabases.

Users who collect data in TerraFlex and bring it into ArcGIS through the add-in will also be able to use the Trimble Offline GNSS Corrections service for situations where real-time correction services are intermittent or unavailable, with all data from the field being automatically processed in the cloud without user intervention.

USV with autonomous mode

C.R. Kennedy has secured the exclusive distribution rights for the CHCNaAV Apache 3 Pro USV marine drone. The Apache 3 Pro features advanced navigation, on board camera, on board RTK GPS with IMU sensor, collision avoidance software and robust design. The integration of GNSS and IMU sensors provides accurate positioning during temporary GNSS outages, such as passing under bridges, while the Apache 3 Pro’s autonomous operation mode enables users to program route and mission parameters to execute defined tasks.

The USV is suitable for purposes such as conducting bathymetric surveys, marine habitat monitoring and underwater infrastructure inspection. Additionally, it can be equipped with CHCNAV’s water assessment sensor, used to measure parameters such as PH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and others.

News and views from the Geospatial Council of Australia

CEO’s Column

Community trust in our professional expertise

We are pleased to announce the recent update and publication of the Register of Engineering Surveying Professionals Australasia Pacific (ESP-AP) on our website (geospatialcouncil. org.au). This register comprises a distinguished group of professionals who have demonstrated their exceptional competence and expertise, earning official certification as practitioners.

The significance of their expertise to Australia cannot be overstated. Engineering surveying serves as the bedrock for the substantial investments made in building and construction infrastructure across the country. The 2022–23 federal budget has committed a staggering $17.9 billion over the next decade to major infrastructure projects, including billions on road and rail projects spanning the nation. Furthermore, the total investment in major public infrastructure is anticipated to exceed $218 billion between 2021 to 2025. The overall expenditure in engineering and construction for the period between 2020 and 2025 is projected to reach $1.1 billion (according to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission).

Certification emerges as a vital avenue for engineering surveyors to showcase their expertise and leadership within the industry, thereby upholding the trust and confidence of the community.

About certification

The Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA) is a strong proponent of certification.

We oversee and manage the certification program for ESP-AP, with a competency framework used to guide recruitment, training, development and performance management processes.

For some time, the GCA, and before it SSSI, has been planning a review of the certification program to ensure it is keeping pace with the rapidly changing demands of our sector. To achieve this, we have started engaging across our membership, speaking with interested groups and large stakeholders in government, transport and industry.

We are currently in the process of releasing Version 1.2 of ESP-AP. Over the next 12 months, there will be a substantial upgrade to the ESP-AP certification as we undertake a full redesign. We will be proactively communicating with our membership to provide updates at each stage of this process.

One immediate initiative is to recruit and further develop the pool of assessors. We will soon be issuing a call for expressions of interest from those interested in being an ESP-AP assessor. This ideally suits professionals who have substantial experience in areas such as roads, rail, earthworks, drainage, wastewater, dams, ports and tunnels, and those with skills in training and assessment.

Volunteering as an assessor will not only support a vital program for the ultimate benefit of the community, but it will also provide an excellent opportunity to share your many years of experience in the profession you love.

Design Engineer Construct

We are dedicated to advancing the recommendations in the Workforce Roadmap released by the Surveyors’ Trust in April 2022. This comprehensive document serves as a blueprint for the strategic development of the geospatial workforce. It outlines key areas for improvement, enabling us to better navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

At the core of our mission lies a dedication to empowering the youth with the skills and recognition they need to excel in a rapidly evolving industry. We understand that the geospatial field is dynamic and ever-changing, and we are steadfast in ensuring that our workforce remains not only relevant but also future-ready.

One of our most exciting initiatives in this regard is our support for the implementation of the Design Engineer Construct (DEC) program in Australia. DEC is a ground-breaking educational program from the UK that introduces students to the world of careers across the built environment. Through the DEC program, we are not only raising awareness of the geospatial profession in schools but also providing invaluable support to teachers, schools, communities and industry stakeholders. We are proud to be working with some of our members to nurture the skills required for the future, and to provide students unique opportunities.

A special acknowledgment goes to Wavell States High School, Position Partners, Bennett+Bennett, UniSQ, Cecil Andrews College and Nathan Hildebrand, who have taken a leadership role in supporting the DEC program in Australia. We aim to inspire young minds to consider a future in this dynamic field. We firmly believe that early exposure is the first step in cultivating a passionate and skilled workforce.

Economic Impact Study

As you receive this edition on your desk or coffee table, our economic impact assessment (study), which was extensively discussed in my previous column, is already in progress. ACIL Allen, led by Alan Smart — a seasoned expert with over two decades of experience in economic analysis within the geospatial sector — is diligently conducting this research on our behalf.

A comprehensive study of this nature has not been undertaken in Australia since 2008. Its primary objective is to assess the direct value and potential productivity enhancement to the Australian economy. The study aims to analyse the current state in 2024 and project the potential value to the Australian economy in 2034, considering optimal policy settings that

would facilitate the growth of our sector and its broader contribution to the national economy.

Australia’s productivity gains have remained stubbornly low over the last two decades. With our economy now largely services-based, Australia is struggling to find productivity gains. Strong adoption of key technologies is recognised as the most effective way to address this problem. The productivity commission has recognised that geospatial is one of several core technologies, along with big data, AI and quantum computing, that will lift productivity when correctly applied and adopted by governments and industry.

This is an important piece of work that will be released at Locate24.

Locate24

With planning already in progress for Locate24, which is now exclusively a Geospatial Council event, one of our primary objectives was to increase accessibility for our members. We are delighted to announce that delegate prices will be 20% lower than in 2023. Additionally, we are actively designing the program to ensure that there are tailored streams catering to all our Areas of Practice. These streams include:

• Land surveying

• Engineering surveying

• Hydrography

• GIS and data

• Remote sensing and photogrammetry

• Positioning/geodesy

• Business

• Collective

In addition to these streams, a strong plenary program is being planned that will include the launch of our economic impact study and a range of exceptional international speakers. The Locate conference is the primary national conference on the Australian geospatial calendar. We do hope to see you on 7–9 May 2024 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Darling Harbour in Sydney.

In conclusion, our commitment to fostering community trust in our professional expertise remains unwavering. As we embark on these significant initiatives, from ESP-AP certification enhancements to our dedication to youth empowerment and the ground-breaking economic impact study, we are proud to serve our members and contribute to the growth of the geospatial sector. Together, we’re charting a path toward a brighter future for our industry and the broader community. Thank you for your continued support and dedication. n

Tony Wheeler CEO, Geospatial Council of Australia

State and Territory Chairs and Co-Chairs

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 to be confirmed

Young and Emerging Professionals Chair

Oscar So

Western Australia Chair

Laren Collen

“We are dedicated to advancing the recommendations in the Workforce Roadmap released by the Surveyors’ Trust.”

The case for change

The following excerpts are taken from the GCA’s submission to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

The geospatial sector is undergoing a period of rapid expansion fuelled by substantial investments in other parts of the economy such as infrastructure, resources, communications, transport, emergency management and response, tourism, health and other services that heavily rely on geospatial data, technology and services.

Unfortunately, this growth is outpacing the availability of skilled workers, creating a critical skills gap. Compounding this issue is the closure of education and training institutions that traditionally provided vital services to address this gap.

The increasing demand for geospatial professionals across the country necessitates precise data on the occupation category requirements of this specialised field. This ensures a thorough understanding and helps shape training and skills migration paths, all informed by accurate labour-force data. This data is significant in informing policy, determining strategic investments and shaping workforce development strategies.

In a recent study commissioned by Consulting Surveyors National, titled Determining the Future Demand, Supply and Skills Gap for Surveying and Geospatial Professionals: 2022 - 2032, it was forecast that the geospatial sector requires an additional 1,400 skilled workers each year for a decade to bridge the existing skills gap, particularly in the areas of surveyors and geospatial skills. This projected workforce shortage, if left unaddressed, threatens to hinder the sector’s capacity to contribute effectively to national development goals and innovative projects across various domains.

As far back as 2013, ACIL Tasman (now ACIL Allen), in its study titled Surveying and Geospatial Workforce Modelling, reported that data represented in Government statistics may not reflect the full size or diversity breakdown of the workforce, given that it relies on individuals’ identification of occupations represented in the Census data and quarterly labour-force reports informed by ANZSCO.

The Australian geospatial industry is experiencing significant growth demand, and there is a growing need for geospatial data to meet clients’ needs. The shortage of a skilled geospatial workforce is inhibiting our industry’s growth. This skills shortage is further impacted by the current representation of surveying and spatial occupations in ANZSCO not accurately representing the growth and diversity in the geospatial sector.

GCA acknowledges that the ANZSCO describes occupations for Australia and New Zealand in a way that identifies primary tasks. GCA proposes that geospatial skills are unique and should be specifically identified as emerging skills within Data Analytic skills.

Geospatial skills such as in geospatial information systems (GIS) focus on geospatial data and visualisation applied across industries of growth such as urban planning, environmental science and management, resource management, government services and emergency management.

Forecasting suggests the industry’s high number of matureaged workers (particularly cadastral surveyors) are approaching retirement, with only a narrow pipeline of new professionals

©stock.adobe.com/au/naschy

on track to be licensed/registered. This comes at a time of unprecedented investment in infrastructure with the Australian Government investing $110 billion over ten years from 2021–22 in land transport through its rolling infrastructure pipeline. Total investment in major public infrastructure is expected to exceed $218 billion between 2021 and 2025. And there’s the $10 billion Housing Policy, along with the $1.8 billion South East Queensland City Deal and the $17.61 billion spend for the 2032 Olympic Games.

International and national standards

The Australian geospatial sector collaborates with international organisations and operates within state, national and international standards. GCA has strategic partnerships with key international organisations that set global standards associated across occupations within the geospatial sector. GCA’s recommendation for elevating Geospatial to a Minor Group aligns with both national and international standards, reinforcing its importance across these contexts:

1. United Nations: The United Nations established the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UNGGIM) in 2011 as the apex intergovernmental mechanism for making joint decisions and setting directions on the production, availability and application of geospatial information within national, regional and global policy frameworks. The UN-GGIM established the United Nations Geospatial Network with the aim of strengthening the coordination and coherence of geospatial information management within the United Nations’ system and to enable the efficient use and optimisation of geospatial information.

2. International Federation of Surveyors (FIG): FIG is the premier international organisation representing the interests of

surveyors. It is a federation of the national member associations and covers the whole range of professional fields within the global surveying, geomatics, geodesy and geo-information community. It provides an international forum for discussion and development aiming to promote professional practice and standards. GCA is the FIG association member for Australia.

3. International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO): The International Hydrographic Organisation is an intergovernmental organisation that works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted. Established in 1921, it coordinates the activities of national hydrographic offices and promotes uniformity in nautical charts and documents. It issues survey best practices, provides guidelines to maximise the use of hydrographic survey data and develops hydrographic capabilities in Member States, including Australia. GCA is a partner of the IHO and delivers the specialist Australasian Hydrographic Surveyors Certification to international standards established by the IHO and supported by the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO).

4. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS): The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing is a non-governmental member-based organisation devoted to the development of international cooperation for the advancement of photogrammetry and remote sensing and their applications. GCA is the ISPRS member association for Australia.

5. Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC): OGC is an international consortium of experts committed to improving access to geospatial, or location information. It connects people, communities and technology to solve global challenges and address everyday needs. Its output involves standards development and innovation through funded collaborative projects involving researchers and industry. OGC is an important and authoritative international geospatial standards body.

6. National Competency Standards: ANZSCO supports the Automatic Mutual Recognition approach to licensing and registration of licensed surveyors. The Council of the Reciprocating Surveyors Boards of Australia & New Zealand’s (CRSBANZ) ongoing commitment to mutual recognition of professional registration in Australia and New Zealand supports the Cadastre 2034 Goal 5: achieve a cadastral system that is a federated cadastral system based on common standards. Our recommendation: The elevation of Geospatial to a SubMajor Group (in part) and a Minor Group within the ANZSCO classification is a strategic imperative that aligns with global standards, industry needs and economic growth. Accurate representation of geospatial occupations will enhance labour market insights, support education and training decisions, and facilitate cross-sectoral policy formulation. As the Australian economy evolves, the inclusion of geospatial occupations in ANZSCO is essential to ensuring a skilled, adaptable and resilient workforce capable of meeting the challenges of the modern world.

Proposed Restructure to ANZSCO

GCA recommends the following revisions to ANZSCO. GCA requests that Geospatial occupations be restructured and grouped together — this will enable a more holistic approach in reviewing and updating the Classifications and enable greater transparency in labour-force data.

Occupations currently fall within the following Focus Areas:

• Architects, designers, planners and surveyors

• Building and engineering technicians

• Agricultural, medical and science technicians

• Construction and mining labourers

• Scientific Research Services

A summary of recommended structural changes to the current structure include:

• Introduce Geospatial as a classification under Sub-Minor Group (in Major Group: Technicians and Trade Workers), Minor Group 3-digit and Unit Group 4-digit

• Introduce new occupations under 6-digit aligned to Major Groups 1, 2, 3

• A long-standing area of concern for the sector is where Hydrographer currently sits in ANZSCO, the assigned Skill level and definition. GCA recommends that the occupation Hydrographer (311415) is moved out from Agriculture, Medical and Science Technicians (311) to the proposed Geospatial Minor Group Geospatial Information Professionals and Surveyors. Change the Occupation 6-digit to Hydrographic Surveyor and change the definition to the globally standard definition as set out in the Table.

• Move Surveying Technicians (312199) out from 3121 Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians into the new proposed structure

• Move Surveyor’s Assistant (821915) from Construction and Mining Labourers (821) into the new proposed structure aligned to the new definition of tasks.

Therefore, the recommended group structures would be as follows:

Major Group: 1 – Managers

• Sub-Major Group: 13 – Specialist Manager

• Minor Group: 136 - Geospatial Manager

• Unit Group: 1361 – Geospatial Manager Specialist

• Occupations: 1361XX – Chief Geospatial Officer

• Unit Group: 1362 – Survey Manager Specialist

• Occupations: 1362XX – Hydrographer of Australia

• Occupations: 1362XX – Surveyor-General

Major Group: 2 – Professionals

• Sub-Major Group: 23 – Design, Engineering, Science & Transport Professionals

• Minor Group: 235 – Geospatial Professionals

• Unit Group: 2351 – Geospatial Information Professionals and Surveyors

• Occupation: 2351XX – Cadastral Surveyor

• 2351XX – Mining Surveyor

• 2351XX – Engineering Surveyor

• 2351XX – Hydrographic Surveyor (change definition)

• 2351XX – Geodesist

• 2351XX – Photogrammetrist

• 2351XX – Nautical Cartographer

• 2351XX – Cartographer

• 2351XX – Geospatial Scientist

• 2351XX – Geospatial Solutions Architect

• 2351XX – Geospatial Analyst

• 2351XX – Geospatial Information Systems Manager

• 2351XX – GIS Officer

• 2351XX – Remote Sensing Analyst

• 2351XX – Remote Sensing Scientist

• 2351XX – Remote Sensing Technician

You can read the GCA’s full submission to ANZSCO at geospatialcouncil.org.au. n

Kate Lundy: Shaping a geospatial future with vision and leadership

In a significant development set to leave a lasting imprint on the Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA), we introduce the Honourable Kate Lundy, HonLittD, GAICD, as the latest addition to the organisation’s board of directors. Kate’s extensive and diverse career background spans politics, technology and corporate governance, making her a compelling choice for this pivotal role.

With a distinguished career exceeding 19 years as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory, Kate is renowned for her unwavering commitment to public service and her substantial influence in shaping information and communications policy. Her journey includes the notable honour of receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the Australian National University, recognising her exceptional contributions to the field. Beyond her political tenure, Kate has seamlessly into corporate leadership, currently serving on the boards of several significant organisations, including the Australian Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre (Chair), the Canberra Institute of Technology (Chair), Electro Optical Systems, NRMA and the National Youth Science Forum. Possessing high-level skills in governance and strategic planning, and with a vast network of industry and government connections, Kate is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the GCA’s mission of promoting excellence, inclusivity and strategic growth within the geospatial sector.

A journey into geospatial

Kate’s journey into the geospatial industry began with a profound interest in technology’s influence on industry, society and the economy. This interest, which she cultivated early in her professional career, eventually shaped her priorities as a Senator. In the 1990s, she recognised the critical significance of geospatial information, as well as the technologies and services that underpin it. To her, the geospatial sector represented not just a critical technology, but one deserving of recognition and support.

Inspired leadership

Kate’s journey to the GCA Board was sparked by a deep appreciation of the organisation’s direction. She sees her involvement as a privilege, particularly in this transformative phase when SIBA and SSSI have merged to form the GCA. Kate does not merely view this consolidation as a strategic move; she finds it genuinely inspiring. In addition to recognising the wisdom of this union, she takes a heartfelt moment to pay her respects

and acknowledge the visionary leadership of the late Peter Woodgate, the founding Chair. Peter’s pioneering efforts and shared vision have left an indelible mark on the geospatial sector, and Kate is determined to contribute meaningfully to its continued growth and unity in his memory.

Fostering relevance and impact

As a Board member, Kate is deeply committed to amplifying the relevance of the geospatial sector. She places particular emphasis on the practical applications of geospatial tools and services, especially their capacity to benefit communities, society and industry alike. Her vision revolves around cultivating a broader understanding of the geospatial sector among leaders and professionals. “At heart, I am a connector and strategist,” she says. Her vision extends to a future in which the geospatial community and its leaders not only grasp, but also appreciate, the pivotal role played by the sector. This encompasses valuing and celebrating the achievements of professionals who continually update their skills to keep pace with evolving technologies.

Evolving for the future

The GCA’s journey towards evolving and meeting the ever-changing needs of the geospatial industry is a collaborative endeavour with its members. Kate emphasises the importance of active listening, advocating for change and growing together. She acknowledges that this transformation necessitates both patience from members and the guidance of a strong and effective executive team to adapt existing systems to new models of engagement, support and advocacy.

Driving geospatial excellence and impact

Kate’s passion for enhancing Australia’s national strategic interests through critical technologies is a central driving force in all her endeavours. She believes geospatial services and technologies possess immense potential to enable societal resilience. Her vision for the GCA involves creating a robust presence and narrative that encompasses all aspects of the geospatial realm, ultimately advancing the council’s mission and leaving an enduring imprint on the industry.

In welcoming Kate as an independent director, the GCA gains not only a seasoned leader, but also an advocate for inclusivity, innovation and strategic growth. Her vision, firmly rooted in technology’s transformative power, promises to illuminate the path toward a more inclusive, impactful and vibrant geospatial future. n