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3D data shapes our lives

Technology

LEADING experts in the spatial sciences have gathered in Adelaide to discuss how their work is shaping the world around us as part of the 7th Annual South Australian Spatial Information Day (SID2014).

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The event program features presentations covering many aspects of spatial information and geographic information systems (GIS), including land and hydrography surveying, engineering, mining, remote sensing and cartography.

“Spatial information is the intelligence behind our business decisions,” explained Gary Maguire, Regional Committee Chair of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute South Australia (SSSI-SA).

“As an example of the sort of value our expertise can add, the geospatial industry brings $AUD 155-210 million in benefits to agriculture each year across Australia. We also provide about an annual 4% productivity gain to fisheries in this country,” he said. 

As well as primary production, spatial information can be used in managing health, education, populations, land and assets, conservation, climate change and urban development.

“A recent report in our field suggested that by 2030, the geospatial industry will contribute about 1.2-2.1% of the GDP in Australia,” said Gary.

The conference was opened by keynote presentations by Lian Pin Koh (Founding Director of the non-profit global organisation Conservation Drones) and Adelaide’s Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood.

The Lord Mayor delivered a presentation entitled Adelaide’s Future as a Digital City, and described how real time data is used to efficiently move people in and out, and to re-shape cities every day.

“Information changes how humans interact with the world around them,” said Mayor Yarwood.

“Humans use a common language of binary digits to change how we move across the curvature of the Earth.”

Also part of the program, the Women in Spatial Breakfast featured special guests South Australian Minister Zoe Bettison, surveyor Marika Boelen from Fyfe Earth Partners and Natalie Hamood from The Department of State Development.

“We know that there are female industry professionals working in the spatial field, but they’re not very prominent,” explained SID2014 Strategic Director Penny Baldcock.

Women in Spatial is a national body, and we concentrate on building and encouraging the network of women who work in geographic information systems and related areas.”

SID2014 is an initiative of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) and Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA) in South Australia.

More information on SID2014, including a full program is available at http://www.spatialinformationday.org.au/

Follow content from SID2014 on twitter through accounts @TheLeadSA and @SSSI_SA, and via tags #SID2014 and #SSSI_SA

This is a Creative Commons story from The Lead South Australia, a news service providing stories about innovation in South Australia. Please feel free to use the story in any form of media. The story sources are linked in with the copy and all contacts are willing to talk further about the story. Copied to Clipboard

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