The Australasian magazine of surveying, mapping & geo-information
Publisher Simon Cooper Editor Charles Pauka charles@intermedia.com.au Journalist Simon Chester Graphic Designer Alyssa Coundouris National Advertising Manager Troy Hale thale@intermedia.com.au Circulation/Subscriptions Chris Blacklock Production Jacqui Cooper www.spatialsource.com.au Position is published six times a year, in February, April, June, August, October and December by Interpoint Events Pty Ltd. ABN: 9810 451 2469 Address: 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Ph: +61 2 9660 2113 Fax: +61 2 9660 4419 Editorial inquiries should be sent to: charles@intermedia.com.au Advertising inquiries should be sent to: thale@intermedia.com.au Ph: +61 2 8586 6103 Designed and produced by The Intermedia Group, 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Position is available via subscription only. To subscribe visit www.intermedia. com.au, phone 1 800 651 422 or email: subscriptions@intermedia.com.au. Subscription rates and information can be found on page 51. Reprints from Position are permitted only with the permission of the publisher. In all cases, reprints must be acknowledged as follows: ‘Reprinted with permission from Position Magazine’, and must include the author’s byline. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Supported by
from the editor T
he news from McCrindle Research that surveying is the smartest choice for prospective students in which to enrol (read about it at http://tinyurl.com/odvrorq), ranking it as ‘Australia’s most underrated degree’ will probably put a wry but knowing smile on those in the industry, rather than come as a surprise. This is because not only are surveying firms continually battling to recruit well-rounded graduates, but also as many in the industry and academia have already recognised, the profession must be proactive in communicating its attractions to the workforce of tomorrow to fill present and future vacancies – hence programs run by the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) as well as ‘Destination Spatial’ and ‘A Life Without Limits’. Like with so many other things in life, it is perceptions and set-in-concrete ideas against which the profession is battling. The notion of surveyors in the public’s mind is of the men in fluoro vests standing by an unwieldy tripod. While cadastral surveying forms an important part of the surveyor’s task, it is just one of many duties a graduate may find themselves doing. In fact, after graduating, their degree could mean working with roads, mapping, oceanography or something with volcanoes – the possibilities are virtually endless. As this issue of Position magazine illustrates, the spatial industry is as diverse as the Earth is large, and those who dedicate themselves to the profession can find themselves in far-flung places dealing with people of a multitude of nationalities – working to assist with the construction of a new hospital as part of an aid project in Guatemala, providing 3D visualisation to improve the public’s viewing experience for the celebrated Sydney NYE fireworks, or helping lay the groundwork for the Australian World Land Speed Record attempt in the desert. Enjoy reading your February/March issue of Position magazine, and if you know any young people who may be trying to decide what to do with their working lives, pass it on – you may attract another young mind to the world of spatial.
Charles Pauka Editor charles@intermedia.com.au
Coming soon April/May 2014 Emergency and disaster management – UAS – Defence – Surveying Special June/July 2014 GIS in local government – Utilities – Cloud computing – Hydrography
On the cover Councils’ new GIS game plan Organisation-wide spatial strategies have seen the use of GIS in local government burgeon. www.spatialsource.com.au 7