Call for Australia to be spatia world leader

18 February 2010, 9:50pm

Australia is uniquely placed to step up and secure the title of world leader in global spatial technology said Paul Farrell, the newly elected Chairman of peak industry body the Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA) and Managing Director of NGIS Australia.

“We need to raise our eyes beyond our borders and tell the world about our industry, and our effort needs to be coordinated, supported and tightly targeted using the pillars* of our industry,” he said.

He called for the industry to rally and claim the title of spatial heavy weight champion of the world, saying that claiming the title begins with a statement of intent: Australia wants to be great at spatial technology.

From the west to the east coasts of Australia, he noted how the industry is developing the elements and potential to take the world by storm.

He said spatial technology is becoming the must-have tool for solving planning and resource management issues across the world, with everyday applications like Google Earth and Microsoft Bing having put the technology well and truly on the map.

“A decade ago, Google Maps, in-car navigation systems and free high resolution data systems did not exist, so we can see how far the industry has come and the list of potential uses for GIS is limitless,” he said.

Mr Farrell will be rallying the industry at spatial events and gatherings across Australia following his recent appointment to SIBA, and the warm reception he received as a presenter at last year’s Western Australian Land Information System (WALIS) Conference in Perth.

During the event, he spoke of the export value of the spatial capabilities being developed in Australia and the nation’s achievements in disruptive spatial technology such as Indji.

He said investment capital and export dollars would support further research and development, and help gain more support from governments for the industry flywheel to be set in motion.

*SIBA, CRCSI (Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Industry) ANZLIC (Australian, New Zealand Land Information Council) and SSSI (Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute).

NGIS

Geo: International