During GEO Week 2021, the Group on Earth Observations will present the multidisciplinary activities of the GEO Work Programme that address policy agendas involved in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

The online event will include the GEO-17 plenary, plus anchor and side events. Time will be scheduled each day for virtual networking. On Monday, November 22, the 56th Executive Committee will be held as a closed meeting.

Of particular importance will be the anchor events: These are the main events designed by GEO week 2021 organisers to explain the multidisciplinary nature of GEO through the concept of nexus thinking. Working on multiple topics simultaneously is essential in today’s rapidly changing environmental and social conditions. For example, work in one area will have a knock-on effect or impact in another area, such as the water, energy and food nexus. These events are linked to the global policy agendas that underpin most of GEO’s work.

Image credit: NASA

The ROTORTECH 2022 Helicopter and Unmanned Flight Exposition is the premier industry event for the Helicopter/Rotary Wing and RPAS/UAV/eVTOL community in Australia, New Zealand and the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The event provides a vital interface between industry, regulators and government, including:

• Operations and safety presentations
• Industry conferences
• Industry exposition showcasing the products and services of helicopter and unmanned flight related companies

ROTORTECH 2022 will host conferences by the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) and Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) and feature presentations by key rotary and unmanned systems industry experts from Australia and the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Survey and Spatial NZ’s 2022 conference will be held from 1 to 3 August at the Novotel Lakeside, Rotorua. The conference is the biggest continuing professional development event of the year for NZ surveying and spatial professionals. It invites sharing of knowledge amongst peers, bringing together networking opportunities for all delegates and is an essential event for professional development and connectivity within the sector.

The choice of Rotorua as the location is apt, given the conference theme of ‘Turning up the Heat’. The organisers aim to stimulate discussion regarding challenges in regional areas, which include climate change and developments outside of Auckland.

The Local Government Spatial Reference Group (LGSRG) will be holding a webinar on Monday, 4 September, to introduce a series of hands-on workshops it will be holding across Victoria during September 2023.

The webinar will cover the topic of Best Practice Geospatial Intelligence for Climate Impact, and will address important topics on climate impact, community safety and how geospatial intelligence can contribute to better outcomes for local governments.

The LGSRG was formed in 2003 to address the need for a sector wide group representing the strategic interests of the Victorian Local Government sector with respect to spatial information. The LGSRG has been active throughout the COVID pandemic to keep the local government geospatial community connected and engaged via the annual Spatial Capability Workshop series which have grown year on year, and is now diversifying with a quarterly Spatial Hour webinar to share stories of success within the local government geospatial sector.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/yutthana