The Survey and Spatial New Zealand 2021 Annual Conference will draw on the ability of individuals and teams to adapt to change, adversity and setbacks in the current environment.

The conference program will include presentations on rebuilding and improving the economy, with a focus on resilient mindsets to support our members while they navigate the challenges and changes ahead. By sharing concepts, ideas and knowledge, industry members have opportunities to help build back the survey and spatial sector.

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 FIG Congress — the largest and most prestigious conference of surveying and geospatial professionals — will this year be held in Poland.

The organisers are expecting an attendance of 1,000 to 1,500 surveying and geospatial experts from all over the world.

This year the local host is the Association of Polish Surveyors, and the conference theme is ‘Volunteering for the future – Geospatial excellence for a better living’. Geospatial excellence and all related professions and topics are now seen in a much broader context and as public goods and beneficial for the well-being and betterment of the entire society.

The sub themes are:

• Surveyor 4.0
• The surveying profession in and after COVID times
• Open access to data
• Surveying competence for other disciplines

The FIG Congress 2022 will give passionate professionals the opportunity to:

• Learn globally, with participation from around 80 to 90 countries
• Learn across silos, from other countries, industries and professional roles – with sessions and representation from a broad range of surveyors and geospatial experts
• Have influence on careers, organisations and communities

Presented by the Space Industry Association of Australia, the Southern Space Symposium brings together space industry experts and decision-makers from across Australia.

This year’s Symposium will connect the space industry together with government and parliament for two days to help shape the future agenda of Australian space’s aspirations.

Participants will include federal government departments and agencies, international agencies and missions, defence and space prime contractors, listed space companies, academic and research organisations, small and medium enterprises, space start-ups and individual space professionals.

The overall theme for the FIG Working Week 2023 will be ‘Protecting our world, conquering new frontiers,’ which refers to the importance of looking ahead and discovering what will be needed in the future for our profession and at the same time make sure to preserve what works well today.

The FIG Working Week 2023 will give passionate professionals the opportunity to:

• Learn globally, with participation from around 80 to 90 countries.
• Learn across silos, from other countries, industries and professional roles, with sessions and representation from the broad range of surveyors and geospatial experts.
• Make impacts on careers, organisations and communities.

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

Each year representatives from the Association of Consulting Surveyors NSW and the Institution of Surveyors NSW come together to organise the NSW Excellence in Surveying and Spatial Information (EISSI) Awards.

The awards recognise the achievements of organisations and individuals from across the state who are engaged in the surveying and spatial information profession; celebrate excellence before an audience of industry peers; encourage activities that create a stronger, larger and more relevant industry; and embrace the achievements of the industry and its related industries and professions.

Hosted by the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils and the Riverina Spatial Information Group, Mapped Out 2023 will bring together public- and private-sector professionals to learn about the latest geospatial developments.

Mapped Out will highlight the diversity of applications for spatial data, geographic information systems and their supporting technologies. Guest speakers with local and national experience will be showcasing the use of spatial data to enhance the operation and delivery of government services.

The Conference is a great opportunity for people working in regional NSW in both local government and the private sector to keep abreast of the latest technology and geographical information systems that can be utilised in their day-to-day work.