The World of Drones & Robotics Congress 2021 (WoDaRC) will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 15 and 16 November 2021. Like last year, it will be presented in a hybrid format, providing in-person physical participation for those able to attend in Brisbane and a high-quality digital experience for those who cannot.

Due to additional companies seeking display space, WoDaRC has moved to a larger space (the Boulevard Auditorium) within the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Auditorium will also cater to larger numbers and provide increased social distancing for all those attending sessions.

Physical and virtual registration options are available. Al registration options, physical and digital, include access to all congress sessions for six months post-event on an on-demand basis via the WoDaRC viewer portal.

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

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

FIRA is a leading global event series, which this year is focused on the new era of robotics in agriculture and the huge impact it will have on the whole value chain. For the sixth year running, FIRA will be a hybrid in-person/online event, and is expected to attract 3000-plus attendees from around the world, including robot manufacturers, agricultural businesses, producers, investors, suppliers and entrepreneurs.

The presenters for this topical webinar will be Dr Craig Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Surveying/GPS/Geodesy at UNSW and Wayne Patterson Director, Spatial Operations at the NSW Department of Customer Service.

Roberts will give a short update on the revision of the Australian Standard, AS_5488 Classification of subsurface utility information in the context of datum modernisation, low-cost multi-GNSS and recent advances in positioning infrastructure in Australia.

Data storage, data distribution and security are identified as challenges suggesting a reimagined data governance will be needed. Could a spatial digital twin assist? What is a spatial digital twin? Is it a BIM? Where does it come from? What is an open data policy? Who can use it? Can I use it? Which datum? How accurate is the data?

Rather than just another PowerPoint webinar, Roberts will interview Patterson in a free-flowing format. Attendees will be invited to ask their own questions live in the chat as the conversation evolves.

This webinar is targeted at surveyors, geospatial users, students and the wider spatial community.

The Australian Institute of Mine Surveyors (AIMS) National Conference will be held from 25 to and 27 May 2022 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast, Queensland.

The conference will begin on the Wednesday with optional workshops and a welcome dinner, followed the next day by a full program of sessions on a range of topics plus networking with sponsors within the network market place. There will have a final dinner on Thursday evening at the hotel, while Friday will again see a full day of conferring and networking.

Well-known comedian Elliot Goblet (described as “one of the most original comedians in the history of the known universe”) will be the MC for the welcome dinner, while the equally well-known sporting personality Sam Kekovich has been confirmed as the keynote speaker (“you know it makes sense”).

Image credit: RACV

The World of Drones and Robotics Congress 2022 is scheduled to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Similar to 2021, it will be held in a hybrid format — in-person and online.

The World of Drones and Robotics Congress New Zealand (WoDaRC NZ) is shaping up as an unmissable event for anyone involved in robotics, drones, AI, AgTech and data-led innovation. WoDaRC is business-led, technology based and will create opportunities for collaboration and growth across the technology ecosystem.

Topics to be covered include:

• Regional capability and strategy
• Humanitarian engineering and disaster response
• Environmental science and agricultural technology
• The new frontiers: oceans, mountains, and space
• Movies, media, community, and social empowerment
• Education