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 Australian Association for Unmanned Systems’ ‘RPAS in Australian Skies 2022’ conference aims to continue discussion on the safe integration of RPAS into Australian airspace. It is supported by key government and industry participants and has established itself as a landmark event in the Australian RPAS calendar.

The 2022 themes will cover:

• Policy and Regulatory updates from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, CASA, AirServices Australia and the Australian Defence Force relating to the use of emerging aviation technology in Australia.
• UAS Traffic Management (UTM), low level airspace, integrated airspace systems challenges and opportunities.
• Industry challenges and perspectives
• Continuing development of a professional and safe industry.
• ATSB RPAS data and trends
• Emerging technology and innovative solutions enabling integration or RPAS into Australian airspace.
• Future infrastructure requirements to enable drone delivery and advanced air mobility (AAM).
• Emerging RPAS and AAM applications – benefits, viability and social acceptance.

The conference will be a hybrid event incorporating face to face (live) and online (virtual) choices for participants. It will also include the AAUS Gala Dinner featuring the AAUS Industry Awards.

The International Cartographic Association (ICA) Commission on Atlases, the ICA Commission on Map Design, the Joint ICA-IGU Commission on Toponymy, the National Geographic Institute of Spain (IGN) and the Spanish Society for Cartography, Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (SECFT) will jointly host a conference on atlases, toponymy and map design in Madrid.

During six sessions of four presentations each, questions concerning evolving dissemination concepts and techniques for atlases, recent development and examples of national atlases as well as important map design and toponomastic issues in atlas production will be discussed.

The theme of the event will be ‘Atlases in time’. Presentations will be held in a 20-minute format of 15 minutes presenting and 5 minutes discussion.

On behalf of the Locate Australia Conferences it is our pleasure to invite you to join us at Locate22, 24 – 26 May in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

Locate22 returns to the Nation’s Capital in the traditional format of a live event at the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC). With the ability to be COVID safe, within a socially distanced environment, the NCCC is the perfect venue for Australia’s premier spatial and surveying conference. Canberra brings an incomparable setting with iconic national attractions surrounding Lake Burley Griffin and the Parliamentary Triangle.

This year Locate22 will incorporate dedicated streams into the format of the conference. This will enable focused discussion from across industry sectors on how location technologies and practices are being used, highlighting the fundamental role they play in shaping Australia’s future.

Industry, government, non-profit and academics are demanding new opportunities for innovation, efficiency and improved responsiveness, particularly in location-based information. In the past year alone, we’ve seen how location information can provide societal, environmental and economic benefits to our communities.  Recent national emergencies such as bushfires, drought, floods and COVID-19 all have long-term effects on our cities, towns, land, environment and people. These national, place-based challenges require collaborative solutions that must be data-driven, provide insightful analysis, and be easy for anyone, anywhere to use.

Location in Action is about how we learn, share and connect as a community and with end users to drive deeper insights and aid better decision-making  powered through location data, science and technologies.

Come and join us in Canberra where you will have an opportunity to network with national and international colleagues, have direct access to industry and subject matter experts, see the newest technology, and be introduced to the newest ideas in the spatial and surveying sector.

ALISON ROSE

CONVENOR
LOCATE 22