A new website launched last week will help people put themselves on a career path in the spatial information industry and become “the brains behind the map”.
Barely a day goes by without the news including something from organisations like Apple, Google, Nokia or Microsoft accessing better, more appropriate or more detailed and accurate location or “spatial” information and delivering it to their users.
The “where you are in the world” aspect of life is more important and more accessible than it has ever been to all sectors of our community. It is the foundation on which all aspects of our existence is based and is now available at the touch of your smartphone. This is demonstrated most vividly by the importance some of the largest and most influential companies in the world place upon mapping and location-based information.
“And yet,” says Andrea Herklots, Regional and National Director of the Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA) and an industry leader in workforce development initiatives, “the people that acquire, analyse, manage and present the information upon which so many others base their decisions are in desperately short supply”.
“One of the hardest things we’ve had to do is get the right information about these opportunities out to students, parents, teachers and career advisers,” she said.
In a world first, the spatial, or “geospatial” industry, has mobilised its business, professional, educational, and customer groups to do something about it. And the solution was developed with the help of the students themselves.
The new website, www.destinationspatial.org, is the result of extensive research to find out what information students and parents need and how to present it in a way that encourages them to investigate further. It is the public face of the multi-sectoral Destination Spatial movement gathering momentum around Australia and New Zealand.
“Students and parents can now “meet” real people in the various disciplines of the spatial industry, look at real projects from all over the world carried out by Australia and New Zealand trained people, find every spatial or related course in Australia and New Zealand, and participate in real opportunities,” said Ms Herklots.
“And it’s all in one place – www.destinationspatial.org”, she said.
The spatial information industry has been around for centuries, but computerisation has enabled its capabilities to expand enormously and its impact on everything continues to revolutionise the way we live.
Right now, it is an industry that offers excellent career opportunities for people who want to put themselves on the map.
