More than 80 guest speakers and 40 exhibitors including sponsors have descended on the Canberra Convention Centre for spatial@gov, a conference that brings together the latest cutting-edge spatial technologies from both government and the private sector.
Organised by Hannover Fairs Australia (HFA), the company that produces the ICT exhibition CeBIT, spatial@gov is the only geospatial event organised in conjunction with the peak organisations in Australia and New Zealand representing the public, private, research and professional sectors of the spatial community including ANZLIC—the Spatial Information Council (representing all governments of Australia and New Zealand) and the German Government (through global associate Deutsche Messe AG).
HFA Managing Director Jackie Taranto said that geospatial technology was integral in every corner of the business world and across government, with up to 80% of information connected to a specific location in some way.
“Geospatial technologies contribute more than $12 billion to the Australian GDP and the industry is a key player in the nation's new economy,” she said.
“spatial@gov will build on the success and momentum of last year. This year’s event will align the spatial capabilities of the three tiers of government and highlight the uses and benefits of location to assist government develop policy, deliver programs, enhance service delivery and streamline business practices.
“We have gathered the leaders in the field for our conference and the program will examine the role of geospatial technologies in disaster management, defence operations, the impact of greater access to public sector information and various other applications,” Ms Taranto said.
Among the 40 exhibitors are Oracle, PSMA Australia, Omnilink and Raytheon.
The main themes being addressed during spatial@gov include water security, spatial@defence, Government Spatial activities in other countries, Access to Government Spatial Information, Emergency Response and the Spatial Framework for Virtual Australia.
Among the keynote speakers will be Roger Wilkins AO from the Attorney General’s Department, Senator Kate Lundy, Fraser McLeod from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and Michael Haines, CEO Virtual Australia New Zealand Infrastructure Limited.