Martin Place will be NSW’s most mapped location on Wednesday 5th September, as part of a Surveying & Mapping Industry Day aimed at raising awareness of the crucial role surveying plays in everyday life.
Primary, secondary and tertiary students will join mining, emergency services, government, education and industry representatives to take part in a series of mapping exercises, technology displays and exhibitions.
Initiatives such as www.destinationspatial.org and www.alifewithoutlimits.com.au will be promoted, and a free DVD will be distributed.
“It can be easy to overlook, but surveying is essential for modern life, underpinning everything from economic development to urban renewal, disaster planning, environmental management and the current mining boom,” Des Mooney, Surveyor General of NSW said.
“It’s also rapidly being reinvented as technologies like satellites, GPS, laser mapping, smart software and digital 3D imaging become the new tools of the trade and open new opportunities.”
And that, according to Craig Roberts from the UNSW School of Surveying and Geospatial Engineering, means the profession is entering a time of unprecedented opportunity.
“Surveyors have never been in such demand and there are something like 3 jobs for every surveying graduate from our School,” Craig Roberts said.
“But as the current profession gets older we need to keep attracting younger people with all the digital, high-tech skills we now need.”
SSSI President, Gary Maguire, commented that the surveying industry has had a critical role in developing Australia as we know it today.
“The future of economic development, major infrastructure projects and science research in Australia will require geospatial technologist to provide evidence to the facts. It is important for peak industry bodies like SSSI to highlight the value which this profession brings to the community, and through events like Surveying & Mapping Day we are increasing the awareness and opportunities for careers in our sector,” Gary said.
The Surveying & Mapping Industry Day runs from 7:30 am to 3 pm on Wednesday 5 September from Castlereagh Street to Pitt Street, Martin Place in Sydney.
For more information contact: Warwick Hehir 0429 020 572, Kelly Rischmiller 0401 815 972 or Gaby van Wyk 0406 539 607
