Martin place became a hub of activity last week, when a Surveying and Mapping Industry Day was held to lift the public profile of the surveying profession.
Surveying underpins many crucial elements of modern society, including economic development, urban renewal, disaster planning, environmental management and more.
Yet, there is a definite shortage of skilled workers entering the industry. The Industry Day aimed to address this by showing off some of the roles that surveyors play in society.
On hand at the event were surveyors from different companies and specialties, helping promote some of the work that they do, as well as representatives from professional bodies like SSSI, educational institutes like UNSW, and other relevant groups like www.destinationspatial.org and www.alifewithoutlimits.com.au.
Set up in the centre of Martin Place was a huge video screen that showed of some of the more interesting surveying applications. The video will be shown at various events across Australia.
Des Mooney, Surveyor General of NSW attended, and said “There’s a great diversity in our profession, and this video helps point out, in an easy way, what it’s about.”
“It’s about getting a public face out there,” said Warwick Hehir NSW regional chair for SSSI. “We’re showing off the work we do – tying the maps to the profession that created them.”
Craig Roberts, from the UNSW School of Surveying and Geospatial Engineering, believes that 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.
