Winners
Kexiang (Frank) Hu
Postgraduate Student Award
PhD Student Mr Kexiang(Frank) Hu has demonstrated outstanding abilities to conduct high-quality research by addressing different groundwater issues in Australia. His strong background in hydroclimate and hydrogeology offered new insights into understanding Australian groundwater. Also, his excellent statistical skills in Geodesy enabled him to quickly come up with effective and reliable solutions to different groundwater-related issues. Furthermore, he demonstrated high analytical and computational skills in machine learning by processing big data and dealing with complex multi-factor problems.
Tong Ding
Undergraduate Student Award
Mr Ding's project is currently revised in Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, on employing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to infill this gap clearly demonstrates that GNSS radio occultations (GNSS-RO), are emerging as a new technology for upper-air monitoring, which is crucial for tackling climate change and understanding changing weather patterns that are associated with it. His use of GNSS-RO in-fills 80% of the African radiosonde data gap demonstrates the importance and urgency of his research, whose outcomes are significant to climate studies and promotes the use of surveying and spatial technique to help tackle climate change impacts.
Michael Kuhn
Professional of the Year
Dr Michael Kuhn is an associate professor and the Deputy Director of teaching and learning within the School of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Curtin University. He holds a PhD (summa cum laude) in Geodesy from University of Karlsruhe (Germany). He is a member of the Western Australian Geodesy Group, Curtin University. Michael’s main research expertise is Physical geodesy, environmental sciences, and oceanography. Michael has been involved in attracting research funding in excess of AUD5M and obtained direct funding in excess AUD1M. He has 130 publications (103 peer-reviewed, 14 non peer-reviewed, 10 monographs, 3 gravity models, 2011 citations and 100 conference presentations)
Ashraf Dewan
Educational Development Award
Dr Dewan is a recognised global expert in geospatial intelligence and climate science. He lectures in geographic information systems, remote sensing, and spatial modelling. Ashraf’s research on climate extremes and urban warming are globally recognised. His research on the drivers behind, and measures to mitigate, urban warming have been featured in a film by The Economist which was showcased at the 2021 COP26 Glasgow. He was interviewed by National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) on climate risk in South Asia. Ashraf’s work has received exposure in the mainstream national/international media, including BBC World Service, BBC News, ABC News, Channel Seven.
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd
Spatial Enablement
Project: Fire Risk Management Platform The Fortescue Metals Bushfire Risk Management Platform was delivered as an in-house project led by Dr Cordelia Moore. The Project included the development of a spatially enabled bushfire risk assessment framework. Expert knowledge of bushfire risk across Fortescue’s operations is presented as high-resolution digital maps. The online platform and mobile application will ensure Emergency Services have the most accurate and current information to make informed decisions quickly. Judges described it as an excellent platform for communicating safety-critical information with emergency management personnel and traditional owner groups. The platform delivers simple and powerful visualisation of earth observation data science into the hands of decision makers to minimise operational disruptions and most importantly, keep staff safe.
Yvonne Fong
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Yvonne Fong is an early-career professional from Western Australia making a significant contribution through her leadership building a more inclusive and diverse profession. Since joining the industry four years ago, Yvonne has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills applying new spatial technology to social and environmental justice. Since working at NGIS Australia and EO Data Science as a Data Scientist, Yvonne has advocated for EO solutions for traditional owners through the First Nations Earth Observations project, built capacity for Digital Earth Africa, lead as a project manager, and presented her voice, demonstrating the value of empowering others to lead our industry.
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd
Award for International Partnership
Project: Hydropower Assessment Tool Fortescue Future Industries is a global green energy company committed to producing zero-carbon green hydrogen from 100% renewable sources. To support its commitment to de-carbonise operations and lead the global shift toward green energy, Fortescue Future’s in-house Geospatial Services team built a Hydropower Assessment Tool. Geospatial methods were used to assess potential large scale global renewable energy projects, including hydropower assets. The tool processes large volumes of raster and vector data informing the hydrological, environmental, topographical, social and land use context of the assessment area. The analysis produces a geospatial visualisation of potential hydropower areas, delivering actionable results within hours. Judges commended the innovative assessment tool, saying it will drive international investment into Fortescue Futures. They said the project demonstrates the power of spatial analysis to create useful information on a global scale, driving better decision making at the corporate level. The analysis will assist and accelerate Fortescue Future Industries to provide renewable energy across the globe and contribute to Fortescue Iron Ore's goal to de-carbonise its operations.
FrontierSI, University of NSW, Omnilink, Commonwealth Bank, NSW Government, Liverpool Council, Slate Analytics
Innovation Award - Medium to Large Business
Value Australia is an interactive platform, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, that enables infrastructure / development scenario planning and value uplift projections based on multiple valuation models. Developed over 3+ years collaboratively with management, research and software development by FrontierSI, UNSW and Omnilink, with embedded users across the project life with CBA, NSW Valuer General and Liverpool Council. FrontierSI and UNSW created a new company to take this project IP to market, and a successful commercialisation deal has been reached with an ASX listed data business to be announced at the start of August 2022.
Veris and Wumara Group Alliance
Workforce Development and Inclusion
The Indigenous Surveyor Employment Pathway Program offers Indigenous Australians a pathway into the surveying industry. Established in a collaboration between Veris, Wumara Group, TAFE NSW and the Yarpa NSW Indigenous Business & Employment Hub, the program consists of a combination of study and fieldwork to provide participants with exposure to what it’s like to be surveyor, as well as the foundational skills to start their career in the industry.
Spatial Vision and Climate Council
Award for Community Impact
Climate Risk Webmap Spatial Vision developed an interactive map for the Climate Council to illustrate the vulnerability of communities across Australia to the effects extreme weather over different timeframes and emission scenarios. Designed to support the Climate Council’s Uninsurable Nation Report and insert climate change and its economic impacts on the 2022 federal election agenda, the web interface appeals to a wide audience including the public, policy makers and other stakeholders. A user-friendly email template was also featured to facilitate ground up advocacy for real and immediate government action on carbon emissions.
Dawn Hendrick
Educational Development Award
Dawn has made a valuable contribution to education within the geospatial profession across many platforms, in her role as a teacher of spatial science at TafeNSW, as a mentor and leader within the profession and as a volunteer, engaging local communities in the use of GIS and mapping applications for wildlife conservation and disaster relief. Dawn is an expert in the geospatial industry and as a teacher is highly organised, sets high expectations of students and has proven success in providing inclusive and quality teaching for learners with special needs.
Brian Nicholls
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Since being appointed as Managing Director of AAM, a Woolpert Company in late 2021, Brian Nicholls has elevated culture to be one of the highest organisational priorities. With over 200 employees in countries including South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, AAM has a naturally diverse workforce. Ensuring equitable and inclusive outcomes among all employees is vitally important, and a subject close to Brian’s heart. As one of the largest geospatial companies in the region, Brian’s goal is for AAM to lead by example and raise awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in our industry.