Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute


The Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute is the professional association for surveyors and spatial science workers, including cartography, hydrography, remote sensing, engineering and mining surveying, photogrammetry and spatial information in Australia. The Institute's members are involved in communities of practice such as land administration, land development, natural resource management, forestry, agriculture, defence, marine environment, local government, health, education, transport, tourism, and many more. The institute deals with policy, administration, collection, measurement, analysis, interpretation, portrayal and dissemination of spatially- related land and sea information, together with associated planning, design and management.
Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute is located in eight different regions across Australia, providing services in the six states and two territories. The institute's headquarters are located at National Surveyors House in Canberra, Australia.

Predecessors

The Spatial Sciences Institute represents the interests of the spatial information community within the Asia-Pacific region. The Spatial Sciences Institute is a not-for-profit professional body with headquarters in Canberra, Australia. Its membership spans the disciplines of surveying, information technology, town planning, cartography, archeology, spatial information professions and others. The Institute publishes a bi-annual Spatial Science Journal and numerous other Regional/State based publications and newsletters for both its members and others involved in the spatial industry.
In 1952, six State Institutes combined to form Institute of Surveyors Australia, the result of more than seventy years of intermittent effort.
Institute of Surveyors Australia, Australian Urban and Regional Information Systems Association and Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Association of Australia amalgamated to form SSI in 2003.
The SSI merged with the Institute of Surveyors Australia to form the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute in 2009. ISA provides a strong history while SSI comprises a large youth base, a strong driving factor for ISA with the merger. The primary reason for the merger is to create a strong, unified voice for the surveying and spatial profession with an ability to better serve its members.

History

In 2009, SSSI participated in Q150 by placing permanent memorials to early explorer/surveyors of Queensland at significant locations. They include a memorial to surveyor to Francis Peter MacCabe at the Calliope River Historical Village

The Name

The name 'Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute' has been chosen by a democratic process which gave all members of both SSI and ISA a vote in choosing the name. Initially, a call for suggested names was distributed with over 200 names proposed. A two stage vote was held with a short list of four names offered after the first round of voting and a substantial majority selecting the final name. Over 1200 members participated in both stages of the vote evenly spread across both SSI and ISA memberships.

Past Presidents

YearPresident
2009Mr. Jonathon Saxon Hon. FSSSI
2009-10Mr. Michael Giudici Hon. FSSSI
2010Mr. Jonathon Saxon Hon. FSSSI
2010-11Ms. Gypsy Bhalla FSSSI
2011-13Mr. Gary Maguire Hon. FSSSI
2013-15Prof. John Trinder Hon. FSSSI
2015-16Mr. Bernard O'Sullivan Hon. FSSSI
2016-18Mr. Gabriel Van Wyk Hon. FSSSI

Background

The spatial sciences range from the traditional practices of surveying and cartography to the more recent practices using GPS, remote sensing and GIS. The spatial sciences involve the skills and understanding to capture, store, manage, manipulate, analyse, model, visualise, set-out and govern information that can be referenced to location.
Information that can be related to a location is termed spatial information. Though predominantly perceived as geo related, spatial information can range from the anatomic to astronomic scale, from the real to the abstract entity, over any time period.
SSSI acquire, integrate, manage, analyse, interpret, map or distribute information about a location in space and time. They develop, design, and provide related equipment, software and value-added services; undertake applied research, knowledge management and technology development; and manage, educate and train others.
The spatial information industry is new, emerging, growing and a major player in the development of the nation's economy. The spatial information industry brings sophisticated skills and technology to major challenges facing the nation. It is the recognition of the strategic importance of the industry for policy, planning and operational activities which touch on all aspects of the way people and communities live, that is driving governments around the world to invest in the skilling of the workforce and the development of policies that will ensure the viability and growth of the industry.

Principle Objectives

Post merger, the institute's purpose & objectives are to empower members to strive for excellence in both, application and practice of surveying and spatial science. This is supported by promoting and representing professional interests of members that work in the discipline of surveying & spatial science. Additionally, the institute also facilitates the exchange of ideas and knowledge between members of the institute via lectures and conferences.
In short, the institute provides with the following benefits to its members:
  1. Advocacy
  2. Events
  3. Professional Development
  4. Certification
  5. Migration Skill Assessment

    Board Members

The Board of management of the Institute are responsible for the governance, strategic planning, fiduciary oversight and monitoring against the strategic plan.
The are
Consultative Council handles membership, professional development, certification and service delivery.

Commissions

Membership of the institution are divided into Commissions, with the first ones being
  1. Land Surveying;
  2. Hydrography;
  3. Engineering and Mining Surveying;
  4. Spatial Information and Cartography and
  5. Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry
The role of a Commission Committee is to formulate and discuss policy for the Commission and to advice the Directors on matters relating to the Commission.

Membership

Membership categories are necessary in a professional institute to differentiate between differing levels of qualification and experience. Movement through the membership occurs via an articulation process which involves satisfying the prescribed progression and professional certification criteria.
Membership Categories
  1. Honorary Fellows
  2. Fellows
  3. Member
  4. Associate member
  5. Affiliate
  6. First year graduate
  7. Second year graduate
  8. Part time student
  9. Overseas Membership
  10. Student

    Special Interest Groups

Special Interest Groups are based on specific grouping of members of the Institute. A representative from these groups are invited by Directors to participate at any meeting, Committee, Council or Board of the institute.

Young Professionals

The Young Professionals are members of the institute who are under 36 years old. Their role within the Institute is to foster member and growth of the institute through service delivery to young surveying and spatial professionals; representation of young surveying and spatial professional in the Institute; provision of leadership to young professionals within the profession; and the engendering of the community awareness of the surveying and spatial sciences and the Institute.
There is a Young Professionals regional committee within each state, and these committees work with the broader regional committees of each region as well as the commissions to deliver events, opportunities and networking for members.

Women in Spatial

This special interest group, is based on a grouping of members on a specific topic or subject. Most regions hold special events for women in surveying & spatial sciences to encourage women to engage and develop skills.

SSSI Certification

SSSI offers a certification program to enable members and non-members to gain recognition of their competencies through a formal “portfolio-based” process. Certifications are available for general competencies and specialist competencies including spatial information, hydrographic surveying, remote sensing, and engineering surveying.

SSSI Migration Skill Assessment

The Institute carries out an authorised assessment of skills and qualifications for migration to Australia. Only Surveyor ANZSCO 232212 general skilled occupation can be assessed by SSSI.

SSSI Events & Awards

The Institute conducts various events & awards for its members to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking.
  1. LOCATE : A geo-spatial conference which is conducted annually
  2. APSEA: The Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards are conducted to celebrate achievement of top spatial and surveying professionals
  3. SEASC: South East Asia Survey Congress is a surveying event that will be conducted for the first time at Darwin, Australia in 2019
  4. E-CPD : A webinar which is accessible by SSSI members.

    Publications

The official publication of SSSI is POSITION which is published once in two months. It is an Australian magazine of surveying, mapping and geo-information while Geo-message is a monthly newsletter.
The Journal of Spatial Science is an academic journal owned jointly by SSSI and . This journal publishes original peer-reviewed research and review papers that contribute to the theory and practice of the survey and spatial sciences. The Journal also publishes professional papers that describe aspects of professional practise and implementation of techniques related to cartography, geodesy, geographic information science, hydrography, photogrammetry, remote sensing or surveying.

Partners

National