gis in the real world

Presented at UWA, 14th May 2012

GAIA RESOURCES

“GIS in the real world”

Piers HiggsGaia Resources

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

What we will cover today

• A bit about Gaia Resources…

• What is a typical day in our office?

• What are some projects we’ve worked on?

• What can you take from that?

• Some general career advice…

Who are we?

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

A (Fri)day in the life…

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

What do we do?

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Conservation Commission Western Australia

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Conservation Commission Western Australia

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Conservation Commission Western Australia

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Conservation Commission Western Australia

1. First we had to interpret the valuesin the original document

2. Then we had to come up with aproject plan

3. We had to gather a lot of data

4. We then followed the plan – use GIS to create stats and make maps

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Telfer Mesa Investigations

2001

2011

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Telfer Mesa Investigations

“I’ve been looking at getting a piece of work done for a little while now and I’m wondering if you guys have the time / capacity to do it? If you could have a look at the attached scope and let me know I’d appreciate it. Give me a call to discuss any time on the numbers below.”

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Telfer Mesa Investigations

1. Define the surrounding area

2. Estimate the baselevel

3. Determine heightof elevatedlandforms

4. Then run on entire area…

Tech

nical

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Telfer Mesa Investigations

1. Convince the client to usea test area first

2. Come up with a solution andway of replicating the model

3. Get approval from the client

4. Run it on the wider area

Project

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Dieback Information Delivery & Management System

• Introduced disease, mainly Phytophthora cinnamoni

• 40% of the State’s plant species are at risk

• 50% of the State’s rare & endangered species arevulnerable

• “Biological Bulldozer”

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Dieback Information Delivery & Management System

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Dieback Information Delivery & Management System

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Dieback Information Delivery & Management System

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Dieback Information Delivery & Management System

1. Undertake requirementsanalysis first

2. Make sure all the stakeholdersare happy

3. Create our specification for theactual site

4. Build it!

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Dieback Information Delivery & Management System

• Large, complexproject

• Many different stakeholders involved

• How much of this projectis what you think of whenyou think about “GIS”?

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Atlas of Living Australia and Citizen Science

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Atlas of Living Australia and Citizen Science

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Atlas of Living Australia and Citizen Science

• Two and a half year project all up

• Involved 12 staff

• Over $1 million in fees

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Some general pointers…

• “Domain knowledge” in your client’s field is important

• Understand and solve your client’s problems

• Keep an eye on what the client is after at all times, and deliver what they asked for

• Generally have a plan – and know when to vary it

• Maintain a sense of humour…

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

So, would I recommend this roller coaster ride?

HELL YEAH

What have I done?

• Student

• GIS Trainer

• Contractor

• GIS Programmer

• Project Manager

• Business Developer

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

• Student

• Field Assistant

• Data Manager

• Ecologist

• Student

• Consultant

• Director

in

with

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

Some of the best bits?

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

What got me there?

• I had a good reputation

• I understood “spatial”

• I understood “environment”

• I knew what I didn’t know

• I was willing to learn

• The value of spatial was understood

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

What got me there?

• I had a good reputation

• I understood what my clients do for a living

• I did the ‘right thing’ by my clients

• I learned things I didn’t understand

• Hired the right people – that share the same desires

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

What advice would I give?

• Pick a stream…

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

Spatial Software Engineering

Spatial Analysis

What advice would I give?

• Pick a stream…

• Spatial Software Engineering – learn some Computer Science principles and technologies

• Spatial Analysis – learn some domain knowledge in an area you are interested in…

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

Coastal Geomorphology

Geology Botany

BiologyArchaeologyGeography

EIA (Murdoch)

Planning

Surveying

What advice would I give?

• You will not know everything you need to succeed throughout your career by the end of University

“The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant.” (Plato)

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

What advice would I give?

• Your reputation is your biggest asset

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” (Warren Buffett)

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

A CAREER WITH SPATIAL

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

GIS IN THE REAL WORLD

Questions?

• Ask away, or drop me a line…

Piers Higgspiers@gaiaresources.com.au0411 754 006