Educational Development Award
Craig Roberts, UNSW
Dr. Craig Roberts is a nationally recognised leader in the Surveying and Geospatial Engineering disciplines, known for his exceptional contributions that bridge the gap between industry and academia. As the Head of the Surveying Program at UNSW, he is dedicated to delivering a modern, high-quality surveying education both at UNSW and across Australia. His active participation in numerous industry bodies and regular educational publications make him a significant figure in the field. For over two decades, Craig has been at the forefront of surveying marketing activities, addressing acute skills shortages and ensuring the sustainability of both the program and the profession. The judges noted that Craig’s contributions are particularly impactful within community groups, highlighting his remarkable efforts to educate school-level students about geospatial sciences.
Postgraduate Student Award
Chang Liu – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Chang Liu, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a leading researcher in the field of Surveying and Geospatial Engineering. After earning her PhD from UNSW Sydney in early 2024, Chang has focused her research on applying AI to semantic segmentation for post-disaster scenarios, utilising cutting-edge satellite images and LiDAR point clouds. Her work has garnered widespread recognition, including the prestigious “Best Poster” award at the SmartSat CRC Conference in 2022. Beyond her research, Chang has contributed significantly to the academic community, serving as Vice President of the Civil and Environment Engineering Research Student Association (CERSA) at UNSW, and volunteering extensively within the surveying and spatial industry. The judges praised Chang’s research for its high value and relevance, particularly in addressing the critical need for effective damage assessment following global disasters.
Professional of the Year Award
D’Arcy Roche, Transport NSW
As a pivotal contributor to the Transport Access Indicators project, D’Arcy Roche has redefined how access is measured in Transport NSW, showcasing his ability to influence innovative change. His exceptional organisational skills were evident in the 2022-2023 Geoforum, Transport NSW’s largest GIS symposium, where he played a crucial role in enhancing collaboration and professional development. D’Arcy’s technical expertise has significantly advanced key projects, including Metro South, Jenolan Caves, Urban Heat, and the Reconciliation Action Plan. His leadership in GIS workshops and the Transport NSW GIS Community of Practice has consistently promoted excellence within the industry. In recognition of his dedication to public sector values, he was honoured with the AAI Award in 2023. The judges commended D’Arcy for his hard work, creativity, and thought-provoking contributions, noting that it is inspiring to see young professionals like him nominated for such prestigious awards.
INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
Community Impact Award
Disaster Relief Australia – GIS Team for “Big Map”
Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), a leading Non-Profit Organisation, is at the forefront of relief and recovery operations with its flagship capability, the ‘Big Map.’ These Big Map exercises, conducted across Australia, empower communities to identify potential risks and hazards while offering solutions to enhance resilience. Created by DRA’s skilled GIS Specialists, these maps demonstrate the vital role of geospatial information in fostering community resilience. DRA emphasises the importance of communities feeling heard and valued, knowing that such engagement encourages ownership of their own relief and recovery efforts following a disaster. The judges praised the project for its remarkable connection to the community, highlighting how the team created a spatial solution that fully integrates community input and leaves a lasting legacy.
Environment and Sustainability Award
Arup for its Digital Environmental Impact Statement for the Sydney Terminal Building Revitalisation Project (STBRP)
The Digital Environmental Impact Statement for the Sydney Terminal Building Revitalisation Project (STBRP) represents a significant advancement in environmental planning and impact assessment for Transport for NSW. By utilising multifaceted geospatial mapping, Arup developed a bespoke digital environmental impact statement – an innovative web-based platform incorporating Esri ArcGIS technology. This tailored platform effectively conveyed the project’s scope, impact, and benefits, enhancing communication and engagement with stakeholders and the community. The judges commended the project for its excellent use of technology and the well-designed platform, which significantly improved stakeholder connection and understanding.
Innovation Award – Medium to Large Business
FrontierSI, University of NSW, MapAI, id, Geelong Council, and Tamworth Council for MapAI
MapAI, an innovative Australian startup, is at the forefront of revolutionising geospatial data analysis by integrating GenAI’s chat capabilities with advanced geospatial technologies. This groundbreaking solution allows users across any sector to interact with their mapping data through simple chat interfaces, significantly expanding the accessibility, reach, and impact of geospatial information worldwide. As a first-to-market innovation, MapAI enhances decision-making in areas such as urban planning and environmental management, demonstrating the global potential of Australian technology. As it continues to evolve, MapAI is set to drive digital and geospatial transformation on an international scale. The judges praised MapAI for its pioneering use of AI and large language models to democratise geospatial information, making it accessible to non-spatial professionals and marking a new frontier in the industry.
Innovation Award – Small Business
Anditi and Main Roads Western Australia for its Main Roads Western Australia Network LiDAR Project
Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) envisions a future where death and life-changing injuries on its 20,000 km road network are eliminated by 2050. A critical component of this strategy involves generating iRAP Star Ratings, a process traditionally dependent on manual coding of road attributes from video—a time-consuming and subjective task. Anditi has revolutionised this approach by developing an innovative methodology that utilises AI and machine learning techniques on geospatial data to extract and code road features in alignment with the emerging AiRAP framework. Applied across MRWA’s network, this project represents the largest AiRAP initiative globally and sets a new benchmark in road safety. The judges praised Anditi’s Project for its integration of advanced AI and LiDAR technologies, significantly enhancing road safety and infrastructure management. As the largest initiative of its kind, it demonstrates technical excellence and provides substantial community benefits, setting a new industry standard.
Technical Excellence Award
City Futures Research Centre UNSW Sydney and FrontierSI for MapAI
MapAI is a groundbreaking AI system that revolutionises GIS tasks and spatial analysis by leveraging GenAI and state-of-the-art Large Language Models. This innovative project has developed a fully functional prototype that demonstrates real-world applications for local government and industry, allowing users to perform complex spatial analyses through natural language. By integrating cutting-edge techniques in natural language processing, geospatial analysis, and cloud computing, MapAI democratises advanced spatial analysis, making it accessible to everyday users. This pioneering work showcases technical excellence in applying advanced AI to geospatial technology, setting a new standard for the industry. The judges praised MapAI as the future of geospatial analysis, commending its execution, which far exceeded expectations, on such a complex project.
Workforce Development and Inclusion Award
FrontierSI for its Launching Leaders Inclusive Internship Program
FrontierSI’s Launching Leaders Inclusive Internship Program is making a significant impact in the space and spatial sector by addressing the skills gap with a focus on diversity and inclusion. This program offers paid opportunities for diverse candidates to gain essential technical and leadership skills, build professional networks, and work on hands-on projects. By promoting innovation and inclusivity, the program drives business excellence while tackling workforce challenges in an evolving industry. Targeting current students, recent graduates, and those returning from career breaks in spatial sciences or related fields, the Launching Leaders program fosters a new generation of skilled professionals, contributing substantially to the industry’s technical, social, and economic advancement. The judges praised the program for its strong commitment to inclusion, particularly for recognising academic background as a key aspect of diversity, addressing a critical issue across the industry.
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