The Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) is the

professional association A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and t ...

for

surveyors Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is c ...

and

spatial science Geomatics is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as the "discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information". Under another definition, it ...

workers, including

cartography Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an ...

hydrography Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time, for the primary ...

remote sensing Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object, in contrast to in situ or on-site observation. The term is applied especially to acquiring information about Ear ...

, 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. SSSI 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.

Background

The spatial sciences range from the traditional practices of

surveying Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is ...

and

to the more recent practices using

GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite sy ...

and

GIS A geographic information system (GIS) is a type of database containing geographic data (that is, descriptions of phenomena for which location is relevant), combined with software tools for managing, analyzing, and visualizing those data. In a ...

. 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 (earth) related, spatial information can range from the anatomic to astronomic scale, from the real to the

abstract entity In metaphysics, the distinction between abstract and concrete refers to a divide between two types of entities. Many philosophers hold that this difference has fundamental metaphysical significance. Examples of concrete objects include plants, ...

, 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. Abney Clinometer.jpg, Abney Clinometer with carrying case Planimeter SSSI.jpg, Planimeter Lithograph Needles and Sharpening Stone 2 SSSI.jpg, Lithograph Needles and Sharpening Stone Spare Glasses SSSI.jpg, Spare Glasses Antique Old Level SSSI.jpg, Surveying Antique Old Level 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 (Cane Report).

Objectives

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: # Advocacy # Events # Professional Development # Certification # Migration Skill Assessment

History

The Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) represents the interests of the spatial information community within the Asia-Pacific region. The Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) is a not-for-profit professional body with headquarters in

Canberra, Australia Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The c ...

. Its membership spans the disciplines of surveying, information technology, town planning, cartography, archeology, spatial information (

and

) professions and others. In 1952, six State Institutes combined to form Institute of Surveyors Australia (ISA), the result of more than seventy years of intermittent effort. Institute of Surveyors Australia (ISA), Australian Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (AURISA) and Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Association of Australia (RSPAA) amalgamated to form SSI in 2003. The SSI merged with the Institute of Surveyors Australia (ISA) to form the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) 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. In 2009, SSSI participated in

Q150 Q150 was the sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) of the Separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859. Separation established the Colony of Queensland which became the State of Queensland in 1901 as part of the Federation of Australia. ...

(the 150th anniversary of the founding of Queensland) 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 Calliope River Historical Village is an open-air museum at 50951 Bruce Highway (on the side road known as Old Bruce Highway) beside the Calliope River in River Ranch in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. It is operated by the Por ...

() The current 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.

Leadership

Past Presidents

Board Members

The Board of management of the Institute are responsible for the governance, strategic planning, fiduciary oversight and monitoring against the strategic plan. Th
members of the Board of Directors
are * The President * The President-Elect * Six Regional Directors * Director of the Hydrography commission * Chair of the Young Professionals Special Interest Group Consultative Council handles membership, professional development, certification and service delivery.

Commissions

Membership of the institution are divided into Commissions, with the first ones being # Land Surveying; # Hydrography; # Engineering and Mining Surveying; # Spatial Information and Cartography and # 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 # Honorary Fellows # Fellows # Member # Associate member # Affiliate # First year graduate # Second year graduate # Part time student # Overseas Membership # 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.

Other efforts

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.

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.

Events & Awards

The Institute conducts various events & awards for its members to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking. #LOCATE : A geo-spatial conference which is conducted annually #APSEA: The Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards are conducted to celebrate achievement of top spatial and surveying professionals #SEASC: South East Asia Survey Congress is a surveying event that will be conducted for the first time at Darwin, Australia in 2019 #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 The ''Journal of Spatial Science'' is an academic journal about spatial sciences published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Mapping Sciences Institute (Australia) and the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute. It covers cartography, geode ...

'' is an academic journal owned jointly by SSSI and Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia. 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

* The Institution of Surveyors NSW - represents land surveying, and engineering and mining surveying professionals in New South Wales * Surveyors Board of South Australia represents land surveying, and engineering and mining surveying professionals in South Australia * The Mapping Sciences Institute Australia is a learned society established to engender the professional development of individuals and organisations involved in the many facets of the mapping sciences

International

* The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) is a multidisciplinary association. The Association for GIS Professionals, URISA is a leading provider of learning and knowledge for the GIS community * The

Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors or CICES is a professional association in the field of civil engineering surveying. CICES is recognised as a leading chartered professional body for civil engineering surveyors. CICES memb ...

(ICES) is an international qualifying body dedicated to the regulation, education and training of surveyors working within civil engineering * The

International Federation of Surveyors International Federation of Surveyors (abbreviated FIG, after the french: Fédération Internationale des Géomètres) is the UN-recognized global organization for the profession of surveying and related disciplines. It was established in 1878,

(FIG) is an international, non-government organisation whose purpose is to support international collaboration for the progress of surveying in all fields and applications * The

Australasian Hydrographic Society The Australasian Hydrographic Society (AHS) is a professional hydrographic organisation covering Australasia, the South West Pacific and South East Asia. It brings together practitioners and representatives of industry in the region, particularly t ...

is the South West Pacific and South East Asian regional focus for those interested in hydrography and related sciences

References

External links

* * {{authority control Professional associations based in Australia Surveying organizations Geographic societies Geodesy organizations Geomatics organizations Remote sensing organizations Photogrammetry organizations