FrontierSI secures multiple wins at 2024 State Geospatial Excellence Awards

We’re excited to announce a series of remarkable successes at the recent 2024 Geospatial Excellence Awards in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania! FrontierSI is proud to highlight the dedication, innovation, and leadership of our team, whose exceptional work continues to push the boundaries of geospatial science.

Future Leader of the Year (SA): Dr Claire Fisk

We congratulate Dr Claire Fisk, who was named Future Leader of the Year in South Australia. As both a skilled project manager and an Earth observation data scientist, Claire exemplifies the innovation and dedication that FrontierSI values. She unites multidisciplinary teams to deliver exceptional technical solutions for clients, while also driving advancements in geospatial data and the natural environment.

The judges praised Claire’s proactive approach, her ability to lead with compassion, and her impactful contributions as a confident young woman in the geospatial field. We look forward to seeing Claire compete in the Oceanic competition at Locate 2025!

Undergraduate Student Award (VIC): Rebecca Thomas

A huge congratulations to Rebecca Thomas, who took home the Victorian Undergraduate Student Award. As a student positioning analyst, Rebecca has played a crucial role in the SouthPAN project, working alongside Geoscience Australia and Land Information New Zealand to enhance positioning capabilities across industries. Her unique background in aviation and geospatial sciences has allowed her to bring a fresh perspective to the project, with judges commending her work for its wide-ranging applicability.

Rebecca’s dedication to advancing the geospatial field, especially her advocacy for women in the industry, was a key highlight. We’re excited to see how her passion continues to influence the future of Australian spatial science.

Innovation Award – Medium to Large Business (VIC): FrontierSI, RMIT University, SmartSat CRC, and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning for Dynamic Vicmap

The Medium to Large Business Innovation Award was presented to FrontierSI, RMIT University, SmartSat CRC, and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning for their work on the Dynamic Vicmap project. This pioneering initiative has revolutionised the management of foundational spatial data by transitioning from static, layer-based systems to dynamic, integrated databases, using the vast resources of satellite data, using Vicmap Hydro as a case study.

By automating semantic enrichment and enhancing integration and interoperability, this project modernises how spatial data is managed and updated. The judges commended the team’s forward-thinking approach and the vital role this innovation plays in keeping foundational datasets up to date.

Workforce Development and Inclusion Award (NSW): Launching Leaders Inclusive Internship Program

FrontierSI’s Launching Leaders Inclusive Internship Program won the Workforce Development and Inclusion Award in NSW. This program addresses the skills gap in the spatial sector by focusing on diversity and inclusion. It provides paid opportunities for diverse candidates to develop essential technical and leadership skills, build professional networks, and work on impactful projects. The judges recognised the program’s strong commitment to inclusivity and its role in fostering a new generation of skilled professionals.

Innovation Award – Medium to Large Business (NSW): FrontierSI, University of NSW, MapAI, id, Geelong Council, and Tamworth Council for MapAI

Technical Excellence Award (NSW): FrontierSI and City Futures Research Centre UNSW Sydney for MapAI

MapAI, developed in partnership with FrontierSI, UNSW have been honoured with both the Innovation Award (Medium to Large Business) and the Technical Excellence Award. MapAI is revolutionising geospatial data analysis by integrating Generative AI’s chat capabilities with advanced geospatial technologies. This groundbreaking system allows users to interact with mapping data through natural language, making complex spatial analyses accessible and enhancing decision-making in urban planning and environmental management. The judges praised MapAI for its pioneering use of AI and Large Language Models, marking it as a new frontier in the industry.

Innovation Award (Small Business) [TAS]: Auspatious, FrontierSI and the CEOS Systems Engineering Office for The Cloud Native Geospatial for Earth Observation Workshop

FrontierSI, Auspatious, and the CEOS Systems Engineering Office received the Innovation Award for their Cloud Native Geospatial for Earth Observation Workshop at SatSummit 2024. The workshop introduced cloud-based tools for handling Earth observation data, with participants noting a transformative impact on their work.

Judges praised the team for achieving high-impact results on a small budget, highlighting the potential of cloud-native geospatial technology to broaden access and drive benefits across industries.

These awards reflect FrontierSI’s unwavering commitment to driving location-based innovation across Australia and New Zealand. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone involved, whose dedication has made these achievements possible. We are incredibly proud of our team’s accomplishments and look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and impact in the geospatial field, driving progress and excellence across Australia and beyond.

 

Photos are courtesy of Geospatial Council of Australia.