Editor: Les Isdale, with contributions from Keith Smith,
Dr Martin Woods and Prof.William Cartwright
Dr Martin Woods and Prof.William Cartwright
October 2011
Conference theme announced
As previously advised, three bodies representing the mapping communities in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region have joined forces to present the 2012 conference and trade show. Brisbane is the place, 8 -10 July is the date and “Global Connections through Mapping” has now been announced as the theme. The conference will be branded “Brisbane International Geospatial Forum”.
The three organisations involved are: The International Map Trade Association (Asia Pacific) representing map-makers and map-sellers; the Australia New Zealand Map Society whose members are map curators and others with an interest in maps; and the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia, on behalf of Australia’s cartographers and geoinformation professionals. Visit www.imtamaps.org; www.anzmaps.org; and www.mappingsciences.org.au.
Venue offers many attractions
The conference and trade show are to be held at the Queensland State Library, part of Brisbane’s cultural precinct, which also includes the Museum, the Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Performing Arts Centre. These facilities adjoin the Southbank Parklands, noted as Brisbane’s finest inner city passive recreation area and home to a variety of restaurants and hotels. Here also is located the Maritime Museum.
Southbank is situated a short walk from the heart of Brisbane’s CBD over the Victoria Bridge.
Conference program evolving
The Conference and Trade Show program is being developed by an Organising Committee comprising representatives from each of the participating bodies. The MSIA man on the Committee is Brisbane-based Adam Ladhams. Organising and running the Trade Show will be the responsibility of IMTA, but planning for the Conference is a full team effort.
Although the event is being promoted with a three-day timetable, the first day, Sunday 8 July, will be given over to board/council meetings of the respective bodies and the setting-up of the Trade Show, but with a reception for delegates in the evening. Given the numerous attractions associated with the venue, intending delegates are urged to register on the Sunday and participate in group tours of the amenities or explore the Parklands at their own pace. Monday will be a full day of technical papers with the Conference dinner to follow. Tuesday will also provide time for technical presentations.
With the theme of the conference now settled, keynote speakers can be organised and a call for papers will be issued soon. Keep an eye on our website, www.mappingsciences.org.au, and for further information please contact Adam Ladhams: avladhams@hotmail.com, President Les Isdale: les.isdale@iinet.net.au or Secretary Keith Smith: msiau@gil.com.au.
Breaking news: a leading international in the mapping field has enthusiastically accepted our invitation to be Keynote Speaker at the conference, subject to his business schedule. Watch this space!
Breaking news: a leading international in the mapping field has enthusiastically accepted our invitation to be Keynote Speaker at the conference, subject to his business schedule. Watch this space!
ICA thanks Australians for support
The Executive of the International Cartographic Association has formally thanked Australian delegates to the recent General Assembly for their support. The letter from the President and the Secretary-General and Treasurer is attached.
Space-age words Googled
Prompted by the decision to name our conference a geospatial forum, I have undertaken
a little research and come up with the following.
Prompted by the decision to name our conference a geospatial forum, I have undertaken
a little research and come up with the following.
Once upon a time there was “mapping” and there was “surveying” and we all knew what was meant. We moved on, and it is timely to use plain words to explain what’s what in the recent and not-so-recent terms we have welcomed into our vernacular.
“Cartography” is an elegant word, from the French: carte = chart and graphie = written; so cartography = drawing maps. However, along came the Institute of Cartographers who in the 1950s, spoiled it all by saying (cartography is) “…the science of preparing all types of maps and charts and includes every operation from original surveys to final printing.” Wikipedia says (cartography is) “The science or practice of drawing maps.” So cartography may be the whole process of making a map or it may be just the drawing part.
“Surveying” has always had a minor problem in that there are many types of surveying – land, marine, quantity etc. But in our present context, there can be no doubt as to the role of surveyors. Or can there? In the 1980s, with its startling technological developments, many graduate surveyors found themselves involved in activities quite different from those of traditional cadastral surveyors* and sought a distinguishing label. Hence was spawned “spatial science” and “geospatial science”.
(*Cadastral surveying is the discipline of land surveying that relates to … the definition of property boundaries, op. cit.)
Again from Wikipedia we learn that: “Spatial science is an academic discipline incorporating fields such as surveying, geographic information systems, hydrography and cartography.” It is added that “the term spatial science is primarily used in Australia.”
Googling once more, we learn that “geospatial is widely used to describe the combination of spatial software and analytical methods with terrestrial or geographic datasets. ‘Spatial’ refers to topological, geometric and geographic properties. So, geospatial science is the study (of) the spatial aspects of terrestrial and geographic datasets through scientific methods involving software and analysis.”
MSIA defines mapping sciences as “… those disciplines that deal with acquisition, management and communication of geospatial information.”
Lastly, the International Cartographic Association asserts that its interest lies in cartography and “geoinformation science”. Wikipedia says that “geo-information science is the academic theory behind the development, use and application of geographic information systems”. And that “GIS is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage and present all types of geographically referenced data.”
So there we are.Keith Smith
Thanks Keith. This examination of the semantics of mapping will surely prompt a response from members. Have your say – is there a better way of defining our role – a better name for the Institute? Your views please, to Les Isdale, at – les.isdale@iinet.net.au
ANZMapS Conference comment
ANZMapS President Dr Martin Woods, President, Australia New Zealand Map Society, has described the event in an email to members:
"Global Connections through Mapping", the Brisbane International Geospatial Forum, July 8-10, 2012, is shaping up to be the largest cartographic event held in Australia for many years. ...
The timing is later in the year to accommodate a large international contingent, and a committee has been formed with participation from each organisation. The conference will feature the usual array of expert papers, tours, displays, conference dinner, receptions and so on. It will have the added dimension of a map trade show with exhibits from across the Asia-Pacific region, greater networking opportunities, and an international keynote - tba. Registration will be costed reasonably, in line with previous ANZMapS and MSIA conferences.
ANZMapS Conference comment
ANZMapS President Dr Martin Woods, President, Australia New Zealand Map Society, has described the event in an email to members:
"Global Connections through Mapping", the Brisbane International Geospatial Forum, July 8-10, 2012, is shaping up to be the largest cartographic event held in Australia for many years. ...
The timing is later in the year to accommodate a large international contingent, and a committee has been formed with participation from each organisation. The conference will feature the usual array of expert papers, tours, displays, conference dinner, receptions and so on. It will have the added dimension of a map trade show with exhibits from across the Asia-Pacific region, greater networking opportunities, and an international keynote - tba. Registration will be costed reasonably, in line with previous ANZMapS and MSIA conferences.
ICA Milestone
MSIA (and AIC before it) have contributed at the highest levels to the work of the International Cartographic Association over the years, and continues to do so. The latest milestone in this record of achievement is the completion in July of this year, of four years as President of ICA by Prof. William Cartwright. He has discharged his office with great distinction, bringing energy and great breadth of understanding to the life of the international body, and we offer him our warmest congratulations and thanks. MSIA has every right to feel proud of this latest contribution to ICA by one of its members.
ICA News, June 2011 carries Bill's President's report, again reminding us of the breadth and depth of Cartography, and the diversity of skills to be found in the mapping community. (View it at http://icaci.org/documents/generalassembly2011/Appendix_2_Presidents_report_English.pdf ).
His concluding remarks (following) affirm the strong bonds between cartographers internationally. As Editor Igor Drecki says of ICA meetings, '... But at a deeper level, there is also a sense of belonging that makes me eager to attend. Belonging to a community or – should I say – a family of cartographers, like-minded people, whose passion and dedication to cartography is shared by all of us.' Bill said –
In Conclusion
It has been my honour to be President of the International Cartographic Association for 2007-2011. I have been privileged to work with the talented members of the Executive Committee, Commission and Working Group members, members of ICA committees and colleagues from the ICA international Cartography and GI Science community. I sincerely thank everyone for their support, enthusiastic collaboration and friendship.
I attended my first ICA conference in Perth, Australia in 1984 and since that time I have attended every ICA conference, numerous meetings and associated events. These experiences have contributed to my personal, academic and scientific development. I thank those who have been part of this experience over this past quarter century.
Over the past eight years I have served as Vice President in the 2003-2007 Executive Committee and as President for the last four years. I look forward to serving the International Cartographic Association as immediate Past President with the 2011-2015 Executive Committee.
William Cartwright | President | ICA