Activity on the day will be getting up to date on education and skills and the need to identify exactly what is needed to make further progress in meeting the challenge of recruiting, training and providing a qualification pathway for young people in the UK who are interested in pursuing a career in geospatial.  As a profession, we need to understand what the next steps are that everyone can take, in order to build on progress already made.

This inaugural Geo:Influence event is taking place at Dudley College on Wednesday 14^th May from 10.00 until 13:00. We are delighted to say that so far sign-ups include representatives from a wide range of surveying and civil engineering companies, along with educational and academic institutions.

A panel will lead the discussion and update delegates with current excellent progress on the important education and skills initiatives already being put in place. However, the focus is very much on creating a tangible plan to take away, with key action points for everyone to carry out.

Katie Holt, TSA Manager, who has been one of the main organisers of the event, says:

“We are centring this day around identifying ways in which we can all work together to come up with effective solutions to improve education and skills in the geospatial profession. I am delighted with the enthusiasm expressed by many of those planning to come. We’re looking forward to an exciting and energising day!”

The agenda for the day is as follows:

09:30                Refreshments

10:00                Welcome and panel updates from key contacts

10:30                Discussion in groups

11:15                Break & networking

12:00                Feedback & actions

13:00                Lunch & finish

If you are interested in attending this event and collaborating with others to find effective ways to improve skills and opportunity within the geospatial profession, please contact office@tsa-uk.org.uk.

The post Geo:Influence – Education and Skills Day appeared first on The Survey Association.

The senior tutor, Andrew Crumpler, made the point that the latest students had achieved some of the highest marks he has awarded since the course began thirteen years ago. In that time two hundred and ninety eight students have graduated in addition to another seventy that have taken part of the course but that are not awarded a graduation certificate. The course is divided into six separate blocks some of which are offered as a stand-alone course.

The quality of the TSA course is recognised by both RICS and Chartered ICES who both allocate points towards membership of their institutions to all graduates.

At each ceremony there is an award made for both the best student and the best assignment. The best student prize this year went to Daniel Whitby of Maltby Surveys who received a cheque and the Leica Shield from Leica’s Tim Badley, and a further cheque and the TSA plaque from TSA President, Graham Mills. Bill Pryke presented the best assignment award and cheque to Matthew Ullett of Siteline Ltd.

(TSA President Graham Mills (left) presents Daniel Whitby with his Best Student Award)

The students and guests assembled for lunch before the prize giving ceremony in a very relaxed and informal atmosphere which all in attendance seemed to enjoy immensely. Next year the number of students graduating will be in the same region as this year which is a sign of the continuing success of the course.

At the end of the ceremony, Rory Stanbridge made a presentation to Georgia Rowley who was leaving the School after a period of ten years to move on to pastures new. TSA’s best wishes and thanks go to her for a happy and successful future.

Once again and finally, the dedication and commitment of Andrew Crumpler deserve a very big thank you from both TSA and all the students.

The post TSA Graduation Day 2014 appeared first on The Survey Association.

The build-up to the show had been like nothing the geospatial industry had seen before.  It is fair to say that all Exhibitors, visitors, Conference and Workshop attendees were not disappointed.

The conference and workshop programmes were all packed with a variety of topics and presenters ranging from BIM to SUAs. It was difficult at times to choose what to attend as the choice was so vast.

TSA shared an innovative joint stand with RICS, CICES and AGI, hopefully symbolising to the whole community how the main organisations are fully committed to working together.  The whole two days were incredibly busy, with many new faces, a real international flavour and a very wide range of specialities and expertise.  The official figures show over 1600 people visited the show over the two days, from 39 countries.  TSA enjoyed a lot of membership interest, plus the chance to catch up with the many current members who were enjoying the show both as visitors and also as exhibitors.  Our Workshop slot to promote the benefits of TSA Membership has directly resulted in requests for Application Forms.

The Gala Dinner at the Pullman St Pancras was a stunning evening of the highest quality, allowing the networking to flourish in five star surroundings. The entertainment provided by SIREN, the classical oriented string quartet, added to the success of the evening and made a refreshing change from the usual post conference dinner comedian.

The organisers should be rightly proud of what they have achieved in producing a UK based show of which we can all be proud.

GEO Business will return to The Business Design Centre in London on 27-28 May 2015. To discuss booking at stand please contact Versha Carter on vcarter@divcom.co.uk or +44(0)1453 836363. www.GeoBusinessShow.com

The post Geo Business Show 2014 appeared first on The Survey Association.

Organised in collaboration with the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and The Survey Association (TSA), this new launch is the result of an extensive industry consultation process, which has highlighted the need for a joint cooperative event that involves all the major players representing the geospatial community.

GEO Business intends to establish itself as the key event for the industry, where everyone involved in the gathering, storing, processing and delivering of geospatial information will be in attendance. With this aim in mind, Diversified Business Communications UK has acquired interests in GEO North and GEO South from PV Publications, ensuring that GEO Business will be the only geospatial trade show and conference to be held in the UK.

PVP’s managing director Stephen Booth says: “We have been talking to Diversified and their exhibition director Versha Carter for some time now and believe that they are the ideal organisation to carry forward geospatial events in the UK. We believe that this move is in the best interest of not only our exhibitors but the very many professionals who have attended our shows over the years.”

“With the UK’s three leading survey institutions and associations not only behind this event but having been instrumental in the launch; the agreement that we have made with Stephen Booth, which will see our continued support for his highly respected magazines; and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the leading manufacturers and suppliers in the industry – we are very confident that we have the capabilities to deliver an outstanding event that will showcase the industry to everyone who relies on spatial data,” says Versha Carter, group exhibition director for Diversified Business Communications UK.

Graham Mills, President of The Survey Association (TSA), the UK’s only trade association for Land Surveyors, welcomes the launch, saying: “GEO Business will provide an important and much needed focal point for the Geospatial community. TSA is at the forefront of raising standards, educating clients and raising the profile of our members and their services. GEO Business will be an excellent platform to accelerate our work.”

This view is supported by the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), “This event, for the first time, brings together the principal leading organisations in the surveying community in a truly collaborative spirit. The conference and exhibition will define and showcase the pivotal role of the surveyor in these exciting times of BIM development.” Says Alan Barrow, President of ICES.

RICS is very strongly committed to the further strengthening of the UK geospatial-geomatics community along with their colleagues at ICES and TSA. “We see the success of GEO Business as being a critical element of how our industry moves forward. We are on the cusp of great change within our industry and with great change comes great opportunity. An opportunity to work together for the benefit of our members and to provide a constant message of professionalism, standards and quality to clients, decision makers and if course to newly qualified surveyors. This is a great industry and GEO Business has the potential to make it greater still. We expect all RICS members to give this new initiative their full support. See you at GEO Business 2014.’ Says Chris Preston Chair RICS Geomatics Professional Group Board.

For information relating to the conference programme and the call for papers, please contact Caroline Hobden at chobden@divcom.co.uk. For information on how to reserve your stand space, please contact Versha Carter at vcarter@divcom.co.uk.

For further information, please visit www.geobusinessshow.com.

Media enquiries to:

Versha Carter – Group Exhibition Director, Diversified Business Communications UK

t. +44 (0)1453 836363

e. vcarter@divcom.co.uk

www.geobusinessshow.com

The post Major New Geospatial Event to launch in London in 2014 appeared first on The Survey Association.

The official remit of the Group is as follows:

“The Survey Liaison Group, more commonly known as the SLG, is an independent board consisting of three organisations, RICS, Chartered ICES and TSA. It was established to try to find consensus on common issues of concern and to ensure that duplication of effort between the three bodies is reduced for the benefit of the UK survey industry as a whole.

The SLG meets twice each year to discuss matters of mutual interest or concern for the three partners. Meetings are usually held at the RICS in Westminster. The board is chaired on a rotational basis, each organisation holding the post of chair for a two year period. All secretariat services are provided by TSA.

The SLG bodies operate primarily in the geomatics/geo-spatial/mapping and civil engineering areas of practice with some involvement in digital imagery and marine surveying.” 

The Group began as the Industry Liaison Group, many years ago and was a fairly relaxed arrangement.  TSA officially took over the report writing and provided an admin focus for the Group from 2008.  Present at the meeting yesterday, hosted generously by RICS, were James Kavanagh (RICS), Ken Hall (ICES), Stuart Edwards (RICS), Rory Stanbridge (TSA), Graham Mills (TSA) and Rachel Tyrrell (TSA).

The Agenda items stay mainly the same, covering Exhibitions, Education, Policy and Joint Events.  A major success has been the agreement to have the joint badging of Client Guides and Guidance Notes produced by TSA and RICS.  Not only does this help prevent duplication of effort, it also ensures that the right topics are being covered in the right way.  Ideas, future plans and also any concerns are all aired in a very positive and constructive environment.  It is good to talk – but with the SLG it doesn’t stop there, good communication is just the foundation to getting things done.  Roll on November and the next meeting!

The post Together we are stronger appeared first on The Survey Association.

The official remit of the Group is as follows:

“The Survey Liaison Group, more commonly known as the SLG, is an independent board consisting of three organisations, RICS, Chartered ICES and TSA. It was established to try to find consensus on common issues of concern and to ensure that duplication of effort between the three bodies is reduced for the benefit of the UK survey industry as a whole.

The SLG meets twice each year to discuss matters of mutual interest or concern for the three partners. Meetings are usually held at the RICS in Westminster. The board is chaired on a rotational basis, each organisation holding the post of chair for a two year period. All secretariat services are provided by TSA.

The SLG bodies operate primarily in the geomatics/geo-spatial/mapping and civil engineering areas of practice with some involvement in digital imagery and marine surveying.” 

The Group began as the Industry Liaison Group, many years ago and was a fairly relaxed arrangement.  TSA officially took over the report writing and provided an admin focus for the Group from 2008.  Present at the meeting yesterday, hosted generously by RICS, were James Kavanagh (RICS), Ken Hall (ICES), Stuart Edwards (RICS), Rory Stanbridge (TSA), Graham Mills (TSA) and Rachel Tyrrell (TSA).

The Agenda items stay mainly the same, covering Exhibitions, Education, Policy and Joint Events.  A major success has been the agreement to have the joint badging of Client Guides and Guidance Notes produced by TSA and RICS.  Not only does this help prevent duplication of effort, it also ensures that the right topics are being covered in the right way.  Ideas, future plans and also any concerns are all aired in a very positive and constructive environment.  It is good to talk – but with the SLG it doesn’t stop there, good communication is just the foundation to getting things done.  Roll on November and the next meeting!

The post Together we are stronger appeared first on The Survey Association.