ABOUT
The Geospatial Excellence Awards are hosted by the Geospatial Council of Australia and are delivered by S+SNZ to celebrate the highest standard of achievement in the New Zealand geospatial community - they are for all New Zealand professionals and organisations working with spatial data.The awards are divided into two main categories: individuals and for organisations. Both categories are made up of a number of separate awards. Winners of each award category are automatically entered into the Geospatial Excellence Awards (formerly APSEA).
2024 WINNERS
The winners of the 2024 Spatial Excellence Awards have once again raised the bar, showcasing projects that exemplify the best of the spatial industry. The judging panel had the difficult task of selecting the awardees from a highly competitive pool of submissions, all of which were worthy of recognition. The winners were celebrated at a cocktail event at Cliftons on December 4th. These awards, presented by Survey and Spatial NZ, honour excellence in the spatial domain.
Award for Community Impact
The Award for Community Impact recognises unique contributions the spatial industry has had on people and communities. This year, the high quality of entries led to two finalists: Stantec and Auckland Council for their Tamaki Mākarau Auckland Flood Viewer, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand for their Fire and Emergency Common Operating Platform.
Winner of the Community Impact Award:
Fire and Emergency New Zealand for Fire and Emergency Common Operating Platform.
In response to significant weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle, Fire and Emergency New Zealand developed the Common Operating Platform—a suite of tools built using Esri’s ArcGIS Platform. The platform provides comprehensive insights into fire and emergency activities, as well as ground conditions in areas affected by large-scale weather events. It includes four desktop applications and two mobile apps, allowing for detailed reconnaissance and reporting through advanced dashboards. Designed for use by Emergency Services, government bodies, NGOs, and the private sector, it has been a crucial tool for supporting emergency responses.
Judges’ Comment:
The judges were impressed by the evolution of this much-needed platform. FENZ showed exemplary leadership by deploying modern tools and technologies to assist emergency services and communities. The use of AI to protect privacy and the innovative application of existing tools made the platform highly effective.
Award for Environment and Sustainability
This award celebrates geospatial products and projects that address environmental challenges.
Winner of the Award for Environment and Sustainability:
Kāinga Ora & Beca for The Amenity Access Tool: Helping Kāinga Ora Reduce Their Carbon Footprint.
Kāinga Ora’s Environment Strategy aims to mitigate climate change by reducing transport greenhouse gas emissions. To support this, the Amenity Access Tool was created to assess the carbon footprint of properties based on their proximity to essential amenities such as public transport, employment hubs, and green spaces. This tool helps embed climate change considerations into decision-making processes, supporting sustainable urban development.
Award for Innovation in Medium to Large Business
This award recognises the unique delivery of projects that introduce new ideas, methods, technologies, or processes to achieve significant social, environmental, or economic benefits. This year, Geospatial Australia presented a joint award for this category.
Winners of the Innovation in Medium to Large Business Award:
First Winner: Aurecon – Aurecon’s approach to asset lifecycle management redefines how businesses sustain their assets. By integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Construction Survey Methodology, and Waka Kotahi’s Asset Management Data Standard in the O Mahurangi Penlink project, they began the digital twin process, fostering closer collaboration between designers, constructors, and asset owners.
Judges’ Comment:
The judges praised the project as an outstanding example of innovation in construction, highlighting its use of digital transformation and cutting-edge delivery methodologies, alongside a geospatial and data-driven approach.
Second Winner: Wood and Partners Consultants Limited for GeoTrack – GeoTrack is a NZ-designed geospatial solution that uses satellite and IoT technologies to deliver continuous, millimetre-accurate displacement data. This fully autonomous system is ideal for long-term, remote monitoring of land development, infrastructure, and extreme weather events, providing clients with timely and actionable data.
Judges’ Comment:
A first for New Zealand, this product and subscription service offers a safe and affordable alternative to traditional survey techniques, using IoT and GNNS data.
Award for Technical Excellence
The Award for Technical Excellence recognises surveying and spatial projects that apply existing technology and methodologies to an exceptionally high technical standard, overcoming significant technical challenges, and delivering outstanding results for the client.
Finalists:
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Wood and Partners Consultants for GeoTrack
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WSP New Zealand in Collaboration with New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for Asset Management Data Standards – Network Model
Winner of the Award for Technical Excellence:
WSP New Zealand in Collaboration with New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for Asset Management Data Standards – Network Model.
In partnership with New Zealand’s transport agency, Waka Kotahi, WSP NZ developed a living centreline network model that serves as a single source of truth for transport planning and asset management. This digital model represents the movement of people across the transport system, including pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport, now and in the future. It underpins the national Asset Management Data Standard, helping inform decisions that affect transport networks across the country.
Judges’ Comment:
The judges praised the scale and innovative approach of this project, which integrates multiple national datasets to create a powerful tool for transportation planning. This will provide long-term benefits to many users across various sectors.
Award for Workforce Development and Inclusion
This award honours efforts to develop and prepare the workforce for current and future technological and market needs. This year’s winner fosters a community for early-career spatial professionals, focusing on networking, knowledge sharing, and professional growth. Their dedication to supporting diversity within the geospatial industry is reflected in their efforts to create a more inclusive workforce in New Zealand.
Winner of the Award for Workforce Development and Inclusion:
NZ Emerging Spatial Professionals.
This group has organised over 50 industry events, engaging thousands of attendees, and continues to create opportunities for the next generation of spatial professionals to grow and thrive. Their work is vital in ensuring the continued evolution of spatial expertise in New Zealand.
Judges’ Comment:
The judges emphasised the importance of groups like this in young professional development, noting that such communities provide networking opportunities and exposure to the latest technologies—experiences that are often missing from traditional professional conferences.
Land Information New Zealand Ron Munro Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award
The Land Information New Zealand Ron Munro Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award was presented this evening in recognition of outstanding contributions. Click here to learn more about this remarkable achievement and the recipient of this prestigious honour.
Conclusion
Congratulations to all the entrants and winners of the 2024 Spatial Excellence Awards. Your contributions have raised the standard for the spatial industry, and we look forward to seeing how these groundbreaking projects continue to shape the future of the sector. Thank you for your ongoing support of these awards.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023 WINNERS!
