Introduction to the SIS Sector
These pages provide an overview of the Spatial Information Services (SIS) Sector including:
Sector workforce
Spatial Information Services (SIS) are based on the collection, management and presentation of information related to surveying, mapping and geographical information systems. These services are used in a wide range of circumstances and are an integral part of local, state and national land management programs, building and construction projects, environmental studies, navigational systems and monitoring of emergency situations.
The SIS industry is a specialised component of the broader information technology sector and has scientific and technical links to many other disciplines such as environmental science, engineering, computer science, health delivery, logistics, planning, resource management and electronics.
The SIS Sector comprises people and agencies providing services in the following areas:
§ Mapping science
§ Remote sensing
§ Surveying
§ Cartography
§ Town planning
§ Geographic information services.
The industry is large with over 90,000 workers across the nation. Occupations and job roles include the following:
§ Cartographer
§ Cartographic Technician
§ Geographic Information Systems Officer
§ Geologist
§ Geoscience Technician
§ Survey Assistant
§ Surveying Technican
§ Surveyor.
Emerging trends in the sector
Information technology is rapidly changing the way that governments and the private sector conduct business. A growing reliance on the use of computers for processing and distributing information is dramatically increasing demands for electronic data. Businesses and governments today are seeking every opportunity to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations. Tools that enable management and the workforce to identify problems more readily and find solutions faster are eagerly sought.
Spatial data in its simplest form is concerned with the identification of location or position. It also includes physical characteristics of and relationships between objects. Over 80% of the data currently used in government, commerce, and industry is spatially referenced. Examples of this spatial reference include; street address, postcode, work location, product delivery network, shopping district, local government district, customer location, and service delivery route.
The spatial information industry comprises a range of disciplines, which include remote sensing and photogrammetry, mapping and surveying, land administration and geographic information systems, together with related software development and provision of value-added services. Its major product markets and user communities include environmental monitoring, mobile location-based services, customer relationship management and the management of natural resources, assets, land and emergencies.
It contains a wide range of commercial (private sector) entities, government agencies at national, State, Territory, regional and local levels, not-for-profit bodies in the academic sector and non-governmental organisations, and bodies falling among and across these sectors such as commercialised government enterprises, joint ventures and research and development corporations.
As the industry becomes established, more people are becoming aware of the benefits of using spatial information and associated systems. New communities of practice, such as emergency managers and natural resource managers, are using spatial information as a tool to assist in the decision-making process.
Training environment
The introduction of a suite of qualifications for spatial information services in the CPP07 Training Package opens great opportunities for RTOs seeking to serve a growing and important industry.
As with other industries, the SIS Sector is experiencing skill shortages as employers actively seek to grow their workforce in line with increasing demands for their services.
Over the past five years, spatial information education and training has adopted the Certificate III, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications. The recent review of CPP07 Training Package has seen the addition of Certificate II and Certificate IV, providing more flexible career opportunities and pathways.
The implementation of a spatial industry workforce plan on education and skills formation is expected over the next five years. Other influences on the training environment will be:
§ The embedding of spatial literacy from Kindergarten through to Year 12
§ Changing technology with developments in both hardware and spatial applications or associated software
§ An increasing demand for spatial applications from other industries or professions.
TAFE courses currently available differ from state to state but generally cover:
§ Surveying
§ Survey Drafting
§ Land Information Systems/Land Information Science
§ Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
§ Traditional surveying equipment and techniques
§ Electronic surveying and global positioning system (GPS) surveying
§ Surveying calculations
§ Preparing drawings and reports
§ Project management.
Most courses are studied part-time or full-time, with some available by distance education.
Graduate technicians work for themselves or assist registered cadastral, mining or engineering surveyors. Students may also work as computer technologists. Advances in surveying and mapping equipment and software give technicians a significant role in the industry with many becoming project managers.
Spatial science courses are offered in all Australian states. To view a list of courses visit the Australian Spatial Information Education and Research Association (ASIERA) at www.cage.curtin.edu.au/~asmla/ed/
Qualifications framework for the SIS Sector
There are seven qualifications ranging from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma for the SIS Sector.
The packaging rules of qualifications provide a great degree of flexibility. In general, they allow the selection of elective units from both within the CPP07 Training Package, and other endorsed Training Packages, as well as from one AQF level above the level of the qualification.
The individual qualifications structure including packaging rules for the spatial information services sector is shown below. Remember to check the NTIS website for the latest version of the qualifications and units of competency they contain.
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Qualification
|
Qualification title |
AQF alignment |
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CPP20107 |
2 |
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CPP30107 |
3 |
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CPP40107 |
4 |
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CPP40207 |
4 |
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CPP50107 |
5 |
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CPP50207 |
5 |
|
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CPP60107 |
6 |
Skill sets for the SIS Sector
Skill sets provide additional pathways to recognised training for people wishing to pursue career advancement or skills development without taking up a full qualification. Twenty-one skills sets are available for the Spatial Information Services Sector. These have been developed in consultation with industry, to meet skills development requirements for flexibility where whole qualifications do not meet the needs of specific groups.
The skill sets for the SIS Sector and a summary of their intended audience, are listed below. Remember to check the NTIS website for the latest version of the skill sets and units of competency they contain.
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SIS Skill set |
Audience |
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People new to spatial information technologies requiring induction skills. |
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People providing technical assistance in the collection of spatial information data. |
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People undertaking support roles in the collection of spatial information data in the field. |
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People in the spatial information services industry sector who perform basic spatial drafting tasks. |
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People performing technical roles in the collection of spatial information or survey data in the field. |
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People performing spatial data collection and surveying roles. |
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People conducting remote location surveys. |
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People analysing basic GIS data. |
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People providing technical assistance in surveying tasks. |
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People performing applied engineering surveying tasks. |
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People who undertake the collection and integration of spatial data. |
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People designing and developing spatial information projects. |
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People implementing all aspects of spatial information projects, including quality assurance. |
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Provide Technical Assistance in Spatial Information Systems Development |
People providing technical assistance in the development of spatial information systems. |
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People designing spatial information systems. |
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People preparing engineering survey drawings. |
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People preparing mine survey drawings. |
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People applying planning law to surveying tasks. |
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People managing a spatial information services business. |
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People using spatial web applications for mapping. |
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People conducting spatial remote sensing activities. |
Units of competency for the SIS Sector
The SIS Sector has been redeveloped with 86 sector-specific, and 61 imported units of competency. These provide greater coverage of industry functions, and also accommodate emerging skills needs.
Click HERE to view a complete listing of SIS Sector units and the individual descriptor and statement of workplace application for each. To view the individual units of competency, visit the NTIS website.
Imported units of competency in SIS qualifications
Within Spatial Information Services qualifications, extensive use has been made of endorsed units of competency drawn from other Training Packages. The imported units of competency cover generic cross-industry functions. These units are accessed from the following Training Packages which can be accessed via the NTIS website.
§ BSB01 Business Services Training Package (superseded by BSB07)
§ CUV03 Visual Arts, Craft and Design Training Package
§ FDF03 Food Processing Industry Training Package
§ FPI99 Forest and Forest Products Training Package (superseded by FPI05)
§ ICA05 Information and Communications Training Package
§ ICA99 Information Technology (superseded by ICA05)
§ ICP99 Printing and Graphic Arts (superseded by ICP05)
§ ICT02 Telecommunications Training Package
§ LGA04 Local Government Training Package
§ MNC04 Coal Training Package
§ MNQ03 Extractive Industries Training Package
§ PRM04 Asset Maintenance Training Package
§ PSP04 Public Sector Training Package
§ PSP99 National Public Services (superseded by PSP04)
§ RTD02 Conservation and Land Management Training Package
§ TDT02 Transport and Distribution Training Package (superseded by TLI07)
§ THH02 Hospitality Training Package (superseded by SIT07)
Click HERE to view a summary of the imported units of competency from these Training Packages, and the SIS Sector qualifications that they have been packaged within.
