In your parents' day, spatial science was probably known as mapping or surveying. Now, mobile technology, satellites and loads of data mean you can constantly find out not only "what it is" but "where it is".

Just think about how you use your smartphone

Spatial science is now part of many other professions and as a spatial science professional you can work in just about any industry. It is the study of the collection, measurement, mapping, analysis and presentation of physical and man-made features.

Whether you are supporting the resources and mining boom, building infrastructure or new housing developments, or providing health, retail or environmental services —

... just like IT, spatial science is helping professionals make decisions 

• where to put the latest Aldi
• the optimum layout of a new housing estate
• whether your local Doctor’s surgery needs special allied services (like a physio or pharmacy) sited next door
• the best way to construct the next traffic tunnel
• where the pollution on the Barrier Reef is coming from
• the solution to a property dispute between you and a neighbour
• the probable extent of the next flood event
• the quantity of coal extracted from a mine
• The value of carbon offsets and carbon sequestration

Spatial science is used to work out which sports fields to mow first and how often. You might use it to check out where your mate lives using StreetView.

Either way, spatial data underpins these decisions – working out the location.

Even your tweets are spatially referenced!

When the government wants to know if our waters are getting more polluted they rely on spatial information.

Graphic Source: Trendsmap.com

When there is a major disaster like a flood, governments need to decide how to fix the roads and insurance companies need to know which claims to pay and how quickly. 

To make these decisions, they use spatial data and analysis.

When exploring for gold or building a railway to get coal to the ports, spatial data forms the backbone of the decisions where to dig or where to route the rail.

When you hop into a car and turn on the satnav, spatial data is used to work out where your car is, which roads it can use to drive on, the direction and the fastest route for you to get to your destination.

1. Work out where to locate a wind farm in Western Victoria to minimise impacts on locals but maximise power generation
2. Develop sustainable suburbs and housing estates anywhere in the world
3. Decide where to allocate police and emergency services resources based on analysing demographic spatial datasets
4. Manage water supply in the Middle East
5. Control the construction of tall buildings like the Burj al Arab in Dubai – tallest building in the world and controlled by an Australian surveyor
6. Monitor species movement using GPS and proximity to available ground water mapping technology as part of a natural resource management program
7. Monitor the extraction and stockpiling of coal and other minerals from some of the world's largest mines
8. Assist with critical research on the effects of human actions on our environment in Antarctica
9. Control massive infrastructure construction projects

How much you could earn will vary on where you work and how quickly you acquire key skills (competencies).

Most spatial science employers value what you can do and how you can apply yourself using logical thought and reasoning. Spatial science is not an exact science, you need to be able to apply concepts and make deductions based on the information and data available and your pay options range with those roles and responsibilities.

An innovative approach to problem solving coupled with, in some cases; some understanding of business will be extremely attractive to the private sector, for instance! 

Many people stay in spatial science because of the benefits of flexibility, good pay and job security.

There is a huge demand for spatial scientists at the moment, from the mining and infrastructure sectors but also from the private consultancies and government agencies at the Federal, State and Local levels - they depend on surveying and spatial science.