This month SmartSat and the Queensland Government supported the Queensland Earth Observation Hub as a silver sponsor of the 2024 Advancing Earth Observation Forum, hosted by the Earth Observation Australia Inc. (EOA) in Adelaide.
The Forum is the premiere event for the Australian Earth Observation (EO) community, bringing together over 280 delegates from industry, government, research, defence, not-for-profits, and educational institutions to present, connect and collaborate. This sponsorship provided the Hub an opportunity to showcase its gem EO projects, as well as exceptional EO projects from the broader SmartSat portfolio. The stand also provided a focal point for our collaborators to promote their businesses and connect with conference delegates to discuss future opportunities.
Alyssa Starkey (left) from EO company, Ozius, with Gavin Kennedy at the Queensland EO Hub booth
Being held in Adelaide and directly following the SmartSat Conference 2024, there was a great buzz at the event following the achievements of the Kanyini launch and eagerness to see the data that will come from it post the commissioning phase. Geoscience Australia were at the event as a Flagship Sponsor, providing the kick-off keynote addresses from Alison Rose, Chief of Division, Space from Geoscience Australia. This keynote accompanied a great number of discussions around their Earth observation platforms, the Copernicus data hub and a preview of the Sentinel Next program.
The Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) – a partner in a number of Queensland Earth Observation Hub projects – were a platinum sponsor and shared information on how to access their environmental data and monitoring infrastructure. Gold sponsors, CSIRO, showcased the AquaWatch project that SmartSat is partnered on, and the future of calibration and validation through the AusCalVal project.
(L-R) SmartSat Chief Operations Officer, Andrew Beveridge; Queensland EO Hub Coordinator, Gavin Kennedy; Geoimage General Manager, Mark Covington; City of Gold Coast’s Natural Areas Planning Officer, Dr Jean-Marc Hero; and Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning Project Manager Kate Browning.
The event culminated with the Forum dinner, with a keynote from the University of Adelaide’s Emerita Professor Megan Lewis on the history of the EO community in Australia. Another highlight was the Earth Observation Australia Awards, recognising those who have significantly contributed to building the EO community.
FrontierSI’s Insights Team took home the Innovation in Earth Observation Made by a Group, Company, or Organisation Award. Dr Courtney Bright, Satellite Systems Engineer from CSIRO received the EOA Early Career Award, recognising her leadership in the development of a conceptual Earth observation satellite design project between CSIRO, NASA JPL, and Australian university experts, in contribution to the AquaWatch Australia programme. Finally, Founder of the Queensland EO Hub and SmartSat research collaborator, Professor Stuart Phinn of the University of Queensland, was awarded the well-deserved Significant Contribution to the Development of the Australian Earth Observation Community and its Capabilities Award.
Gavin Kennedy
Queensland Earth Observation Hub Coordinator