The conference theme is Finding our way to a better future. Society is facing some significant global challenges: they are not necessarily new, but the awareness and urgency of these problems has escalated. The ability to effectively evaluate, understand and address these large-scale issues is vital if we are to make an impact on them.  We are also on the cusp of a step-change in how we live and work in our work with disruptive technology and big data changing our futurescape. How we can harness these changes for the benefit of society is key.

Most of these challenges include a location component at a variety of scales. Geospatial information helps us to makes sense of the problems and gives us a better way of framing and addressing them. Knowing where people and things are, and their relationship to each other, is essential for evidence-informed decision-making. Not only is real-time information needed to prepare for, and respond to, things like natural disasters and political crises, but location-based services are helping governments to develop strategic priorities, make decisions, and measure and monitor outcomes.

NZGRC-2019 will bring the geospatial community together to explore how research in geospatial science and technology can help to address these challenges over the coming decades – both in terms of technological foundations and applied areas – and to consider how geospatial research can contribute to future societal wellbeing and just transitions.

Conference key thematic areas are:

• The future of geospatial science and technology. Topics might include smart geocomputation and geoanalytics, such as dynamic-temporal GIS, scalable geospatial computation, uncertainty, visualisation and geovisual analytics, advanced sensing, citizen science and volunteered geoinformation, and rapid spatial data analytics.
• Enabling seamless geospatial data. This might include good geospatial data governance, next-generation spatial data infrastructures and improved methods for knowledge representation.
• Ensuring good decisions from spatial information. Good decisions are those which are usable, have strong social licence, and which leave no-one behind including indigenous communities.
• Addressing key challenges for society using geospatial science and technology. Challenges may include: transitioning to a carbon neutral society, adapting to a changing climate, secure and sustainable food and agriculture, and sustainable cities and communities.

Abstracts are available on this page – or click on a link in the programme table below.

Registration is now closed.

Ticket information

Tickets include morning and afternoon tea and coffee, lunch, and an networking icebreaker event in the evening. Purchased online only. Before the end of August there is a Standard entry fee of $150 and Student fee of $100 (exclusive of GST and booking fee). Late entry fees between the 1st and 16th September are $200 for standard and $150 for student entry fees. 

If you are attending GeoComputation 2019:

We are offering discounted NZGRC-2019 ticket prices for GeoComputation attendees of $90 (Regular) or $40 (Student), to be paid on top of the GeoComputation registration fee. To take advantage of this, please head to the GeoComputation 2019 website to purchase your registration. If you are not attending GeoComputation, please purchase your registration for NZGRC-2019 here.

The conference is being organised by the Geospatial Research Institute Toi Hangarau in conjunction with the University of Canterbury, University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University, in conjunction with GeoComputation 2019, running in Queenstown from 18-21 September.

Please contact us at:

Matthew Wilson,

Geospatial Research Institute,

Level 4, Julius von Haast Building,

University of Canterbury,

Private Bag 4800,

Christchurch, 8140,

New Zealand

Email: gri-enquiries@canterbury.ac.nz

You could also follow @GeospatialNZ on Twitter or connect with us on LinkedIn to be notified of conference related news.

Main organising team

Main organising team and programme comittee:

• Matthew Wilson (GRI/ University of Canterbury)
• Melanie Tomintz (GRI/ University of Canterbury)
• Antoni Moore (University of Otago)
• Kathryn Salm (FrontierSI)
• Graeme Blick (LINZ).