Atherton Tablelands Geographic Information System (@GIS), is looking beyond the traditional areas of Local Government for applications to help the community and businesses. Business Operations Manager, Martin Perrins, said @GIS is a joint initiative of Atherton, Eacham and Herberton Shire Councils.
It was established as a business unit of Atherton Shire Council to assist the three Councils and has grown since then.
@GIS now covers its three core Councils and in certain projects moves beyond those areas. It contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the three Shire Councils by providing best practice data collection and GIS support for activities across a wide range of responsibilities including economic development, infrastructure management, environmental sustainability, community services and planning.
@GIS does not stop there. Martin Perrins said one of the most interesting recent applications being developed is the fire mitigation program which looks at vegetation and land patterns over a wide district.
“In this region, there are a lot of steep gullies and fire fighters can work out how the fire would spread,” he said. “This is valuable information, as the GIS covers a huge area with big range of vegetation ranging from tropical rainforest through to dry savanna.”
@GIS, in conjunction with Tropical North TAFE, has established an online and face to face training program – the only course of its type in Queensland – where six young people each year for the next three years will be trained in GIS operations.
The @GIS trainees will obtain double certification – Certificate 3 in Business Administration as well as Certificate 3 in Spatial Information Services. @GIS is working with local schools to encourage teachers and students to use GIS software, now prioritised by Education Queensland.
For more details contact Martin Perrins on (07) 4091 0750 or email martinp@atgis.com.au
