A research framework for defining the Queensland spatial
Spatial Industry representatives across all streams of Government, Industry, Academia and Professions have continuously discussed a skills shortages in the Queensland spatial information industry. However, what is the Queensland spatial information industry and how is a business, organisation or individual defined as being within the Industry?
Whilst research has been conducted into the definition, economic output and skills shortages of the industry, at both National and State levels, there appeared to be no statistically rigorous evidence of a skills shortage nor a broader framework used in the primary data collection methodologies particularly in reference to the sample selection of respondents. This, I believe, was due to an undefined and unclassified industry for spatial information.
In conjunction with key spatial industry representatives, particularly from the Australian Spatial Industry Business Association (ASIBA), the QSIO prepared a research framework, including a statistically based methodology for several primary data collection activities. The objectives of this research framework was, to define the Queensland spatial information industry in terms of its’ labour force and extent by industry sectors; provide a classification of the amount and level of work undertaken by a business, organisation or individual within the spatial information industry; assess the spatial industry perceptions to skills shortages; assess the spatial industry future skills needs; assess other user needs of the spatial industry; provide a research framework for future time series analysis and transportability for other States in Australia to use; and to undertake an analysis of specific characteristics of persons employed within the spatial information industry. This paper and subsequent presentation provides a detailed outline of the methodology that was used to achieve these objectives and gives an overview of the positive and negative experiences during the data collection phase.