Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
8 minutes ago
A regional Geographical Information Systems (GIS) conference hosted at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale showcased how geospatial tools are being used to address environmental, planning, and infrastructure challenges across the region.
Organised by the New Zealand ESRI Users Group (NZEUG) in partnership with Eagle Technology, the Regional User Conference brought together students, researchers, council teams, and industry specialists for a day of presentations, case studies, and collaboration.
About 40 people attended the conference, including representatives from Napier City Council, Hastings District Council, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and private sector organisations. Presenters shared how GIS is being used in areas such as flood mitigation, urban planning, biodiversity conservation, and asset maintenance.
Lisa Turnbull, Assistant Head of School for Primary Industries, said the conference was an opportunity to showcase the institute’s GIS capability and student talent.
“It provided an opportunity to showcase EIT’s expertise in GIS, gave students a chance to share their projects, which helped build confidence and develop skills, and of course, provided excellent networking opportunities for both staff and students. Credit to the team involved.”
EIT staff and students featured prominently on the programme. Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) student Jordyn Campbell presented a second-year case study analysing the effects of urbanisation on fertile land in Hawke’s Bay.
Her research showed a shift in land use between 1990 and 2016, with productive farmland being converted into residential zones. This has implications for soil health, biodiversity, and local climate conditions.
Fellow student Emily Strong presented research on habitat restoration at Cape Sanctuary, focusing on efforts to increase native forest cover and biodiversity through long-term land management. Her findings showed a measurable increase in natural regenerative forest between 1990 and 2022. The project was supervised by Dr Dinusha Jayathilake in collaboration with Cape Sanctuary, Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay, and NZEUG.
EIT student Lili Pena Diaz was also recognised during the event for earning a place in GAPLOP X, Eagle Technology’s professional development programme for emerging geospatial talent.
Dr Jayathilake also presented a GIS-based geodatabase developed for environmental management studies at EIT. The project integrates field data with spatial tools such as ArcGIS and Field Maps to enhance student learning and support ecological monitoring.
“GIS plays a critical role in addressing regional challenges, and this conference gave our students the chance to contribute to real-world conversations and connect with professionals in the field,” she said.
She said the conference also provided a wide-ranging overview of the latest developments in GIS technology and its applications in various fields.
“This event facilitated knowledge sharing, professional development, and collaboration among GIS professionals, students, and industry experts. The diverse range of presentations and discussions underscored the importance of GIS in addressing environmental, urban planning, and conservation challenges currently facing the Hawke’s Bay region.”
