FIG Commission 5

Chair 2002-2006

Matthew Bryan Higgins

Curriculum Vitae

Date of birth:  3 December 1960

Nationality:  Australian

Status: Married to Jane with 3 children

Current Position: Senior Surveyor with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland, Australia

Qualifications
  • Bachelor of Applied Science, Surveying (With Distinction), Queensland University of Technology, 1983. Three prizes including best academic record.
  • Registered and Licensed, Surveyors Board of Queensland, 1985.
  • Master of Surveying and Mapping Science, University of Queensland, 1988.
  • Presently a PhD Candidate (part time, external) at the University of New South Wales.
Career Highlights

Recognized as Queensland expert on operational, physical and satellite geodesy with extensive experience in Global Positioning Systems (GPS) since 1985:

  • Publication in 1987 of parameters for transformation between Australian Geodetic Datum and World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) as used by GPS. The parameters have been widely used in Australia since 1987 until their recent replacement as part of the adoption of the Geocentric Datum of Australia.
  • In 1988, completed a Masters Degree specializing in GPS and geodetic datum issues.
  • Six month study tour in 1989 of North American organizations with major roles in the development of GPS surveying and geodesy.
  • Leader of GPS related research including involvement in development of the first civilian application of GPS Controlled Photogrammetry in Australia which, in 1994, was a winner of the Institution of Surveyors Australia Excellence in Surveying Award.
  • Technical Advisor on development of Queensland's Geodetic Infrastructure in support of Australia's move to a geocentric datum and for Height Modernization and including the Queensland 100km GPS Network.
  • In 1999, awarded an Australia Day Achievement Medallion.
  • Award for Continuing Professional Development from the Institution of Surveyors Australia, Queensland Division in 2000.
  • In 2001, led a Pilot Project to develop a GPS Network using Trimble's Virtual Reference Station (VRS) concept. The network supports real-time-kinematic surveying using GPS and Mobile Telephone. This was the first VRS installation outside Europe.
  • Elected a Fellow of the Institution of Surveyors Australia in 2001.
Significant Representations
  • Queensland representative on the Geodesy Group of the Australia and New Zealand Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) working on issues such as horizontal and vertical datum, development of standards and practices for surveys (including GPS) and legal traceability of EDME and GPS measurements.
  • Member of the Geodesy Sub-Committee of the Australian Academy of Sciences.
  • Past Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the US based magazine "GPS World".
  • Chair of International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Commission 5 on Positioning and Measurement for the period 2002 to 2006.
  • FIG representative to the UN Action Team on Global Navigation Satellite Systems.
  • Chairs the Queensland reference group for Australian GNSS Coordination Committee.
Presentations
Contacts 

Mr. Matt Higgins
Senior Surveyor
Dept of Natural Resources and Mines
Locked Bag 40
Coorparoo Delivery Centre
Brisbane Qld 4151
AUSTRALIA
Tel. + 61 7 3896 3754
Fax + 61 7 3891 5168
E-mail: matt.higgins@nrm.qld.gov.au 

15 May 2002


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