Meet Martin Ankor IWN’s TasWater Champion

Here’s the low down on Martin Ankor our very own TasWater Champion and making sure we got the data right on this one … Join Martin on a journey where science, design, and photography converge amidst the breath-taking landscapes of the outdoors. Discover his passion for hiking, intertwined with the thrill of solving spatial data challenges and the pursuit of building an integrated surveying system across Tasmania's rugged terrain.

LET’S START WITH THE PERSONAL - TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF

My partner, Karen, and I are originally from Adelaide. We moved to Hobart in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. Outside of work I have interests in science, design, photography, and the outdoors, mostly hiking currently.

WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT WATER CORPORATION ROLE?

I’m the Survey Coordinator at TasWater. I’ve been there since mid 2020.

WHAT’S YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND?

I have a Diploma of Spatial Data Systems (surveying) and spent 20 years in South Australia working predominantly in engineering, construction and mining. My company began laser scanning in 2009 and we bought one of the first Leica C10 scanners in South Australia. In 2011 I started a B.Sc. in Geology and Geophysics, which progressed into a PhD developing a coupled lake-groundwater model for palaeoclimate research. Since then, I’ve been at TasWater establishing the surveying program.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO EACH DAY (BUT TO YOUR GRANDMA)?

TasWater surveyors provide a wide range of surveying services, advice and consultation, data management and governance, and systems development. We make maps and spatial information, so people know where assets are and which way the water flows.

WHY DID YOU JOIN IWN?

I have became involved with IWN early in 2023 and started as an IWN Champion around April-May 2023. I decided to join because innovation rarely occurs in isolation. Innovation usually relies on combining shared knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Becoming IWN Champion gave me the opportunity to improve my understanding of both TasWater and the water industry.

WHAT DID YOU ACHIEVE WITH IWN?

For the industry?

TasWater operates in a challenging environment, with a large asset base, a relatively small number of customers and a huge range of environmental and climatic conditions. This presents opportunities for trials of new technology and requires innovative solutions to ensure long term financial sustainability. I would like to improve collaboration, networking and sharing of solutions between TasWater and other water utilities.

For yourself?

I’m still fairly new to the water industry and still have a lot to learn. Working with others at IWN seems like a perfect opportunity to expand my knowledge.

WHAT GETS YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING?

Data, data, data. Hundreds of people across TasWater use the spatial data we collect. I love the problem solving and the challenge of building a fully integrated surveying system. Also, surveying across Tasmania is really horrible ;)