Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Candidate profile - Aaron Beatson

Who I am:


My name is Aaron Beatson. During my early to mid-twenties, I worked with two seismic exploration firms: Terrex seismic and Velseis. I began as field hand, distributing and retrieving seismic recording equipment in some of the more remote and beautiful parts of Australia, and later worked as a lead vibroseis operator, scout and surveyor. As a scout, I was responsible for planning the routes for a $2.6 million dollar fleet of AHV-IV 60,000lb peak force vibroseis vehicles, taking into consideration areas of cultural and environmental significance while trying to mitigating risk and maximize production. Finally, as a surveyor, I deployed Trimble GNSS base stations and receivers to acquire positional data for later use in generating DEM’s, and set out shots and offsets for the vibroseis trucks that I would later operate. It was during this time that I developed an appreciation for all things spatial, GPS and G.I.S related.

Working remotely and to a 6:2 FIFO roster left a lot of time for ancillary projects. Living far from civilization for six weeks at a time didn’t leave many opportunities for after work activities, not to mention what to do during the two weeks waiting for the next hitch to start. With this surplus time, I turned my attention to learning Chinese Mandarin. At first I learned on my own with Mp3’s and textbooks. Starting in 2004 I made a few trips to China and undertook intensive language instruction at some universities in Hubei province.
During the lead up to the GFC and for a year afterwards, seismic work was scarce, and so I spent a greater and greater proportion of time in China studying, returning when seismic work was available.
In 2010, I had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Shanghai to work at the Australian Pavilion of the World Expo, and finally put the language I had been studying intermittently over the preceding four years to some practical use.

When the Expo wrapped up, I turned my attention back to G.I.S because I began to see how its application could provide benefits to most all sectors of industry (not least of which at an International event like a world Expo). To this end I enrolled in a Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology with the University of Southern Queensland, which by virtue of the option of an external mode of study, I am able to complete while continuing to live in China.

While I finish my degree, I perform proofreading and editing of technical documents for firms situated in the nearby industrial park.  I correct the grammar and meaning given an English translation and the original Chinese source.

Skills, expertise and qualities
I am proficient in Excel, ArcGIS 10.1 suite, python for ArcGIS scripting, Evernote, Trimble sketchup, layout, Word and Powerpoint.

I am quickly developing a proficiency in Oracle 11g Database, VBA for Excel, and CivilCad.
I am an excellent public speaker, and have an intimate understanding of the Chinese culture and ways of doing business by virtue of having resided here cumulatively for over six years.

Role looking for:
I am interested in collaborating with spatial science or engineering firms that would like to establish a presence in China and am seeking those firms that are willing to engage me in a 'virtual' or 'external' internship while I complete my Bachelor’s degree and other ancillary studies.
With 1800+ days of in China experience and possessing language proficiency, I am in a position to do the leg work in building the required business relationships that are requisite for success in China.
My interest in performing an unpaid internship is threefold.
·         To put to use and thus reinforce the new skills I am developing in my university studies;
·         To accumulate the varied experience necessary to count towards accreditation with the Surveying and Spatial Science Institute (SSSI) as a ‘Geographic Information Systems Professional’;
·         To gain the prerequisite experience required for future employment as a GIS technician/ Systems Analyst/Programmer

I can be contacted through the following media

Email: aaron(at)beatspatial.info

skype: aaron.beatson

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