At She Maps, we’ve always believed that maps are more than tools; they’re invitations. They help students see the world differently, ask sharper questions, and understand how places, people, and environments are connected.
As part of our work with schools across Australia, we’re updating all our image mats with richer, more detailed geospatial data. This upgrade has been made possible through the generous support of Nearmap, and we want to highlight the important work they do and why it matters for students.
Nearmap is an Australian geospatial technology company that captures detailed images of the Earth from above using planes. Their aircraft regularly fly over cities, towns, coastlines, and natural landscapes, collecting high‑resolution imagery that shows what places look like now and how they’ve changed over time.
Because Nearmap updates its imagery frequently, users don’t have to rely on outdated information. For teachers exploring land use, councils planning for flooding, or students investigating environmental change, having the most recent version of a place is essential.
Terms like “geospatial” or “aerial imagery” can sound complex, but the ideas behind them are surprisingly straightforward.
Photographs taken from the air, usually from planes, let us look straight down at the Earth’s surface.
Information tied to a specific location, such as the shape of a river, the height of a building or the path of a road.
Nearmap transforms imagery into measurable, analysable information. Distances, areas, heights, changes over time, this is the kind of data professionals use every day in mapping, science and technology. When students use this data, they’re stepping directly into the world of spatial thinking.
To find out more check out our blog: What is Geospatial?
One of the most powerful aspects of Nearmap’s work is the ability to track change. By comparing imagery captured months or years apart, users can see how places evolve—new housing developments, shifting coastlines, changes in vegetation, or the impact of natural disasters.
In Australia, where landscapes can transform rapidly due to bushfires, floods or storms, this kind of visual evidence helps communities understand what has happened and plan for what might come next.
Nearmap’s imagery is widely used in environmental monitoring, tracking rivers, wetlands, vegetation and wildlife habitats. Aerial views help scientists and land managers understand how waterways shift and how those changes affect species like the platypus.
Seeing the landscape from above allows issues such as erosion or vegetation loss to be identified early.
For students, this is a powerful reminder that maps can help us care for the natural world.
During natural disasters, clear and current information can save lives. Nearmap imagery has supported emergency responses during bushfires, floods and severe storms by showing which areas are affected, which roads are accessible, and how the landscape has changed.
This highlights the deeply human side of geospatial technology. Maps aren’t just about data—they’re about people, safety and resilience.
Climate change can feel abstract, especially for young people. Nearmap’s imagery helps make it real. Repeated images of coastlines, such as those around Byron Bay, show erosion, recovery, and long‑term shifts after major weather events.
These visual stories help students understand why action matters and how climate impacts different places.
Nearmap isn’t just planes and pixels; it’s people. The spatial industry is highly collaborative, bringing together scientists, analysts, software developers, designers, communicators, and more.
There’s no single “type” of person who works in mapping. Curiosity, problem‑solving, and a willingness to learn are just as important as technical skills.
For students who enjoy geography, science, math, technology—or even art—the spatial industry offers a wide range of pathways, including:
Many people in the industry didn’t follow a straight path. What they share is a desire to understand the world and use data to answer meaningful questions.
The following are a list of the study paths taken by some of the NearMap team.
Using real aerial imagery in the classroom helps students connect learning to the real world. It builds spatial awareness, critical thinking and curiosity about how places work.
By updating our She Maps image mats with Nearmap data, we’re giving teachers and students access to the same tools used by professionals across Australia.
She Maps is Australia’s leading expert in drone and geospatial education.
She Maps assist schools with the purchasing of drones, school-industry created drone and geospatial teaching resources and highly supportive teacher professional development.
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