The document outlines the educational journey and contributions of Dr. R.J. Williams, a retired cartographer and geospatial scientist, emphasizing his studies in cartography and geography from the 1970s to the 1990s. It highlights his presentations at various conferences and his innovative approaches to digital mapping, including his work with the Royal Australian Survey Corps. Key themes include the transition from traditional mapping to virtual worlds and the role of education in shaping geographic information systems.

1. BACK TO THE FUTURE:
Education
Dr R.J. (Bob) Williams [Retired]
Cartographer
Topographic Surveyor,
Geographer & Geospatial Scientist
February 2022
Supporting slides to
presentation at
HYDROSPATIAL 2021

2. The transition from maps and charts to a ‘virtual world’ commenced
through innovative Education programs commenced decades ago.
EDUCATION is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills and personal
development and should be an enlightening experience.
During 1977-80 I undertook the first of my tertiary studies at the (then) Canberra
College of Advanced Education (now the University of Canberra) towards the
award of Bachelor of Arts in Computing Studies (Cartography major).
In June 1983, I was given the opportunity to study at the University of Wisconsin
(UW) at Madison in the USA for the award of Master of Science (Cartography).
In 1985 I gave a presentation titled “Enquiry Systems for the Interrogation of
Infrastructure” at Auto-Carto 7 Conference, Washington DC.
The University of
New South Wales
-
Australian
Defence Force
Academy
Apple Macintosh II
In 1989 I gave a presentation titled “Geographic
Information: Aspects of Phenomenology and Cognition”
at Auto-Carto 9 Conference, Baltimore, MD.
In 1988, I was given the opportunity to study at the University of New South
Wales at ADFA for the award of PhD. My thesis was titled “Analysis of
Geographic Information: a Cognitive Approach”.

3. During 1977-80, after being topographic surveyor (technician) for
eleven years, I undertook the first of my tertiary studies at the (then)
Canberra College of Advanced Education (now the University of
Canberra) towards the award of Bachelor of Arts in Computing
Studies (Cartography major).
During the 1970s and 1980s US Army Exchange Officers were posted to the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo.
Three officers were previously Assistant Professors in the Department of Geography and Computer Science,
United States Military Academy.
I was given a challenge of
identifying future
directions for digital
mapping for the Royal
Australian Survey Corps and
the Australian Army. On
completion I wrote a
discussion paper titled “A
Defence Enquiry System
(DES)” for the Director of
Survey-Army.
Computing Studies (Cartography major)
Ø Australia
Education
Cybernetics

4. During the 1980s the Director(s) of Survey-Army sponsored long-term schooling
for Royal Australian Survey Corps (RASVY) officers and selected non-
commissioned officers at academic institutions both within Australia and
overseas. In June 1983, I was given the opportunity to study at the University
of Wisconsin (UW) at Madison in the USA for the award of Master of
Science (Cartography).
Cartography and Geography
Ø USA
Education
I was able to undertake an innovative program: Cartography as a
communication system; using Odyssey (a software package developed at
Harvard Laboratory of Computer Graphics and fore-runner of ESRI’s Arc-Info);
program titled “Modernizing Land Information Systems in North America”.
In 1985 I gave a presentation titled “Enquiry Systems for the Interrogation
of Infrastructure” at Auto-Carto 7 Conference, Washington DC.
AN AUDACIOUS PRESENTATION
“I have no doubts that Bob Williams had great
ideas ahead of the crowd… Who else would
have demonstrated a hierarchical network path
algorithm LIVE at AC7 (live on an Apple II of
course…)
From CHRISMAN@washington.edu
Date Wed, Jan 4, 1995 4:17 AM

5. Cartography and Geography
Ø Australia
Education
ANALYSIS OF GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION:
A COGNITIVE APPROACH
Robert John Williams
1989
The University of
New South Wales -
Australian Defence Force
Academy
GEOGRAPHIC
KNOWLEDGE BASES
GEOGRAPHIC
KNOWLEDGE RULES
EXPERTISE
DATABASES
Apple Macintosh II
In 1989 I gave a presentation
titled “Geographic
Information: Aspects of
Phenomenology and
Cognition” at Auto-Carto 9
Conference, Baltimore, MD.

6. Photo taken in December 1979 of
[then] SSGT Bob Williams
Military symbols produced using
PLOT10 software
[Then] SSGT Bob Williams – First supervisor of the
Royal Australian Survey Corps’ Input Sub-system of
Automap 1 at ‘Fortuna’, Bendigo, 1976
Dr Bob Williams an observer at DGIWG
meting held in Madrid, Spain 1993. He
was the first Australian participant.
Robert (Bob) Williams
One of Australia’s Military Mapmakers