Bringing Geospatial to Life: Why We Wrote a Children's Book
Why We Wrote a Children's Book About Geospatial Technology
At 1Spatial, we live and breathe geospatial data but we know that explaining what we do to friends, family, and especially children can be a challenge. That’s why we created Kimberley the Kangaroo and the Geospatial Adventure a children’s book designed to make geospatial concepts easy to understand and help people realise that location data is all around us, we use it, see it, and rely on it every day.
The idea was simple: give the geospatial community a tool to help explain their work to those unfamiliar with the field, while also inspiring future generations to explore the power of location data. Whether you're a GIS analyst, a spatial data scientist, or someone who just loves maps, you've probably faced the question: "So what exactly do you do?" Kimberley the Kangaroo helps answer that in a way that’s easy to understand and with fun interesting facts to read.
A Book for All Ages—and All Audiences
The book follows Kimberley, a curious kangaroo, on a journey through the world of geospatial technology. Along the way, she discovers how location data helps build cities, protect the environment, and connect communities. It’s a story that resonates with kids and adults alike, and it’s already making waves.
One proud grandparent shared that their granddaughter used the book as the foundation for her Year 8 project on designing a new city and she got an A! It’s moments like these that remind us why we created the book: to spark curiosity and show how geospatial thinking can shape the future.
Community Love and Shared Adventures
We’ve been thrilled to see how the geospatial community has embraced Kimberley. From social media shoutouts to classroom readings, the book has found its way into homes, schools, and offices across the country. Mildura Regional Council even shared some fantastic images of their team enjoying the book—proof that learning can be fun at any age.
Supporting Education and Outreach
We’re also proud to share that several companies have begun purchasing copies of Kimberley the Kangaroo and the Geospatial Adventure to distribute across communities, including schools throughout Australia. These efforts are helping promote and educate the next generation about the spatial industry, sparking interest in STEM and geospatial careers from an early age.
By placing the book in classrooms, libraries, and community centres, these organisations are helping build awareness and understanding of how geospatial technology shapes the world around us and how young minds can be part of that future.
Looking Ahead
Our hope is that Kimberley the Kangaroo and the Geospatial Adventure continues to be a bridge between the technical and the tangible. Whether you're explaining your job to your kids or helping a student understand how cities are planned, Kimberley is here to help make spatial thinking accessible and engaging.
But spatial technology isn’t just for the spatial industry, its impact reaches far beyond. It’s being used around the world in agriculture to optimise crop yields and manage land sustainably, and in Aboriginal communities to support cultural mapping, land rights, and environmental stewardship. Beyond that, spatial tools are transforming healthcare, education, climate resilience, disaster response, and even retail and logistics — helping organisations make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Thank you to everyone who’s shared their love for the book. Keep the stories coming and keep exploring the world through geospatial eyes.