Meet Benjamin Argyle-Ross, Project Manager at GeoVille. With a background in software development and project management, he was drawn to GeoVille’s mission to create real-world environmental impact through Earth observation.
What inspired you to join the company in the first place?
I've always wanted to work with the environment, but I never knew to what capacity. Given my background in project management and software development, I quickly became drawn to GeoVille's work and its application to real-world settings, as well as the positive impact it has on environmental projects.
What is your role at the company, and how do you contribute to the team's success?
I am a project manager at GeoVille. PMs are sometimes referred to be the unsung heroes who keep the circus from descending into chaos. While some chaos is unavoidable, I help my team succeed by facilitating communication both within and outside of the team.
I essentially function as a liaison between the customer, project partners, and the team. I ensure that everyone understands what needs to be done and when, that the team has all of the resources and information it requires to complete its tasks, and that any spontaneous fires are extinguished.
What do you find most rewarding about your job, and why?
I think the field in which we are working in is the most rewarding aspect of the job. It's not often that one has the opportunity to work in a field that has such a beneficial impact on the world around them. Our work in Earth observation not only informs the general public about how their world is changing over time, but it is also used directly by policymakers to help inspire meaningful change in our ever-changing world.
What projects or topics are you currently working on? In which field?
I have 3 primary projects, all of which are based in the field of land use, land use change, and forestry: 1. CLCplus Backbone: Part of the CLCplus suite, this project maps land use across Europe every 2-years at a 10m spatial resolution. 2. Small Landscape Features (SLF): Also a European product, the SLF project maps small landscape features such as woody elements (e.g. hedges, trees, and shrubs) around fields, as well as trees in urban zones at a high-resolution rate every 3-years. 3. Global Land Cover and Forest Mapping (LCFM): This is a global land cover project with a handful of products within its portfolio at varying spatial resolutions. Aside from the above, I am also closely working with a handful of projects within the field of climate change mitigation.
How has your role evolved since you first joined the company, and what new skills have you developed?
My role at the company has evolved as a result of the chances to expand into other areas of Earth observation. Despite starting with a primary concentration on land use, land use change, and forestry, I've had the opportunity to study other areas of interest, most notably climate change mitigation. Not only has this resulted in greater learning opportunities and responsibilities, but as someone who has not previously specialised in Earth observation and remote sensing, these new chances have paved the way for me to develop new skills.
Although I've undoubtedly improved my technical skills, like using GIS software, I've also improved my soft skills. Examples of this include diversified stakeholder engagement, greater analytical and ethical understandings of current world events, and adaption to emerging technologies.
What do you think sets this company apart from its competitors?
While I believe it is a cliché and an easy answer, GeoVille stands out from its competition due to its company culture and fantastic team. While I've previously worked for a few international companies, GeoVille truly stands out in terms of a terrific working atmosphere and a team with a consistently positive attitude.
Plus, being located in Innsbruck amidst the mountains is definitely a massive bonus. It certainly makes for an impressive office window view!
How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work, especially during challenging times?
One of my favourite aspects of working at GeoVille is how easy it is to communicate and consult with colleagues who aren't on your core team. This is especially handy when things don't go as planned in your project or when you have a tight deadline. This can also be useful on a daily basis to help break up work and keep you from sitting at the computer all day. Talking and engaging with those around you makes it simpler to stay motivated, engaged, and confident about the task you're doing, especially when you know you're not alone.
What hobbies do you enjoy privately (after work or on the weekends)? In my spare time, I read, play badminton and hockey, play the flute and continue to learn languages. German is definitely the focus right now, but I'm also keeping up with my French and Spanish. Eventually, I'd like to learn even more languages!
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