Ground level
A specialist geospatial advisory, founded in 2025.
Five years of satellite-based analysis for the United Nations and enterprise GIS for Australian infrastructure, in one practice.
01 — Why Latera exists
Spatial analysis is usually bought as a map or a dataset. What the client is working out sits further on: which route, which site, whether the change is real, whether the system is worth the licence fee. Latera does the analysis to a standard that can be reviewed, and shapes what it hands over to the people who will use it.
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An engineering artefact
for a COO or head of network planning: scope, milestones, acceptance criteria, cost, time, risk.
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A methodology annex
for a program manager or multilateral reviewer: data, method, limits, reproducibility.
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A constraints note
for an approvals or land team: sourced layers, the rules applied, what it does and does not show.
02 — Background
Built between two kinds of geospatial work.
Latera was founded in 2025 by Rhys Persoon after two years in commercial property analysis and five years at the United Nations — first at UNESCAP, on geospatial applications for sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific, then at the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), producing satellite analysis for humanitarian and development programs, published by the United Nations.
That work set the standard for everything since: methods documented, accuracy stated and limits named, so the analysis could be reviewed and published with confidence. Enterprise GIS work for Australian infrastructure showed a different gap. Spatial platforms are sold as software, and the work that makes them pay off — governance, data models, method, and training the people who will use them — usually sits outside any vendor’s scope. It is where much of the value lies, and it is rarely anyone’s job.
Latera brings the two together: the discipline of international satellite analysis, applied to the infrastructure, environmental and land questions of Australian and international clients.
Spatial work that holds up to review, and stays useful after the engagement ends.
Previously UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) · UNESCAP — Master of Geographic Information Science, University of Queensland
03 — How the practice is staffed
How the practice is staffed
Every engagement is led by a senior practitioner from scoping to sign-off. Around that lead, Latera brings in specialist GIS, remote sensing and environmental analysts by project, each matched to the work and typically holding postgraduate qualifications in their field, from geographic information science to environmental management, and working to Latera’s methods and review standards.
Based in Sydney and Cairns, working with clients across Australia and internationally. Latera is pronounced la-TAIR-a.