Spatial Data
SYDNEY – As the Surveyor General of NSW, I am pleased to introduce the first of a series of discussion forums relating to spatial information. Over the next twelve months, with the assistance of Open Forum, we will initiate a series of conversations relating to spatial information.
SYDNEY – As the Surveyor General of NSW, I am pleased to introduce the first of a series of discussion forums relating to spatial information. Over the next twelve months, with the assistance of Open Forum, we will initiate a series of conversations relating to spatial information.
Through this discussion forum I seek to foster a greater understanding of the potential of spatial information. The value of spatial information is well recognised in the ‘traditional' fields of survey and mapping and its application to infrastructure and natural resource management. However the contribution of spatial, or location based information, to business and government functions and our personal lives is rapidly expanding. Spatial information systems provide resourceful, innovative and sometimes novel information solutions relevant to all walks of life – whether we are at work, rest or play.
Technology and the demand for responsive multi-objective decision making is driving rapid change and a new awareness of the potential of spatially enabled information. These tools enable us to access and interpret large volumes of information visually, to predict or forecast impacts based on historical data and future trends assisting us in solving some of our most pressing problems in the area of water management and climate change; facilitating planning and decision making in a high impact, accessible format.
New web based tools such as:
Google Earth providing access to satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings
Microsoft Live Labs Photosynth which permits photo libraries to be "photosynthesized" into three dimensional models, and
NSW Department of Lands Spatial Information Exchange which offers a wide selection of NSW spatial datasets, including property, cadastral and topographic information, satellite data and aerial photography; are just a few examples of the innovations occurring in the field of spatial information technologies.
Remote sensing and the use of the growing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) assists us in capturing information for a variety of purposes from mapping forests and vegetation, to detecting pollution or soil salinity.
This information, gathered from satellite or aerial photography, assists us in comparing progressive change and informing decisions about the management of our natural and built environments. Satellite based navigation systems, more commonly known as global positioning or GPS, are being utilised for an expanding range of purposes.
You may have a GPS system in your car or boat for navigation purposes, or a handheld device for bushwalking. Handheld systems are increasingly being used for mapping locations on land and offshore.
To commence our first discussion, I'd appreciate your input on:
- What is your understanding of spatial information?
- How does it impact upon your daily activities?
- What problems or issues can spatial information help solve?
We look forward to your contribution.
Warrwick Watkins Surveyor General Department of Lands, NSW
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RELATED BLOGS & FORUMS:
- Spatial Information has a very bright future by Warwick Watkins
- Creating Spatial Opportunities by Gary Nairn
- Creating Spatial Opportunities by Peter Woodgate
- Valuing Spatial Data by Nick Sharp
- A glimpse of the future by Gary Nairn
- What is a Spatially Enabled Government? by Gary Nairn
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RECOMMENDED READING/SOURCES
Australia and New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) also known as the Spatial Information Council, is the peak intergovernmental organisation providing leadership in the collection, management and use of spatial information in Australia and New Zealand demonstrates that the value of spatial information solutions transcends geographic boundaries. http://www.anzlic.org.au/about.html
Australian Spatial Information Business Association (ASIBA) the national association representing businesses in the Spatial Information area. http://www.asiba.com.au/static/aboutus.php
Australian Spatial Information Education and Research Association (ASIERA) represents both the education and research sectors within the discipline of spatial information. http://www.asiera.org.au/about.html
Board of Surveying and Spatial Information of New South Wales (BOSSI) is a statutory board which provides advice to the Minister for lands on spatial information issues and regulates the survey industry http://www.bossi.nsw.gov.au/ CS2i http://www.bossi.nsw.gov.au/moreinfo/BOSSI_Common_Spatial_Information_Initiative.pdf
Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRC SI) a leader in spatial information applications that are affordable, useful and readily available to all – at any time and in any place through research and project development .http://spatialinfocrc.org/pages/about.aspx
Department of Industry Tourism and Resources is a federal government agency which provides a site dedicated to the spatial information industry [Link http://www.industry.gov.au/content/sitemap.cfm?objectid=48A49733-20E0-68D8-EDA0E84D18FE7080 ]
Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA) is a worldwide not-for-profit organisation that provides excellence in education and information exchange on the use and benefits of geospatial information and location-aware technologies for asset and infrastructure management http://www.gita.org.au/
Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI)the national body combining the professional disciplines of surveying, mapping, engineering & mining surveying, remote sensing & photogrammetry and spatial information. http://www.spatialsciences.org.au/index.asp
NSW Department of Lands (Lands) provides, amongst other services, titling mapping survey and aerial photography used widely throughout government and the private sector as a basis for planning, forecasting and decision making. http://www.lnsw.nsw.gov.au
NEXT FORUM TOPIC
Spatial information and privacy
Open Forum is an interactive policy discussion website hosted and moderated by Global Access Partners (GAP).
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astro turfing
July 10, 2007 at 6:33 am
What is your understanding
wizard
July 23, 2007 at 2:13 am
Spatial Information
What is your understanding of spatial information?
Historically – starts with early mapping, surveying and geography many centuries ago.
Recently – focus on computer based techniques because of the large amount of data, the power of modern statistical and geographic information science (GIS) software, and the complexity of computational modeling. Techniques have been developed in geography, biology, statistics, geographic information science, remote sensing, computing, mathematics, scientific modelling & information security.
How does it impact upon your daily activities?
Used to large extent in location aware marketing (SIM card or RFID), & the surveillance society e.g. behavioural activity monitoring (location based incident detection in IT systems, fraud detection for on-line credit card use & counter-terrorism surveillance e.g. mobile phone SIM card use, motorway use).
What problems or issues can spatial information help solve?
As above + many more – we are only at the tip of the iceberg of understanding its uses. Two thoughts come to mind – humankind has the capacity to simplify large amounts of data by using & interpreting patterns; & a picture says a thousand words.
As an ex-Central Mapping Authority employee (NSW Dept of Lands) & current Information Security professional, I have long been interested in the application of technologies that intersect these 2 areas i.e. mapping of spatial behaviour in the Information Security area within my industry.
BradSpencer
August 2, 2007 at 7:30 am
Commoditisation of Spatial Data
This is a really interesting and hopefully thought provoking initiative. I congratulate you!
I really want to raise a provocative issue to get people talking. So here goes….
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have shown the way for the commoditisation of some spatial data sets – its notable that most vector data originates from Govt data though! This is just the tip of the so called iceburg. For example, I envisage the day when anyone will be able to discover any number of thematic overlays of ABS data that will provide another dimension to their online spatial experience. These 'demographic drapes' can be overlayed atop of commodity tools like Google Maps etc.
See my mashup here http://www.cubewerx.com.au/DemoDrapes.html
But the real question is, as these trail blazers charge ahead and create an ever increasing demand for more and more different data that possibly resides in Govt hands and that will probably never end up in Google's hands, what can the Govt do to service this demand? And who pays for this significant investment? Not every custodian has a huge revenue stream from advertising based on the search engine business!
I personaly believe that Govt custodians need to publish their data into a publically published ASDI as a matter of urgency before the market fills the vacuum and goes in directions that could be counter productive or down right dangerous. For example, Google have released the concept of 'maplets'. Where anyone can post up a maplet that can be integrated within a Google mashup (mashups of mashups they call them). For example some people are publishing realestate information and others even contours etc. I am concerend about the authenticity, accuracy, completeness and currency of this spatial data.
The genie is out of the bottle, as geospatial professionals how do we change with the times or do we?
Brad Spencer
CubeWerx Australia Pty Ltd
http://www.cubewerx.com.au
tamaraplakalo
August 3, 2007 at 9:18 am
What about privacy?
As a migrant and a keen traveller, I find using Google Earth a wonderful way to visit my home town at times of nostalgia, or to pre-visit places I am about to go to by locating hotels I am likely to stay in, etc, etc …
As a individual who is not an engineer, a public servant, in the business of mining, intelligence, etc … I can't quite conceptualise what a government service could offer to me through the use of spatial data — other than online access to some real-estate related service (AFR Access, for instance, uses this well to allow people to check information on properties they are interested in buying) …
Separate to that issue, I find the possibility of combining spatial information with some sort of behavioural tracking of individual activities quite a disturbing concept, and, although probably quite far-fetched, I could see a day when such a thing could become a not too desirable reality.
Nick Mallory
October 9, 2007 at 5:32 am
Spatial Data
Google Earth is a great innovation – and it's free and its born of the free market. Can you imagine if it was a Government service? You'd have to queue up at the post office with your request in triplicate, hand over a postal order for $35 dollars and sit at home all November waiting for the postman to deliver a photocopied map of the pacific with 'You are here' written on it in pencil.
Everyone is effectively tracked all the time now, through their mobile phones, but reliance on such technology can be self defeating. How many people tie themselves in geographical knots following their in car navigation systems rather than a simple map and common sense? In a year which sees the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, it's also rather strange to see photos from space seen as such a new and thrilling leap forward in technology.
It would be nice if "Spatial information systems provide resourceful, innovative and sometimes novel information solutions relevant to all walks of life – whether we are at work, rest or play" but I wonder if that just boils down to Governments finding new ways to tax car drivers or advertisers to bombard people with yet more unwanted dreck.
The free market, good old supply and demand, will 'drive innovation' in this 'exciting' new field. If it saves truck companies money to monitor their trucks from space, then they'll do it. If people buy more cars with Sat Navs in then Sat Navs will become ubiquitous. The last thing any new technology needs is state planning. When was the last time you bought a Soviet computer?