April 2008 eNews
Highlights include: Spatial Technology in Schools Competition, registrations due 30 April 2008 and WA Spatial Excellence Awards, entries closes on 30 May 2008.
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
Spatial Technology in Schools Competition
SLICP 07/08
SLICP 08/09
Interragator+
Futures Group
WALIS Marine Group
Department of Health
Department of Tourism
Drainage
Routable Road Centreline
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
FESA - all hazards symbology
Fresh Science
Spatial information worth billions to Australian economy
Australian Angle
New President of the GSDI Association
A SHRIMP broadens scientific scope
Release of National Environmental Modelling Platform
To decide who can draw maps and who owns them
Monitoring CO2 storage in Australian gas field
Photon 3-D Laser Scanner
AAMHatch Expands Licence
Towards National CORS Networks
National Elevation Measurement
Hopeful prospects in expanded seabed territory
News from Around the Globe
OGC Approves KML as Open Standard
New version of Google Earth 4.3 out April 16
iPhone: The Future of Social Networking?
BMW Assist Google Maps Introduce ‘MyInfo’
The NLPG. Can it be a beacon for a Successful GI Strategy for the UK?
Leica Geosystems ScanStation deployed for fire scene reconstruction on A&E Real-Life Series
Upcoming Events
Details of events in Australia and around the world
29 Apr: WinGIT Networking Breakfast
29 Apr-1 May: Data Quality - Aligning Strategy and Technology
2 May: Breakfast with Police Commissioner Karl O’callaghan
5 May: Intergraph’s Australian User Conference 2008
15 May: SSI Young Professionals
12-15 May: SimTecT 2008; Simulation - Maximising Organisational Benefits
12 May–16 May: Complex Systems Science Symposium
16 May–18 May: Science Teachers Association WA Conference
22 May: New Technology in Positioning Seminar
27-28 May 2008 Data Capabilities & Strategic Data Mining
28 May: WinGIT Facilitated Workshop
24-25 Jun: ESRI Australia Resources Symposium
17-19 Jul: Queensland Spatial Conference 2008 Global Warning
21-23 Jul: KM Australia 2008
29 Sep-3 Oct: Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
27-29 Oct: OZRI 2008 – ESRI Australia’s National Client Conference
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
Spatial Technology in Schools Competition
The Spatial Technology in Schools competition for 2008 is now taking registrations from schools all over the country. Registrations close on Wednesday 30th of April. Hopefully this year’s competition will equal the successes of previous years. We have already had enquiries and a number of registrations from schools in WA.
The competition is about students using any spatial technology, but primarily GIS, in challenging, informative and fun ways to assist in solving a problem from any area of the curriculum. By using GIS, the project will demonstrate the means for adding geography / position / space to the investigation of the problem. The Competition provides schools with a chance to be innovative and creative in solving any real world problem of interest to students and teachers.
If anybody is interested in being a mentor to one of the schools taking part or for more information, contact the STiS Coordinator, Liz Marjot on 0403 018 667 or stiscomp@bigpond.com
SLICP 07/08
The Shared Land Information Capture Program (SLICP) for 07-08 is on track. SLICP status reports are available on the WALIS webite. http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/slicp/index_07-08.html
SLICP 08/09
Applications for the State Land Capture Program (SLICP) have been compiled and Landgate’s working team is in the process of costing and establishing this year’s program priorities to be signed off by WALIS Council. For further information, contact the WALIS Office at slicp@walis.wa.gov.au
Interragator+
The Agency metadata administrators for Interragator+ are encouraged to attend the metadata subgroup forum organised by the WALIS office to bring ideas to the table and discuss future initiatives and to discuss updates to current records such as keyword updating.
Future plans include the possibility to migrate to a new tool based on the open source GeoNetwork software and partner with national initiatives. A pilot project sponsored by OSDM has been approved by the ANZLIC Council to use GeoNetwork to replace the ASDD gateways for Geoscience Australia.
Futures Group
A Futures Working Group has been established and will report to Spatial Management Group (SMG) with recommendations.
In 2006, the Chair of the WALIS Advisory Committee (WAC) Rob Freeth put together a discussion paper called “Thinking about the Future” and WAC held a special “Foresighting” workshop in early 2007. The workshop outcomes detailed a number of key drivers (social, economic, environmental) that the WALIS community would face and would be able to use as a focus for delivery of services at a strategic level. Over 2007 it was decided to create a WAC subgroup to progress the “Futures” concept and its formation culminated in this WALIS futures group.
The scene was set that the WALIS futures group was to build a framework for ideas to bubble up rather than the group itself determining what the next step change is. It was suggested that we need to focus on as yet unknown opportunities rather than solving known problems. At the WALIS International Forum 2008, a keynote was given by Futurist Craig Rispin which further stimulated the WALIS community's thinking and gave the group some ideas on how to achieve our 2015 vision.
Visit http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/WALIS_Futures or please contact Dan Sandison on 9273-7037 or dan.sandison@walis.wa.gov.au to get involved in the future of WALIS!
WALIS Marine Group
The WALIS Marine Group (WMG) is a forum for marine and coastal related information and issues. Its primary function is to facilitate the capture of marine and coastal data and to promote the use, management and availability of this information.
During March, the WMG held a marine workshop prior to the main conference events at the WALIS international forum. The WMG workshop was well supported by about 50 attendees from various government, research and private sector industries.
In support of their objectives the WMG is promoting the implementation of a Shared Land Information Platform (SLIP) Marine focus area which can be used interactively for research and reporting. Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) has agreed to take the lead role and is working on the terms of reference for a consultant to further the business case for the focus area. The Spatial Management Group (SMG) has funded $30 000 towards this initiative.
To assist in the ongoing support to manage, acquire and share marine related information effectively the WMG is progressing with a base marine data inventory from all stake holders involved with the WMG. Other WMG objectives for 2008 include a strategic planning workshop to realign the strategic plan to the current environment and opportunities. Visit http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/projects_and_activities/WALIS_Marine_Group for more information.
Department of Health
The Department of Health received funding from the Federal Government to undertake a six-month feasibility study into the proposed environmental health surveillance process that, if it goes ahead, will form the Health focus area for SLIP. This study is now underway and is being overseen by a steering committee. In addition, through the Corporate Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRC-SI), research opportunities in the area of health are being discussed that will link this work together. This could have benefits for a SLIP health focus area.
Department of Tourism
The WALIS office met with department of Tourism in February to determine how to assist Tourism to get involved with SLIP. The aim is to support Tourism by enhancing strategic partnerships to further deliver information spatially.
Drainage
The stormwater drainage project has been progressing with further discussions on how to manage the custodial expectations regarding the data and the ensuing information product to be loaded as a SLIP data service layer. Ultimately the storm water data custodianship is with Local Government Authorities and the Water Corporation and natural drainage having custodianship with the Department of Water and Landgate through the Topographic Database. The custodianship of the combined ‘information product’ (the one to be displayed on SLIP) however puts different challenges forward that need to be thought through.
In addition a meeting was held to scope the first possible view of a SLIP information product and funding is currently being sought to drive a pilot project to investigate how this would happen with data coming from LGA’s into a consolidated information product to be displayed through SLIP as a seamless dataset.
Routable Road Centreline (RRCN)
The Routable Road Centreline (RRCN) initiative is again gaining momentum. Those with a direct interest have met and discussed issues involved like minimum attribution needed as a starting point to a routable road centreline, topological enhancements to the Landgate roads dataset and migration to the new restructured topographic database. It was confirmed that the Landgate topographic database structure can accommodate the minimum attribution needed with minimal enhancements necessary but initially surrogate attributes would be used and over time will be updated through a joint maintenance regime from key players. Issues raised were ongoing maintenance and what the cost versus benefit would be. Stakeholders involved are Landgate, Fire and Emergency services department (FESA), Main Roads, WA Police and Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC)
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) - all hazards symbology
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) recently attended a National meeting for emergency management and all hazards symbology. A testing phase will be developed and a request is made that all agencies using this symbology come on-board for this phase. Contact Ben Jarlett on if you are interested.
Australasian All-Hazards Symbology Project & Working Group
In 2006-2007 the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) commissioned the Victorian-based company, Spatial Vision to undertake a gap analysis of symbols used by Australian and New Zealand emergency services agencies. The review was to recommend a framework for an Incident Management System and an initial set of symbols to largely satisfy emergency management requirements. This review was fully funded by ICSM and it is part of a staged approach to establishing an Australasian All-Hazards Symbol library. The final report of the Australasian All Hazards Symbology Project can be viewed at http://www.icsm.gov.au/icsm/all-hazards/index.html
Nominate for Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards (APSEA)
This year's APSEA awards ceremony will be held in November. There are a number of award categories, including "Research and Innovation", which would be well suited to many CRCSI projects. All CRCSI project participants and researchers are strongly encouraged to apply!
The Awards are for the Asia-Pacific region, so any project carried out or owned in that region is eligible to enter. If the entity making the nomination is from outside Australia then the project can go directly into the APSEA awards. However, Australian projects must first win a regional award to qualify for an APSEA award.
Nominations are now open for NSW, Qld, SA, Vic, and WA regional awards, with ACT to follow shortly. Nomination forms will be released on the www.xyz.au.com site as they become available - click on their Spatial Excellence Awards link for more information.
WA: WASEA entries close 30 May. Contact Faye Scorer at (08) 9386 6601 or ssiwa@iinet.net.au
Source: http://www.crcsi.com.au/pages/news.aspx
Fresh Science
Fresh Science is a great way to get press and free training for one of your young scientists.
It is a national competition that identifies new and interesting research being done by early-career scientists around the country. The stories are released to the media before, during and after National Science Week in August. Sixteen scientists are selected from more than 80 nominations. They are flown to Melbourne for a day of media training after which they present their work to the media, school students, the general public, scientists, government and industry over the course of three days in what's described by some as a boot camp in science communication.
Now in its 11th year, Fresh Science is supported by the Federal and Victorian governments, NewScientist and Museum Victoria.
In essence, Fresh Science are looking for:
· early career researchers with an upper limit of five years post-doc and no lower limit
· with a peer-reviewed result which has had no media coverage
· with some ability to present their ideas in plain English.
Nominations for 2008 close on 1 May 2008. They must be made online using the Fresh Science nomination form at www.freshscience.org. Source: http://www.crcsi.com.au/pages/news.aspx
Spatial information worth billions to Australian economy
The Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI) has released the results of an independent study by ACIL Tasman on the impact of modern spatial information technologies on the Australian economy: The Value of Spatial Information.
This study is the first of its kind and provides an authoritative economic analysis of the impact of spatial information based on 22 sectors of the Australian economy including agriculture, forestry and fisheries; mining and petroleum; property and business services; construction; transport and storage; utilities; communications; retail and trade; tourism; manufacturing; and local, state and federal government.
The results demonstrate a higher than expected industry value confirming that spatial information has been a major contributor to the Australian economy, generating revenue of $1.37 billion in 2006-07 and contributing between $6.4 and $12.6 billion to Gross Domestic Product.
The study found that the spatial industry:
- Increased household consumption by between $3.6 and $6.9 billion
- Increased investment by between $1.8 and $3.7 billion
- Had a positive impact on the balance of trade with exports increasing by up to $2.3 billion
- Increased real wages by between 0.6% and 1.2%.
The study estimates that inefficient access to data reduces the direct productivity of some sectors by between 5% and 15%, and highlights the reasons for this.
“The study confirms the enormous future potential from increased adoption of spatial information and from new applications across a wider range of industries,” said Peter Woodgate, Chief Executive Officer of CRCSI.
More information and copies of the report can be accessed from the CRCSI website through the following links:
The Value of Spatial Information - executive summary [PDF]
The Value of Spatial Information - full report [PDF]
Full article: CRCSI press release. Source: http://www.osdm.gov.au/News/189.aspx
Australian Angle
New President of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) Association
Associate Professor Dr Abbas Rajabifard (Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne) has been elected as the next President of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) Association, a leading international association in the development of spatial information and management. Associate Prof Rajabifard was a member of the GSDI Board and Treasurer of the Association. Abbas teaches and research in SDI and related areas, and is part of Coordinates’ Advisory Team. He was elected Vice- President (President Elect) of the GSDI Association in 2008, becoming President in 2009 at the recent GSDI 10 International Conference and Board meeting in Trinidad in February 2008. This appointment, with his role in the UN sponsored Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific as Vice Chair of Working Group on Spatially Enabled Governments, will enable him to provide international leading in the discipline over the next four years.
Source: http://mycoordinates.org/gis-mar08.php
A SHRIMP broadens scientific scope
In an absolute contradiction an instrument called SHRIMP weighs 12 tonnes and measures six metres long, but will allow scientists at Geoscience Australia to analyse trace elements within individual minerals smaller than a grain of sand. It is a Sensitive High Resolution Ion MicroProbe, or SHRIMP, and it will provide an important stream of geological data to encourage mining exploration investment though the provision of pre-competitive data and vital scientific information for researchers investigating the geological history of Australia.
Opening Geoscience Australia's new SHRIMP laboratory, the Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism, the Hon. Martin Ferguson said the new in-house facility will significantly increase the amount of high quality data about the ages of Australian rocks collated by the agency for its partners in the State and Territory geological surveys and mining companies.
"Australia is developing a sophisticated understanding of how the timing of geological events millions or even billions of years ago have produced the mineral and energy resources we depend on today," Mr Ferguson said. "As the need grows to look deeper in the crust to locate new world-class mineral deposits in Australia, the new SHRIMP will allow Geoscience Australia to be more directly involved in research to develop a greater understanding of the geological potential of onshore Australia," he said.
The SHRIMP is an Australian hi-tech success story which has been developed during 20 years of design and innovation at the Australian National University. The complex instruments are built by Australian Scientific Instruments in the Canberra suburb of Fyshwick and have been exported to laboratories in Japan, the United States and China. Watch the SHRIMP movie
Web link to full article: http://www.ga.gov.au/news/#shrimp
Release of National Environmental Modelling Platform
Testing of the national Platform for Environmental Modelling Support (PEMS) Demonstrator application has recently been completed and a formal evaluation of the application will commence in late March 2008. PEMS Demonstrator Project Client: Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information.
PEMS is a data platform that adopts a grid cell (also called raster) based approach to managing spatial information (SI). The basic objective of PEMS is to provide a platform which supports the SI needs of modellers and decisions support systems. Once established, the same platform can also support simple spatial queries and analyses to spatially enable professionals, with little or no SI knowledge, to a point where they can build SI into their processes in a simple and repeatable manner. To achieve this PEMS aims to develop a shared infrastructure that provides an economic and effective means to integrate SI from a variety of sources, and in various formats, to support commonly required query, analytical and modelling tasks. This will be based on a set of standard grids and projections to support new and existing business activities. The goal is for production systems based on PEMS across Australia to be developed as an integral part of the Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure, providing easy access to current and authoritative grid cell-based data.
To promote the PEMS ideal to key users and stakeholders in Australia, the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI) has funded the development of PEMS as a Demonstrator.
The purpose is to develop typical functions of PEMS and showcase to interested parties the core technical components and user interactions experience that exemplify the full PEMS Production system. The Demonstrator aims to form the reasoning for the larger scale development of PEMS through an evaluation strategy involving a host of partners including the Victorian Departments of
Sustainability and Environment, Justice, and Primary Industries; Geoscience Australia and Spatial Vision.
A formal evaluation on the PEMS Demonstrator application will be undertaken to assess core
technical components of the Demonstrator and user interaction experience, and evaluate if the
Demonstrator establishes the case for the larger scale development. An evaluation of the PEMS Demonstrator application is scheduled for completion in June 2008. Spatial Vision* is responsible for the development of the PEMS Demonstrator system. DSE is managing the project on behalf of the CRCSI. Other project participants are supporting the project by contributing specific modelling expertise and experience. *Spatial Vision is a member of 43 Pty Ltd, the company formed to manage SME interaction with the CRCSI (see www.crcsi.com.au for further information).
Demonstrated Capabilities
- Ability to manage and undertake all aspects of a complex spatial demonstrator project with national application, including specification, development, hosting and evaluation components.
- Implementation of consultative processes to ensure needs of multiple agencies, and unique and contrasting business processes are met through an application.
- Ability to develop a complex application using ESRI ArcGIS Server.
- Implementation of .NET application created using ArcGIS Server manager.
Resources: Stephen Farrell was responsible for managing development of the PEMS Demonstrator.
Ian Miller was responsible for architectural design, functional specifications and system specification developments. Ishara Kotiah was responsible for system implementation.
Source: http://www.spatialvision.com.au/
To decide who can draw maps and who owns them. (George Cho PhD)
Surveyors Maps and Intellectual Property
In Australia, the Copyright Agency Ltd (CAL) brought a case to the Copyright Tribunal under the Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) in regard to surveyors’ plans and the state of New South Wales’ claim to ownership. The Tribunal heard the application, evidence, submissions and made findings. Following the determination, the parties requested that the Tribunal refer the matter to the Federal Court to determine questions of law concerning whether copyright existed in the surveyors’ plans within the meaning of the Copyright Act and whether surveyors were entitled to receive royalties arising from the State Government’s use of the plans.
In September 2007 the Full Federal Court unanimously rejected the New South Wales Government’s claim that it owned copyright in the surveyors’ plans. The court held that the subject plans were not made or first published by or under the ‘direction and control’ of the state within the meaning of sections of the Copyright Act and that even though the Government’s use and supply of the subject plans fell under a section of the Act, the Government had an implied licence from the surveyors to use and supply the plans (see Yates & Kingston 2007).
As regards Crown Copyright, it was held that for copyright purposes a work is made by its author. The Copyright Act contemplates that in certain circumstances, the act of the author in making a work is to be attributed to the Crown. Following the Federal Court’s decision, the NSW State government sought leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia – Australia’s highest court. The basis for the appeal was whether the New South Wales Land Titles Office may continue to freely deal with surveyors plans lodged with it for State purposes, or whether that government agency should pay surveyors royalties for these subsequent dealings. The appeal was granted in November 2007 (see Baldwin & Adams 2007). Full article: http://www.mycoordinates.org/court1.php
Monitoring CO2 storage in Australian gas field
Australia has launched the first carbon sequestration project in the southern hemisphere with the help of technology developed by researchers at the US Department of Energy (DOE). The Otway Basin Pilot Project will inject and monitor carbon dioxide (CO2) in a depleted gas field in south-eastern Australia to demonstrate the feasibility of storing the greenhouse gas in the Waarre Formation of the Otway Basin, and similar formations worldwide, to fight global climate change. The $36 million Otway Basin Pilot Project is one of 19 sequestration projects endorsed by the Carbon Sequestration
Leadership Forum (CSLF), an international climate change initiative that focuses on the development of technologies to cost-effectively capture and sequester CO2. The project is directed by Australia's Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC). Project partners include DOE and a variety of other public and private organizations.
Remote sensing is just one of several monitoring techniques LBNL researchers will deploy from a toolbox of recent advancements. Another technique is a unique formation well sampling method that taps the reservoir and delivers fluid samples to the surface for determination of CO2 content and other geochemical analyses. Using geophysical, geochemical, and other reservoir data acquired during storage operations, the researchers will also be able to refine models to significantly increase the predictability of formations to permanently store CO2.
Full article: http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=29288&codi=30443&level=0&idproducttype=8
Source: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
Photon 3-D Laser Scanner
Hi-Tech Metrology, the Australasian master distributor for Faro Technologies, has released the Photon Scanner range of terrestrial laser scanners.
Photon's new 80 and 20 scanners replace its LS 880, 840 and 420 products. The company says they offer greater clarity, accuracy and portability.
These measurement devices scan an object's dimensions. The data can be used to create a digital model for reverse engineering, quality assurance, inspection and CAD-to-part comparison. Other functions include factory planning, investigation, and automatic object recognition in modelling.
Compared with the LS series, they offer 300 percent less noise, double the positional accuracy and have better sensitivity for detection of distant objects.
Hi-Tech Metrology will have a new Photon 80 unit available for demonstrations in Australia this month. Contact David Eldridge <deldridge@hitechmetrology.com.au> on +61-3-9702-3911 for more information. Source: SPATIAL BUSINESS NEWS NO 326 (Vol 14, Issue 7)
AAMHatch Expands Licence
Spatial information provider AAMHatch has signed an agreement with US aerial imager, Pictometry, which will expand the coverage area for Pictometry's image capture process into 12 countries.
AAMHatch has exclusive rights to use Pictometry's technology in the region. Under the new arrangement, it will market image libraries and software in South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. AAMHatch is using a three camera system designed by Pictometry to capture oblique aerial imagery of populated areas in Australia. It has just completed a project over the Gold Coast and is now flying the Geelong region.
The company also supplies Microsoft with imagery for Virtual Earth, where it is used to create the 'bird's eye view'. AAMHatch has recently been commissioned to provide new orthophotography and updated 3D models for Melbourne and Sydney councils. This data will be made available to staff involved in city development planning through the Pictometry and the ESRI GIS interfaces.
AAMHatch has been one of Pictometry's five international licensee partners since 2005.
Visit www.pictometry.com and www.aamhatch.com for more information.
Towards National Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) Networks
One of the key issues in developing next generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in Australia will be sorting out administrative issues in a merged national reference station network. Gary Johnston from Geoscience Australia told a meeting of the Association of Public Authority Surveyors on the NSW Central Coast that the technical issues were trivial. The administrative issues were not. Johnston is the project leader of geodetic operation for GA's Geoscience Earth Monitoring unit. The issue has come to the fore as continuously operating reference station networks have been developed by the states' land administrations. These networks started in capital cities, but are now heading for state borders at a great rate.
An additional complexity is the Auscope project, which will provide a continent-wide network. It is being created by Geoscience Australia and will link stations in the International Terrestrial Reference Frame with others to improve geodetic research. Yet a third development is the number of private networks emerging. So far, these have been established in Perth and Adelaide. There are also special areas - such as the sugar growing regions of northern NSW - where a private contractor is satisfying a local need.
The upshot is that by the early years of the next decade, there will be more than 300 base stations spread across the continent (and about 100 navigation satellites in orbit). The aim is to tie all these together in a transparent way, so that an operator would be able to use whichever base station was appropriate, no matter which network it belonged to.
Johnston said the actual delivery of this service would most likely be left to private enterprise, presumably in the form of a subscription-based service. He noted that while this will give users unparalleled accuracy (sub-centimetre in most circumstances) across the whole continent, other uses for the network could be equally or even more important. For instance, he noted that the Bureau of Meteorology would be able to make measurements at the base station that would allow weather forecasters to measure the water vapour in the atmosphere along the line of sight between the receiver and the satellite. Atmospheric readings from 300 such sites across the country would likely revolutionise weather forecasting in Australia, he said.
Source: SPATIAL BUSINESS NEWS NO 326 (Vol 14, Issue 7)
National Elevation Measurement
Work on the National Elevation Data Framework is progressing, says Warwick Watkins, the head of the national spatial information council, ANZLIC. Addressing the APAS conference at Ettalong Beach earlier this week, he said the framework would build on work being carried out by the Australian Greenhouse Office, Geoscience Australia and ANZLIC, looking at coastal vulnerability.
This work identified a lack of accurate height information in coastal regions as a major impediment to predicting floods or the impact of rising sea levels. It also limits the ability to manage coastal regions.
Watkins said a working group is now moving towards a concept of nested digital elevation models of different resolution and accuracy. Such models would be able to take advantage of existing and future surveys.
He said one of the key issues was to make sure that existing data was used properly. He foreshadowed a direction from his office - as NSW Surveyor General - that all relevant surveys should be registered. This would mean that height data could be treated much like the cadastre.
Source: SPATIAL BUSINESS NEWS NO 326 (Vol 14, Issue 7)
Hopeful prospects in expanded seabed territory
A MASSIVE expansion of Australia's seabed jurisdiction has opened up a "potential bonanza" in new oil and gas discoveries. Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said yesterday the UN had confirmed Australia's jurisdiction over an extra 2.5 million square kilometres. "That is an area five times the size of France, 10 times the size of New Zealand, and 20 times the size of the United Kingdom," Mr Ferguson said. He said the areas had been only partially explored, but they had the potential to add significantly to the country's oil and gas resources. "This is potentially a bonanza," Mr Ferguson said. "We have got unknown capacity up there." He ruled out any exploration of areas close to Antarctica.
The minister said the additional territory also boosted Australia's ability to preserve the marine environment. The area greatly expands the country's jurisdiction over the seabed surrounding the Australian mainland, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Antarctica. Australian Petroleum and Production Exploration Association chief executive Belinda Robinson said it was too early to tell whether the UN's ruling would translate into riches for Australia. "It's interesting, but we still don't know what's there," Ms Robinson said. "As more knowledge and information is collected, we will have a clearer picture of what's out there." However, she said anything that expanded Australia's resource base was positive for the country. "A larger continental shelf means a larger canvas that we can paint our resource and energy future on," she said. "With more area comes more promise." However, she said much of the area was likely to be frontier area, which was deep and therefore expensive to explore.
Klaus Regenauer-Lieb, a research fellow with CSIRO Exploration & Mining and the University of Western Australia, said whether Australia's new territorial areas offered hope for oil exploration depended on the depth of the seabed. "If we are in the deeper seas, the likelihood of oil is very, very slim," Professor Regenauer-Lieb said. Geoscience Australia's Mark Alcock said the territory covered a wide expanse, some areas of which were more prospective than others. He said Geoscience Australia had already been surveying the area surrounding Lord Howe Island, with the potential for acreage to be released within the next two years. He said the areas of the Great Australian Bight and Exmouth plateau regions were also considered to be prospective. The areas could yield resources other than petroleum, such as manganese nodules and gas hydrates. "And apart from the resource side, it does give Australia an opportunity to protect the marine environment as well; there are greener aspects," he said. Mr Ferguson said the process of claiming the seabed was begun by the previous Labor government with the ratification of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Australia made a claim over 2.68 million square kilometres of seabed; the actual outcome was 2.55million square kilometres.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23578254-5013404,00.html
News from Around the Globe
OGC Approves KML as Open Standard
The members of the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC) announced the approval of the OpenGIS® KML Encoding Standard (OGC KML), marking KML's transition into an open standard which will be maintained by the OGC. Developers will now have a standard approach for using KML to code and share visual geographic content in existing or future web-based online maps and 3D geospatial browsers like Google Earth TM.
"We are pleased to see the adoption of KML as an OGC standard," said Ron Lake, chairman and chief executive officer of Galdos Systems Inc. "We believe that this is a major step forward for the OGC and for the entire geographic information community, as it provides the first broadly accepted standard for the visualization of geographic information."
"Geographic data adds tremendous value to the online experience. More and more people are looking for ways to incorporate location information into their online content," said Michael Weiss-Malik,
KML product manager for Google. "The standardization of KML makes it possible for both novice and expert users alike to publish and share geographical information in an open format. It's not unlike
web browsers' standardized support for HTML, which allows any web browser to read any web page."
KML version 2.2 was brought into the OGC consensus process by a submission team led by Google and Galdos Systems Inc. KML is an XML-based programming language, originally developed to manage the display of geospatial data in Google Earth. It's still used heavily in Google Earth but is also supported by a variety of vendors' tools and mapping websites.
The OpenGIS KML 2.2 Encoding Standard formalizes the KML 2.2 model and language while remaining backwards compatible with existing KML 2.2 files and tools. In comparison with the Google TM KML 2.2 Reference, the standard defines:
- The KML 2.2 geometry encoding and interpolation model
- An extension model in support of application profiles
- Conformance requirements and test cases
The adopted OpenGIS KML 2.2 Encoding Standard (OGC KML) is available at http://www.opengeospatial.org/standards/kml/
The OGC® is an international consortium of more than 345 companies, government agencies, research organizations, and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available geospatial standards. OpenGIS® Standards support interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the Web, wireless and location-based services, and mainstream IT. OGC Standards empower technology developers to make geospatial information and services accessible and useful with any application that needs to be geospatially enabled. Visit the OGC website at http://www.opengeospatial.org/
Source: http://www.opengeospatial.org/pressroom/pressreleases/857
New version of Google Earth 4.3 out April 16
There’s a new version of Google Earth out: Google Earth 4.3. Here’s what to expect, as recounted by Google Earth product manager Peter Birch:
Revamped navigation: New users should find it much easier to get around Google Earth. Zoom in and the view automatically tilts to horizontal, and there is a new look-around control. (Also, relative height is now used to determine movement speed, not absolute height.)
Images get easily viewable acquisition dates: Move the pointer over a piece of high resolution imagery, see the acquisition date at the bottom of the screen.
More and better buildings: 3D rendering has been rethought — low res versions of textures download first, followed by higher res (which is more like how Microsoft Virtual Earth does it, from the sound of it). There’s whole new towns available by default, and many more Google Earth Warehouse buildings.
Flash support for Mac: Finally, we once again have feature parity for Windows and Mac versions. This means YouTube videos are now viewable in Mac version of Google Earth. Yay!
Street View comes to Google Earth. New sunlight control: When turned on, see where it is day and night on Earth, using the time slider. Zoomed in, watch the sun rise or set over the landscape. (There will likely be comparisons made to this feature in NASA World Wind, not least by World Wind developers themselves :-)
What’s “missing” from this release? Of the most requested features, there will not (yet?) be revamped support for tours, no new pole-friendly projection, no 3D bathymetry and no GeoRSS support. Google Earth joins Microsoft’s Virtual Earth in getting a revamp, so perhaps it’s high time for a head-to-head review...
Web link to full article: http://www.ogleearth.com/2008/04/google_earth_43.html
Google Earth Blog: http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2008/04/google_earth_43_-_first_look_-_how_to_download.html
iPhone: The Future of Social Networking?
Author: Michael Arrington.
Anyone who’s been reading this blog for more than a few months knows I’m bullish on mobile social networking. The space is wide open at this point - no one has created an application that has gotten enough traction to go mainstream. That’s party because of tech limitations - browser-based networks don’t leverage the power of the mobile device, and client based applications are blocked by service providers and handset limitations.
But it’s coming. A few years from now we’ll use our mobile devices to help us remember details of people we know, but not well. And it will help us meet new people for dating, business and friendship. Imagine walking into a meeting, classroom, party, bar, subway station, airplane, etc. and seeing profile information about other people in the area, depending on privacy settings. Picture, name, dating status, resume information, etc. The information that is available would be relevant to the setting - quick LinkedIn-type information for a business meeting v. Facebook dating status for a bar.
That requires a social network that has presence, location and contextual information about you. It needs to know where you are (via GPS or triangulation), if you are in business or personal mode, and similar information for the people around you. It also needs, at a basic level, the ability to sort and browse the people around you based on their picture and name, and what they are looking for (dating, investments, job, friendship). Once this network is established, you’ll know everyone’s name who’s around you (if they choose to share it), and enough basic information to jog your memory if you know them, or meet them if there’s mutual interest. Poking someone on Facebook is great, but “poking” them when you’re in the same bar as them can result in much more immediate social gratification.
The mobile social network that wins will go way beyond, say, Facebook’s iPhone site, which doesn’t leverage location information, or help you meet people around you. So when mobile social network startups reach out to us, we give them a lot of attention. I waded through a bunch of them bunch of them in September 2007, and followed up with a look at LimeJuice in December.
Frankly, MySpace and Facebook could lock up this space simply by focusing on it, but as far as I can tell from discussions with execs at both companies, they’re more focused on each other than in dominating the mobile space. That creates an incredible vacuum for a startup.
Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/71728-iphone-the-future-of-social-networking
BMW Assist Google Maps Introduce "MyInfo" Service for New Big-Ass X6
BMW's teaming up with everyone's favourite mapping monopoly, Google Maps, to bring a new addition to the BMW Assist Safety Plan. It's called "MyInfo," and it's a service which, in addition to sounding hip and techie-cool through deletion of the spaces in the name, will allow BMW Assist subscribers to send business locations, street addresses and their associated phone numbers to their car via some magical connection between the two companies’ databases. Look at it kind of like a way to use their ConnectedDrive feature from your home. You may already have intimate knowledge of what that's like if you've ever opened up a browser and spent any time at Google's "Local Search" page. The MyInfo system will be available in the BMW X5, X6, 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series, effective with Model Year 2009, but for 2008 will only be available in the new big-reared 2008 BMW X6 — which, as you can see through the link, we've already had the privilege of road-testing. Starting four days ago, in 2008 X6 "Sports Activity Coupes" equipped with the BMW Assist and Bluetooth systems, customers will be able to call the phone numbers received with their Bluetooth connected mobile phone or, if their BMW is equipped with a navigation system, immediately start route guidance by a simple push of a button. Not to shabby a plan if you ask us. But BMW isn't the first to offer space-deleting net-based navigation connectivity.
web link to full article: http://jalopnik.com/379103/bmw-assist-google-maps-introduce-myinfo-service-for-new-big+ass-x6
The NLPG. Can it be a beacon for a Successful GI Strategy for the UK?
In a world that is getting smaller through technology it could be easily argued that place does not matter – or at least not as much as it used to. Pensions are now paid directly into the bank accounts of the recipients, car tax is purchased online and often enquiries are better handled via the telephone than in person. As people’s lives get busier and time becomes a more valuable commodity it is perhaps little wonder that we live a world of automation, eBay and facebook.
When looked at like this it might seem as though someone or something’s location is no longer important, but whilst communication to China for example might be easy, one can never forget the ground upon which our houses are built, the roads upon which we drive and the rivers that seem to flood every year without fail.
For this very reason, Geographical Information (GI) has formed a foundation stone of many agencies and organisations from planners and engineers, to the military, through to the postal service. The collection of GI data has been happening piecemeal for many years with each institution collating its own and formatting it in ways most useful for its own purposes. These individual collections are useful for their owners but there is the potential that two institutions could independently be sourcing new GI data for themselves whilst all the while a third institution already had that information.
Full Article: http://www10.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=520452
Leica Geosystems ScanStation deployed for fire scene reconstruction on A&E Real-Life Series
A&E’s Real-Life series, CRIME 360 episode, ‘Trial by Fire,’ which aired April 3, 2008, followed detectives and forensic experts as they responded to a suspicious apartment fire with the charred body. With help of the Leica Geosystems ScanStation, a state-of-the-art forensic 3D laser scanner, forensic investigators recorded the scene gathering as much information as possible to help determine whether the fire was an accident, murder or suicide. Forensic technicians initially scanned the bedroom where the body was found as well as the living room where there was evidence of a possible altercation, bloody cleaning supplies – and a visible shoe print. Meanwhile, the medical examiner found that the victim was killed by a gunshot to the head, not the fire. Detectives returned to the scene to talk to the apartment landlord and residents, wondering if this was a burglary-gone-wrong or a personal attack from an angry relative.
As more information is gathered, the detectives return to the virtual scene created by the ScanStation to evaluate possible scenarios, and with all the evidence gathered over the course of week, ultimately find the perpetrator. The value of the ScanStation for fire scene reconstruction really became apparent in the aftermath of a California fire several years ago that started when a dead tree fell on a power line. When questions arose as to how the fire started, the State Fire Marshall’s office called in a local laser scanning consultant to map the area. Using data from a Leica Geosystems laser scanner, the agency was able to show that due to insufficient forest maintenance in the vicinity of power lines, a utility company was responsible for the subsequent fire.
The detailed fire scene reconstruction, enabled by the Leica Geosystems’ laser scanner, was instrumental in helping CAL FIRE recover over $10 million in fire suppression costs. Since this first application, CAL FIRE has used laser scanning technology to investigate a number of fire scenes throughout the state of California and elsewhere. “Through “Crime 360” and our new forensic web site at http://www.leica-geosystems.com/us/forensic, we’re introducing law enforcement and public safety officials across the country to the benefits of this technology,” says Tony Grissim, Forensic
Source: http://www10.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=519071
Upcoming Events
WinGIT Networking Breakfast
29 April 2008, Kings Park Botanical Café
David Brady will be attending to talk about mentoring and the mentoring program being run by the SSI
Data Quality - Aligning Strategy and Technology
29 April- 1 May, 2008, Luna Park Sydney
There are a number of high-profile organisations attending including: NAB, Telstra, ATO, Allens Arthur Robinson, Dept of Defense. Attendants will be able to hear Keynote speakers on the latest advances in the data quality space. In addition there are two streams of presentations technical and strategy to choose from. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.dqasiapacific.com/index.htm
Breakfast with Police Commissioner Karl O’callaghan
2 May 2008, University Club of WA, Hackett Drive, Crawley
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan APM will be the guest speaker in the second of the WALGA Breakfast Series events. The Commissioner will explore policing issues relevant to Local Government, including road safety, graffiti and community design. For further information or to register, please contact Marketing and Events Officer, Emily Ward on 9213 2097 or email eward@walga.asn.au
Intergraph’s Australian User Conference 2008
5 May, Hunter Valley, NSW
Enquiries to +61-3-9292 9600; au-marketing@intergraph.com; www.intergraph.com.au/iuc
SSI Young Professionals
15 May, Curtin University
Following on from the success of the ‘Sustainability in the Spatial World’ workshop at the WALIS Forum, the SSI Young Professionals WA is holding an information session on 15 May 2008 on ‘Communicating Spatial to the Unaware’. Sponsored by ERDAS Pty Ltd, the seminar will focus on the common problem where surveyors and spatial professionals need to communicate the value of their work to those who are not spatially minded.
Highlighted as a major problem, there is cross communication and a general lack of understanding on what we do in this profession. The old term ‘Google Earth’ does not adequately explain what we do and could potentially be undervaluing the industry. The seminar will focus on this topic, with presentations from leading members discussing problems they have faced and offering suggestions on how to better communicate and promote the value of our industry and your organisation.
The seminar will be held at Curtin University (GSB City Campus, diagonally across from Miss Maud’s on Murray Street) 15 May 2008, starting at 5:30pm. A formal event invitation will be distributed. For more information please email ssiyp.wa@gmail.com.
SimTecT 2008; Simulation - Maximising Organisational Benefits
12-15 May, 2008, Melbourne
Simulation Association of Australia; Enquiries to +61-2-6251-0675; simtect2008@consec.com.au; fax: +61-2-6251-0672; www.simtect.com/2008
Complex Systems Science Symposium
12 May – 16 May, 2008, Victor Harbour, SA
CSIRO will host a symposium in May as a step toward a breakthrough in Earth System modelling, a new area of science requiring collaboration among many disciplines. Five key themes will be addressed: geodynamics; seismology and damage mechanics; fluid dynamics including atmospheric and marine sciences and industrial mixing; material science; and the mathematical basis for complex systems and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Enquiries to Dr Alison Ord on 61 8 6436 8623 Alison.Ord@csiro.au.
For more information you can visit the CSIRO webpage
Science Teachers Association WA Conference
16 May – 18 May 2008, Northam, WA
Conference for Teachers, Students, Lab Technicians, Science Specialists & anyone who wants to have a good time!
For more information visit http://www.stawa.net/main/teachers/conference/view/205/
New Technology in Positioning Seminar
22 May 2008, Burswood Resort
Detailing the very latest developments in Spatial technology. The Day will include international and local guest speakers, live demonstrations and interactive sessions with the latest spatial technology.
This will be an excellent opportunity to see how the future of positioning technology can be used to increase your productivity and profitability to allow your business to grow and stay at the top of your field. Topics that will be covered during the day include: New Survey Product Launches, GNSS Overviews, Perth VRS Update, New Mining and Engineering Monitoring Solutions and New Technology in Machine Control, plus much more. The afternoon will also include Haefeli Lysnar’s famous 9 Hole Golf Tournament. The Seminar will be a full day and willl be invaluable for anyone involved in the Spatial Industry. For more information contact: ssiwa@iinet.net.au
Data Capabilities & Strategic Data Mining
27 - 28 May 2008, Sydney
Realising the Capabilities of your Data Warehouse and Repository. Effectively managing your organisation’s data through consolidation, analysis and reporting. For professionals seeking to expand and maximise data capabilities within their organizations and Strategic Data Mining; Techniques, Tools and Tactics for professionals seeking to extract information from large or complex data sets
For more information: http://www.arkgroupaustralia.com.au/events-c013-datacapabilities.htm
WinGIT Facilitated Workshop
28 May 2008, GHD Offices
Enquiries to Natalie Ladner secretary@wingit.asn.au
ESRI Australia Resources Symposium
24-25 June 2008, Sheraton Hotel, Perth
The 2008 ESRI Australia Resources Symposium provides the perfect opportunity to hear from international experts and leading industry figures about how others are using location intelligence to meet the complex challenges of managing resources operations. The Symposium will focus on the application of GIS across all stages of mining, pipeline and petroleum life, from exploration, planning and production through to facilities management and closure.
Enquiries to 1800 447 111; connect@esriaustralia.com.au; www.esriaustralia.com.au/resources_symposium
Queensland Spatial Conference 2008 - Global Warning: What's Happening in Paradise
17-19 July 2008, Spatial Sciences Institute, Surfers Paradise
The purpose of this Conference is to identify the threat, present factual arguments, provide innovative methods of spatial analysis/monitoring and to develop sustainable solutions to a phenomenon that is now a household name but not very well understood. The QSC2008 Conference will facilitate the opportunity for spatial professionals to provide sound solutions to the potential effects of global warming.
Enquiries to Susan Harris qsc2008@absoluteevents.com.au on +61-7-3394 2310; www.qsc2008.com.au/.
KM Australia 2008
21-23 July 2008, Melbourne Convention Centre
Moving forward with an enterprise approach to knowledge, information and digital cultures
For more information visit: www.kmaustralia.com
Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
29 Sep-3 October, 14th; Spatial Sciences Institute, Darwin
Enquiries to +61-2-6282-2282; info@spatialsciences.org.au; www.14arspc.com.
OZRI 2008 – ESRI Australia’s National Client Conference
27-29 October 2008, National Convention Centre, Canberra
ESRI Australia's national client conference, OZRI, will be based on the theme "Putting knowledge into place". While exploiting the location component of information to solve complex issues is nothing new to those experienced in the use of GIS, location intelligence is increasingly being recognised as an important problem solving tool by a growing number of new users and new industries. Conference sessions will explore the different ways organisations in Australia and around the world use location intelligence to work smarter and gain real benefits, while also exploring what the future holds for GIS and location intelligence.
Enquiries to 1800 447 111; ozri@esriaustralia.com.au; www.esriaustralia.com.au/ozri
Interesting Website of the Month
What Are You Doing for EarthDay? Google Wants to Know!
Google has put up an interactive Google Map where you can share Earth events and ideas with people around the world. Yes, we can tackle climate change – but only if we all pitch in. Here's your chance to do your part – and inspire your fellow Australians to do theirs.
Share your ideas, put yourself on our map and let your fellow users know what you've committed to do for Earth Day 2008, and for the rest of the year. Submit a message or browse the Global map to see what others have posted - http://www.google.com/earthday08/
Australia - 6 contributions
Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general information purposes. It does not constitute professional or expert advice and you must not use or rely upon it for that purpose. WALIS and the State of Western Australia, do not guarantee and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness and reliability of the information contained in this newsletter. The opinions contained in the information do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WALIS or the State of Western Australia. Links to other Internet sites are provided for your convenience only and they do not constitute an endorsement, approval or recommendation of the material contained in those other Internet sites. It is your responsibility to evaluate the relevance, accuracy, completeness and reliability of material contained in those other Internet sites.