January 2007 eNews

Highlights include Custodianship Policy Review, Geoscience Portal, introducing the new Landgate, data quality, top ten of 2006

What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?

Spatial Technology in Schools
The students may be on holidays, but planning for the Spatial Sciences Institute Spatial Technology in Schools (STiS) competition for 2007 is progressing rapidly. If you’d like to get involved you can register your interest to bronwen.channon@walis.wa.gov.au. Participation rates in this competition are expected to grow substantially and we’ll need more mentors! Please contact Bronwen if you would like to be a mentor.

Custodianship Policy Review
In 2005, a project was started to review the spatial data custodianship policy as it was nearly ten years old. The review aimed to build upon the original policy and incorporate a new level of thinking by creating a working group to drive the review. The new policy information is below.

The principle of assigning a custodian to key data has been adopted by the Western Australian Government as the means of ensuring accountability for the care and maintenance of information within the public sector. Custodianship is seen by the WALIS Executive Policy Committee as being at the core of efficient and effective spatial information management.

The overriding philosophy in the activities associated with custodianship is that WALIS agencies manage the land information as trustees in a partnership to enable the integration of land information for the benefit of the WALIS community and the State of Western Australia.

Custodianship assigns to an agency certain rights and responsibilities for the collection of specific spatial datasets, and the management of this on behalf of the Western Australian Government and its agencies. It ensures that the most appropriate agency assumes sole responsibility for the management of specific data, resolving the possibility of different agencies duplicating maintenance effort in respect of spatial data management, and also ensures accessibility to the data.

Listed below are the following key documents which underpin the WALIS Custodianship philosophy:

The new WALIS Data Custodianship Policy.
The new WALIS Data Management Guidelines.
Current WALIS-Endorsed Custodial Datasets.

For further information contact Dan Sandison on dan.sandison@walis.wa.gov.au or (08) 9273 7037.

SLICP 06-07
The SLICP for 06-07 is on track. SLICP Status Reports are available on the SLICP website.

SLICP 07/08
The SLICP for the 2007-2008 financial year is now open! The WALIS Office will declare the program “open” and provide assistance to those compiling the applications (below). If you have any questions, please contact the WALIS Office by email at slicp@walis.wa.gov.au. Note that SLICP submissions can only be made by members of WALIS for the forthcoming financial year.

**** Download your 2007-2008 SLICP Application Kit here! ****

The SLICP application kit above contains annual request forms and all accompanying documentation (including background information and examples of how to fill out the request forms). All requests need to be submitted to the WALIS Office by 31 January 2007.

The application kit includes:

A brief about the SLICP program;
A document explaining the process from start to finish;
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs);
A document explaining how the program works;
The application for data capture;
The annual request forms;
Supporting notes to the request forms;
A supporting statement for partnership opportunities;
A map of the projected photo age at the time SLICP 07-08 capture commences;
Seven examples of how the forms are filled out (for topographic, infrastructure, aerial photography, ortho-imagery, cadastre, remote sensing (satellite), and bathymetry);
A status report on the SLICP review.

For further information contact the WALIS Office at slicp@walis.wa.gov.au, or Dan Sandison at dan.sandison@walis.wa.gov.au or (08) 9273 7037.

Drainage Project
A draft report has been made available to the working group. Once signed off, it will be released to a wider audience. The working group is meeting in late January to endorse the report and it is expected to be presented to the first meeting of the new Spatial Managment Group in February.

WA Atlas Migration
A Draft User Interface document has been compiled with feedback from the focus group meetings. This is built upon a previous generic mapping User Interface document but tailored to the new Atlas environment. Draft User Acceptance tests are also being developed.

Interragator+
The migration of metadata records from Interragator to Interragator+ is currently underway; the date for UAT (User Acceptance Testing) data testing has been provisionally pencilled in for late January 2007. The initial testing will be undertaken by Landgate and DoIR with the documentation and training for publishers in other agencies rolled out in the near future. A list of admin users has been complied and logons are currently being created.

WALIS Office Staff Movements
After a year and a half on secondment at WALIS Office, Peter Ingwersen has returned to the Department of Indigenous Affairs for some new challenges, armed with the strategic skills he gained from his time with WALIS.

We welcome new staff members Karen Barns and Simon Kingsley. Karen’s background is diverse; she has lived and worked in the UK, USA and Singapore. Her original honours degree is in Hospitality Management from Napier University in Scotland, where she grew up. After finishing her degree, Karen moved to Singapore and worked in the hospitality industry where she obtained her Marketing Diploma from the British Institute of Marketing. Karen then moved to Perth, Australia, and studied at Murdoch University to obtain her diploma in Information Systems, followed by a Masters in Electronic Commerce. When Karen left university she began working at Landgate within the Information Management Division. She has also worked within Infrastructure Services and in Strategic Planning and Development in the Business Realignment area.

Another fresh addition to the WALIS Office is Senior Policy Officer, Simon Kingsley. Although new to WALIS, he has nearly 10 years experience in various aspects of the Land Information Industry. Simon will be working on the WALIS governance framework, in particular the integration and streamlining of the governance arrangements for SLIP and WALIS. Over the next few months he will be in consultation with WALIS members and stakeholders in order to deliver a framework which is aligned with the WALIS Strategic Plan and supports the spirit of collaboration. Simon is looking forward to this challenging role and is open to any questions or queries you may have. He can be contacted on (08) 9273 7038.

Did you know you can contribute to your eNews?
The WALIS Office is keen to hear about you! We are always looking for information about happenings within your agency or within the spatial community. This may include project updates, announcements, awards, staff movements and interesting websites. If you would like to contribute, please contact Genevieve at Gen.Gongora-Mesas@walis.wa.gov.au.

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WALIS Stakeholders in the News

Department of Health Promotes Community Data Awareness
In December 2006, the Department of Health launched new resources to boost awareness of its data collections and improve understanding about how health information is collected, used and protected. Acting Director General, Dr Simon Towler, said the resources were developed by the Community Data Awareness Working Group, established last year with the Health Consumers’ Council and other stakeholders, to increase the public’s knowledge about the Department’s Statewide Health Data Collections. The group has designed brochures and posters for display in hospitals, GP clinics, community health services and local libraries to raise awareness about the collections. Dr Towler said it was important the community understood the importance of using health data and were confident that their rights and privacy were being protected. “The data is crucial for monitoring health outcomes, planning and evaluation of health services, and medical research. It is also needed for reporting to the Federal government,” he said.
Visit http://www.health.wa.gov.au/press/view_press.cfm?id=637 for the full article.

Landgate - a new era in Land Information
The new agency responsible for Western Australia’s land and property information came into effect on 1 January. The new Western Australian Land Information Authority, known as Landgate, is a statutory body which has heralded a new era in the rapidly expanding business of land information. Land Information Minister Michelle Roberts welcomed the new agency, which replaced the Department of Land Information. “Landgate will deliver world-class information gathered by the best possible technology, allowing the agency to guarantee all work carried out,” Mrs Roberts said. “By creating Landgate, the Government has recognised the importance of land information in our increasingly knowledge-based economy.”

As a statutory authority, the revenue Landgate generates will be re-invested back into the agency, supporting the development of new technology, initiatives and opportunities. The agency will maintain the State’s official register of land ownership and surveying information, and also manage land and property valuations in WA.
Click here to read the full media statement.

New Protection for Western Australia’s Valuable Water Resources
Western Australia now has new planning guidelines to help ensure that development does not damage water resources. Planning and Infrastructure Minister, Alannah MacTiernan, said a new State Planning Policy 2.9 Water Resources was now part of the planning framework. “The water resources policy will help ensure that land use development does not detrimentally affect important water resources such as wetlands, lakes, waterways and floodplains,” Ms MacTiernan said.

The WA Planning Commission would now apply the policy when it was making decisions, or providing advice to the Government. Local governments would also need to incorporate them in future town planning schemes.
To view the policy, click here.

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Australian Angle

New Geoscience Portal Released!
The new look Geoscience Portal was released on 3 January 2007. The Portal gives people and companies interested in exploring for minerals in Australia a single point of access to geological and geophysical data and information about legal requirements for exploration in all Australian jurisdictions. It provides links to all Commonwealth, State and Territory geological surveys; a download facility for all Australia’s geological maps at 1:250,000 scale; airborne geophysical data and digital elevation data downloads from all State and Territory Geological Surveys and Geoscience Australia; all mining legislation and reporting guidelines; the Australian mines atlas; and current minerals tenements.

The new portal is a valuable resource to promote the exploration and discovery of minerals in Australia. Check it out at http://www.geoscience.gov.au.

Mapping Experts for Bushfires
Geoscience Australia sent two mapping experts to help Victorian fire-fighters after Attorney-General Philip Ruddock approved another request for Commonwealth assistance on 20 December 2006. Mr Ruddock said the available resources had been exhausted, with current staff either on duty or stood-down for rest or welfare purposes. “The two Geoscience officers can provide expertise in day-to-day analysis of information that is essential for assessing the extent of the damage and where a fire is headed,'” Mr Ruddock said. “They can also plot information provided from satellite images or planes flying in the area.”

Emergency Management Australia (EMA), part of the Attorney-General’s Department, has activated the Commonwealth Disaster Plan. This provides a framework for Australian Government assistance to State and Territory governments when their resources are limited. EMA is also monitoring the situation through the National Emergency Management Co-ordination Centre in Canberra.
Click here for further information.

ALOS Data now Available from ACRES
In late December 2006, ACRES Geoscience Australia commenced online distribution of images from the Japanese Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS). ALOS will supply the Australian Government and the community with high quality, low cost Earth observation data for purposes including topographic mapping and environmental and disaster monitoring. Under an arrangement with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), ACRES Geoscience Australia is one of only four worldwide Data Nodes able to down-link, process and distribute images from the ALOS satellite. Other Nodes are JAXA in Japan, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
For more information, visit Geoscience Australia.

ALOS Research Proposals Sought
ACRES is presenting an opportunity to research agencies, universities and others to use ALOS data for developing applications. Research proposals that demonstrate the value of data from ALOS and meet the objectives of this Announcement of Opportunity (AO) are sought. Other remotely sensed data, such as Landsat and JERS SAR data, may also be provided on a case-by-case basis to support the AO research proposals. Applications close on Monday 12th February 2007. Full details of the AO can be found here. Additional information about the ALOS mission and instruments are available on the ACRES website.

eFarmer Web Application
The Victorian State Government, working closely with a number of Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs), has developed and trialled a web-based application called eFarmer, which supports the capture, viewing and sharing natural resource management information across farms, landscapes and catchments. The eFarmer application is designed to support planning for farms and catchments. The web application informs private land managers of the natural resource management priorities of the CMA within which they reside and allows them to identify proposed and voluntarily implemented activities on their properties that may contribute to the achievement of CMA catchment wide targets.

The eFarmer project trial was highly commended at the 2006 Victorian Spatial Excellence Awards recently held in Melbourne. Spatial Vision was contracted to design the application and develop the web-based prototype version. The eFarmer prototype has now been trialled for four months by a range of stakeholders, including land managers, catchment planners and extension officers. If the evaluation of the prototype application demonstrates that the application has sufficient value and applicability then it may proceed to a full-scale system.

For more information, contact Ian Miller on (03) 9691 3000 or info@spatialvision.com.au, or visit the Spatial Vision website.

Onshore Energy Security Program Underway
A program to acquire pre-competitive geoscience information for onshore energy prospects has begun following the Prime Minister’s Energy Security Initiative. The initiative provides $58.9 million over five years for the acquisition of new seismic, radiometric, magneto-telluric and airborne electromagnetic (EM) data to attract investment in exploration for onshore petroleum, geothermal, uranium and thorium energy sources. A further $75 million will fund data acquisition to encourage offshore petroleum exploration. Many of Geoscience Australia’s Minerals Division scientists have been scoping programs for the onshore initiative, which will run to June 2011. A ‘first-pass’ program detailing work to be done, where and in what order, is close to completion. The initial scope will be modified through several iterations in consultation with industry stakeholders.

For more information, contact James Johnson on (02) 6249 9236 or james.johnson@ga.gov.au, or visit the Geoscience Australia website.

Giving Yachties a Competitive Edge
Ocean surface images from remote sensing satellites show ocean currents and surface temperatures which may benefit yacht race competitors, fishing enthusiasts, marine transport and industries, and marine services. CSIRO monitors Australian ocean conditions using satellites that return detailed images of surface conditions. From the satellite images, oceanographers can identify a range of features important in understanding the ocean around Australia. This information is valuable for the fishing industry chasing oceanic frontal systems where the fish are feeding; yacht race competitors looking for the quickest ride on an ocean current, or climatologists assessing ocean conditions which lead to cloud formation and rain.

In the case of the East Australian Current, there are recreational benefits for activities such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. CSIRO makes available satellite image estimates of ocean surface currents and temperature. These images are updated daily and assist the yachts to find the fastest route to the finish line. For more information, visit CSIRO.

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News from Around the Globe

Sat Nav Calculates Greenest Routes
Scientists have developed an environmentally friendly sat-nav system for motorists that works out the “greenest” route for cars. The smart device points drivers in the direction of significantly more efficient and less polluting journeys - with tests showing average fuel savings of over eight per cent.

Many motorists now use in-car satellite navigation systems to find the quickest way to their destination, but when it comes to minimising greenhouse gas emissions the best route might not be the fastest or even the shortest. So Dr Eva Ericsson and colleagues at the Lund Institute of Technology in Sweden programmed their system to work out the most efficient route by assigning fuel consumption factors for three types of car on 22 local streets on a digital map database.
Read more at Life Style Extra.
Source: Life Style Extra

Emerging Issue: Spatial Data Quality
“Data quality is a problem we need to address if we in the geospatial industry expect to be a part of the enterprise IT picture,” writes David Sonnen for Directions Magazine. “Our most pressing need is a simple, reliable way to answer: “Are these data fit for this purpose?” each time spatial data are merged or shared in an enterprise system. Here’s the problem. In the past, users captured individual spatial data sets for specific and often independent uses. Today, the spatial data used in enterprise systems flow in from many sources. Often the origins and capabilities of the data are unknown. Making the problem tougher, data have to be integrated and used quickly while they are still relevant.”
Click here for the full story.
Source: Directions Magazine

OGC Working Group on Data Quality
1Spatial (formerly known as Laser-Scan) on 5 January announced that their Product Director, Graham Stickler, has been chosen to Chair a new Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Working Group on Data Quality. A motion has been unanimously passed at the OGC Technical Committee Meeting in San Diego, California, to create a Working Group (WG) with specific focus on spatial data quality. Graham Stickler of 1Spatial was elected Chair of this WG, with Patrick Cunningham, President of Blue Marble Geographics, as the Vice-Chair. The Charter of this WG is to attempt to establish how data quality can be both defined and communicated, using standards to help in the reuse of spatial data and in the creation and management of spatial data infrastructures. Full details of the OGC and of this working group are available on the OGC website at www.opengeospatial.org.
For more information, visit the 1Spatial website.
Source: 1Spatial

Innovation Provides Rapid Mapping of Telecom Networks in 3D
3D Laser Mapping has launched a new high accuracy, high-speed laser scanning system specifically designed for the rapid mapping of telecoms networks in 3D. The WireFinder system uses a Riegl 3D laser scanner controlled by software which easily extracts the 3D position of network assets such as poles and wires. The software can calculate the height of the wire above the road and store all the data in a GIS database. WireFinder has been developed in direct response to demand from telecoms maintenance operators in Europe and the USA. Dr Graham Hunter, Managing Director of 3D Laser Mapping, said, “This new system has been developed specifically for telecoms applications. WireFinder offers a unique and unrivalled technical specification yet is robust, fully portable and easy to use. WireFinder complements our StreetMapper system, which is a high productivity, mobile mapping system optimised for telecoms network mapping.”
For more information, visit 3D Laser Mapping.

GPS Cell Phone Search Application takes the Chore out of Apartment Hunting
Smarter Agent, an operator and source for patented GPS real estate searches, and NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions, announced on 9 January the launch and demonstration of the APTS FOR RENT application. APTS FOR RENT is a mobile phone application that instantly returns information about apartments for rent in proximity to the device. This information includes rental price, address, apartment features, and photos of the property. Consumers across the US will be able to access apartment rental ads using mobile phones equipped with GPS technology. Powered by NAVTEQ® map data, users can select ‘Map It,’ allowing the user to see his or her current location and all of the apartments for rent in that area on an interactive map. The application will make its commercial debut on a major wireless carrier in late January.
Visit Navteq for more information.
Source: Navteq

RFID Keeps City Sewers Running Smoothly
The city of Warendorf, in Germany’s most populous state, is using approximately 5,500 RFID tags to track the maintenance of its 205-kilometre network of sewage canals and pipes. The system has improved the city’s ability to comply with laws mandating that sewage canals be checked on a regular basis. The use of RFID technology enables an up-to-date overview of those canals that have been monitored, and those remaining unchecked.
See RFID Journal for more information.

To the Ends of the Earth: 100 Maps that Changed the World
To the Ends of the Earth, by Jeremy Harwood and published by ABC Books and Audio, is a thought-provoking history of cartography focusing on 100 maps that changed the world. This accessible history of cartography introduces us to 100 key maps that changed human understanding of the world around us, changed the course of map-making itself, or directly influenced the path of history. It reveals how different peoples have observed and represented their world through the ages, and explores the human fascination with maps. It addresses how maps have been used for navigation, exploration, wartime propaganda and planning and also to project national goals. The result is a definitive, fact-packed, fresh and lively study that readers, no matter how much or how little they may know about the subject already, will find informative, insightful and absorbing.
See your local bookseller for more information, or visit Allen & Unwin.

Top Ten of 2006
Adena Schutzberg of Directions Magazine writes: “For each of the last six years I’ve put together the top ten “things” of the past year. Some are events, some are non-events, some are products and some are people. It’s my opportunity to look back and highlight topics worthy of attention as we head into the New Year.”
To view the top ten, click here.
Source: Directions Magazine

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Upcoming Events

Los Angeles County Technology Week
17-26 January 2007, Business Technology Centre, Altadena, California
Tech Week is a series of high profile events at numerous locations throughout Los Angeles County. The fourth annual conference includes an international spotlight event on Wednesday 23 January which will focus on Western Australia. “Doing Business Internationally” provides procurement opportunities in Western Australia, tech transfer from Western Australia to US, and partnering with Western Australia technology companies who want to expand to the US market. For more information, click here.

Second ESRI Asia-Pacific User Conference
18-19 January 2007, Taj Palace Hotel Convention Centre, New Delhi, India
APUC 2007 brings together both individual and organisational users of ESRI Geographic Information Systems and Services. The theme for this year’s conference is “GIS for Economic Development.” GIS usage has expanded to various new areas, and the Asia Pacific region has emerged as a hub for a large number of GIS applications that are deployed world over. For more information, visit the conference website.

Map World Forum
22-25 January 2007, Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India
Map World Forum will be a medium of convergence of various stakeholders of global geospatial community and its integration with end users of geospatial information. The Forum will encourage various international professional societies focusing on different sub domains of the geospatial community to discuss latest developments and its integration with other sub-domains. For more information, visit the conference website.

International Emergency Management Conference
13-16 March 2007, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, South Australia
The International Emergency Management Conference and Exhibition is the premier conference in Australia for specialists involved with emergency management. “Reaching Beyond Catastrophe – The Return Journey” will have a broad inter-agency appeal with a challenging and varied program featuring a range of excellent keynote speakers from Australia and overseas. Coinciding with the conference will be the emergency management trade exhibition. The exhibition is expected to feature an impressive display of over 100 leading companies from all facets of the emergency management industry. For more information, visit the conference website.

Map Middle East 2007
9-11 April 2007, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubia, UAE
The Middle East region, with the encouraging developmental setting, adequate infrastructure and growing investments in this region, holds a promising future for GeoSpatial Technologies and their applications. The theme for Map Middle East 2007, the third annual conference and exhibition on geospatial technologies and their applications, is “GeoSpatial Convergence – The Next Step”. For more information, visit the conference website.

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Interesting Website of the Month

Mapping our World
Oxfam’s “Mapping our World” is a free, interactive resource designed to help kids develop key geographical skills. The site consists of fun activities all about maps, globes and how we view the world. Flatten a globe into a map and transform a map into a globe, develop enquiry and problem-solving skills and investigate how different maps affect our world view.
Visit the Mapping Our World website

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.