July 2008 eNews
Highlights include: SSI Regional Conference and Awards Dinner, The Holy Grail of Traffic Management, iPhone Location-Aware Applications and FIG Working Week.
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
WALIS Associate Membership Policy
Did you know you can contribute to your eNews?
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
SSI Regional Conference and Awards Dinner
Satellite Tracking of Loggerhead Turtles Provides Answers
New Efficient System for Petroleum and Geothermal Information
Australian Angle
The Holy Grail of Traffic Management
iPhone Location-Aware Applications
Adapting Farming to Climate Change
Using Biostatistics to Detect Disease Outbreaks
Enlighten 2.7.0 and Munsys 10.0.1
News from Around the Globe
Two New Directors for Open Geospatial Consortium
FIG Working Week, 14-19 June 2008
US Coalition Geospatial Organisations
GPS Tracking Device Beats Radar Gun in Court
Collaborative Mapping for Disasters
Sichuan Shows Value of Spatial
Monitoring Rice Production: Burma
Upcoming Events
Details of events in Australia and around the world.
Interesting Website of the Month
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
The WALIS office welcomes a new Senior Project Officer, Derrick Chan. Derrick will be working on the WALIS Forum and a number of new SLIP Focus Areas. He has a background in Crown land administration, Quality Assurance and auditing. We are very pleased to have Derrick on board – please make him feel welcome. Derrick can be contacted at derrick.chan@walis.wa.gov.au or 9273 7480.
The WALIS Advisory Committee (WAC) provides WALIS with the strategic advice to stimulate and encourage promotion and support for the development and use of geographic information within Western Australia. WAC consists of representatives from industry, community, education and local government. To help WAC better represent to WALIS the interests of its constituents, WAC embarked on an Outreach Program in 2006. Since then WAC has held successful workshops with the Remote Sensing industry, the Urban Development Industry Association and the Insurance industry. In 2008, WAC focused on the Agriculture Sector, and specifically those people who provide services to farmers and agriculturalists such as farm consultants.
In line with this, the WALIS Agricultural Workshop was held on Thursday 17 July. The workshop aimed to find the extent to which the agricultural sector uses geographic information and identify any issues. In particular, the workshop focused on longer term needs which can be addressed within the WALIS framework – such as gaps in data, new types of data and accessibility barriers.
The workshop was well received and more than 30 participants attended. Attendees included representatives of WALIS, the CRC for Spatial Information, the Future Farm Industries CRC, industry representative organisations, CSIRO, as well as geo-spatial industry and farm consultants, and other agricultural service providers. There was general consensus that the session provided good value by bringing together users and providers of spatial information for the Agricultural Sector. Findings and outcomes from this workshop will be condensed over the next few days with a view to putting in place following up action items.
WALIS Associate Membership Policy
When the WALIS Executive Policy Committee met in September 2007 they endorsed the implementation of an Associate Member Policy for WALIS, which would see WALIS Membership extended beyond WA state government departments. Associate membership is a new membership category allowing federal government, local government, community groups and private organisations to formally become part of WALIS' membership base. As at 21 July 2008, a total of 10 entities have signed up as Associate Members. The WALIS Office made a presentation to the Environmental Consultants Association in early July and there was some interest in the Association obtaining an associate membership. We would like to encourage more partnerships, so please consider getting on board with WALIS through associate membership. For more information, contact Kumar Balakrishnan on 9273 7680.
Did you know you can contribute to your eNews?
The WALIS Office is keen to hear from you! We are always looking for information about activities and events within your agency or the spatial community. This may include project updates, announcements, awards, staff movements and interesting websites. If you would like to contribute, please contact Melissah at melissah.mackenzie@walis.wa.gov.au
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
SSI Regional Conference and Awards Dinner
This is your last chance to register for the Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) Regional Conference (24-25 July at Curtin University) and the WA Spatial Excellence Awards Gala Dinner (25 July at Fraser's Restaurant, Kings Park).
There is a fantastic line-up of topics at the conference including: Climate Change and Energy Use; the Raising of the HMAS Sydney; 3D Modelling, Environmental Health Surveillance; Remote Sensing and SI and the Australian Economy. For full details of the program, visit http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/news_and_events/ssi-wa-2008-conference-registration.pdf/view
Satellite Tracking of Loggerhead Turtles Provides Answers
The future of loggerhead turtles in Western Australia is looking brighter thanks to a satellite tracking device that is helping unravel many mysteries about the creature.
Nine female turtles, which were tagged with satellite transmitters at Ningaloo Marine Park earlier this year, have recently been tracked migrating to feeding grounds in Shark Bay, the Timor Sea and as far away as the Torres Strait. Read on at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/news/department-of-environment-and-conservation/satellite-tracking-of-loggerhead-turtles-provides-answers.html
The 2008 Flora Stats have been published. FloraBase contains the latest authoritative stats on species names in use in WA, and a baseline count of the number of cryptogams tracked in the Census of Western Australian Plants. FloraBase also provides a link to Australia's Virtual Herbarium (AVH), an on-line botanical information resource accessible via the web. It provides immediate access to the wealth of data associated with scientific plant specimens in each Australian herbarium. Six million specimen records, of particular value in displaying geographic distribution, will be enhanced by images, descriptive text and identification tools. Visit the site: http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/
New Efficient System for Petroleum and Geothermal Information
Commencing Friday 11 July, the Petroleum and Geothermal Information Management System (WAPIMS) which is coordinated through the Department of Industry and Resources (DoIR) was moved to a faster server with a new secure address. WAPIMS is a petroleum, geothermal and minerals exploration database containing data on titles, wells, geophysical surveys and other petroleum exploration and production data submitted to DoIR by the petroleum sector. Geothermal data has recently been added to the site and the database contains information on mineral drill holes, tenements, mine sites, aeromagnetic surveys, land access information, geology and culture data. Read on here: http://www.doir.wa.gov.au/4868_5958.aspx
Australian Angle
The Holy Grail of Traffic Management
Traffic authorities in Australia and overseas are trialling a new vehicle detector system that identifies changes in the Earth's magnetic field at intersections to detect passing or stopped cars – an alternative to the wired inductive loop detectors now in place at most traffic lights. The new system then uses radio communication to transmit the data to roadside traffic controllers.
La Trobe University graduate in computer science and electronic engineering Graham Rivers-Brown has invented a battery-powered device for detecting traffic gridlock that he says could piggy-back on this new wireless system.
Web link to full article: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin/2008/0808/research7.html
Source: La Trobe University
iPhone Location-Aware Applications
So you've got your shiny, new iPhone... now what?? Well, there are loads of location-aware applications taking advantage of the devices' integrated GPS. Read on here http://www.lbszone.com/content/view/3594/2/ for some suggested apps (not all are available in Australia).
Adapting Farming to Climate Change
The CSIRO has released a national overview of climate change impacts and adaptation options for Australian agriculture. Bringing together the latest science from research groups around Australia, the report includes chapters on each of Australia’s major agricultural sectors, with a focus on steps that can be taken to adjust to the ongoing changes in our climate.
Web link to full article: http://www.csiro.au/news/AdaptionForFarming.html
Using Biostatistics to Detect Disease Outbreaks
An internationally recognised authority in biostatistics, Harvard University Professor Louise Ryan, is working with CSIRO researchers to help improve the way statistics are used to detect disease outbreaks in Australia. Professor Ryan arrived in Australia in June to work on a project developing statistical methods that could distinguish cases of the annual flu from reactions to a pollution event or food poisoning.
“We are at the point now where technology is enabling us to access huge amounts of data related to health, for example real-time information on hospital admissions, including symptoms and locations,” Professor Ryan says. “Developing the statistical and computational tools to sort through these data and detect patterns is a real challenge.”
Web link to full article: http://www.csiro.com.au/news/BiostatisticsToDetectDisease.html
Inquiry into the Current State of Australia's Space Science and Industry Sector - CRCSI Submission to Senate Space Inquiry
On 19 March 2008, the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics for report no later than October 2008 with an interim report by 23 June 2008:
The current state of Australia's space science and industry sector, examining options to strengthen and expand Australia's position in fields that strongly align with space science and industry, giving consideration to any national strategic coordination requirements and taking into account findings and policy options of the National Innovation System Review, with particular reference to:
(a) Australia's capabilities in space science, industry and education, including: (i) existing Australian activity of world-class standard, and (ii) areas in which there is currently little or no activity but that are within the technical and intellectual capacity of the country;
(b) arguments for and against expanded Australian activity in space science and industry, including: (i) an assessment of the risks to Australia's national interest of Australia's dependence on foreign-owned and operated satellites, (ii) the potential benefits that could accrue to Australia through further development of our space capability, (iii) economic, social, environmental, national security and other needs that are not being met or are in danger of not being met by Australia's existing space resources or access to foreign resources, (iv) impediments to strengthening and expanding space science and industry in Australia, including limiting factors relating to spatial information and global positioning systems, including but not limited to ground infrastructures, intergovernmental arrangements, legislative arrangements and government/industry coordination, and (v) the goals of any strengthening and expansion of Australia's space capability both in the private sector and across government; and
(c) realistic policy options that facilitate effective solutions to cross-sector technological and organisational challenges, opportunity capture and development imperatives that align with national need and in consideration of existing world-class capability.
An electronic copy of the Hansard transcript of Peter Woodgate's evidence for the Standing Committee on Economics’ hearing in Adelaide on Friday, 23 May 2008 can be accessed here.
Link to the Standing Committee’s website: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/economics_ctte/space_08/index.htm
A virtual fence for livestock that allows better use of pasture, protects the environment and reduces labour, is being developed by the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship using satellite technology.
The project is focussed on developing an animal-friendly virtual fencing system for cattle that enables the animals to be confined without using fixed fences. At this stage in the development of what is designed to be a commercial product, the research team has developed a prototype system and successfully demonstrated its use on a herd of cattle.
Web link to full article: http://www.csiro.au/news/VirtualFencingMediaRelease.html
Enlighten 2.7.0 and Munsys 10.0.1
Open Spatial Australia announced the release of Enlighten 2.7.0. This release of Enlighten contains more powerful Network Trace and Shut Off reporting for utilities and councils, improvements to the Plotting capabilities of Autodesk MapGuide through the new Plot Engine and Plot Applications with the option to plot from 3rd Party applications and additional features.
Munsys, Inc. announced the release of Munsys Service Pack 10.0.1. This update release introduces support for Oracle Database 11g and also offers numerous feature enhancements and functionality improvements.
The Munsys solutions for utilities and local government bridge the gap between CAD and GIS. Munsys provides an off the shelf solution that includes a central database with pre-defined data models and integrated applications for the management of water, sewer, drainage, cadastral, roads and electricity infrastructure. Enlighten provides your organisation with a powerful Web Based GIS Solution that enhances each employee's ability to make informed decisions.
The continued provision of functional improvements and compatible versions is one of the benefits of buying ‘commercial off the shelf’ solutions such as Munsys and Enlighten.
Web link to Enlighten announcement: http://www.openspatial.com.au/index.php?p=news-detail&fid=58 and Munsys announcement: http://www.openspatial.com.au/index.php?p=news-detail&fid=57
News from Around the Globe
Two New Directors for Open Geospatial Consortium
The Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC) has held its biennial election and two new directors, Lisa Campbell and Dr John C Curlander, have been elected to the Board of Directors.
FIG Working Week, 14-19 June 2008
The FIG Working Week held in Stockholm, Sweden just before the Midsummer Night was the biggest Working Week ever held. During the event young surveyors were very much in evidence, and mentor sessions brought the generations together. The Working Week was hosted jointly by FIG and the Swedish Association of Chartered Surveyors, SLF, which at the same time celebrated its 100th Anniversary. The theme of the Working Week “Integrating Generations” was in line with the overall theme of the current FIG Council: “Building the Capacity”. 950 participants from 90 nations attended the event and the exhibition. In addition to the plenary sessions there were over 70 technical sessions, with almost 350 presentations, and technical tours. The Working Week included the joint FIG/UN-HABITAT seminar on “Improving Slum Conditions through Innovative Financing”.
A full conference report can be found here and the full edition of the conference proceedings including the keynote presentations and handouts of the presentations is now available.
A paper “A Model for Integrating Generations - Young Surveyors Working Group” that was prepared and presented at the FIG Working Week by Mr Cemal Özgür Kivilcim of Turkey and Ms Chris McAlister of Australia is also FIG’s article of the month.
Available in November 2008, ‘GIS for Dummies’ is an easy-to-understand reference for navigating through geographic information systems (GIS).
The book avoids equations, computer codes, and overwhelming detail and instead provides a clear explanation as to how GIS technology captures, stores, counts, characterises, integrates, analyses, and displays data about the earth.
Web link to full article: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470236825.html
US Coalition Geospatial Organisations
Several American geospatial organisations have recently come together to create the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO). The Coalition evolved after several “Stakeholder” meetings that took place on an irregular basis since 2003. In August 2007, several of these organisations met to discuss areas of mutual concern and interest. In order to promote openness and effective collaboration, it was decided that the group should become a more formal organisation.
COGO was developed to provide a forum for organisations concerned with national geospatial issues that will 1) improve communications among the member organisations (and others), 2) provide educational information on relevant issues for their respective memberships, 3) align and strengthen their respective policy agendas, and 4) facilitate development of strategies to address national issues.
COGO participants have met regularly in 2008 to draft the COGO Rules of Operation and Procedure which follow the Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services (COFPAES) Model of organisation, whereby COGO will undertake legal or advocacy action only through unanimous agreement of all of the Member Organisations.
Web link to full article: http://www.urisa.org/cogo
GPS Tracking Device Beats Radar Gun in Court
According to a press release issued by Rocky Mountain Tracking, eighteen-year-old Shaun Malone has a few people to thank for being able to plead "Not Guilty" to a speeding offence - his parents, who installed a GPS device in his car, and Rocky Mountain Tracking, the service provider of that device.
The device wasn't the usual “make-a-left-turn-1-kilometre-ahead-onto-Lord-Street” GPS. It was a tracking GPS, the kind that tracks a person or object's location both inside and outside buildings, and also an object's speed. Malone’s parents installed the GPS in his car to monitor his driving.
Web link to full article: http://www.rmtracking.com/press.html
Collaborative Mapping for Disasters
BusinessWeek takes a very superficial look at the use of community driven mapping efforts during emergencies. While the article doesn’t go much in depth on the different types of mapping efforts that kick in during emergencies, it does look at two sides of the collaborative mapping issue.
On one side of the issue are efforts like GeoCommons.com that use the collaborative efforts of the community to help provide updated geographic information during emergencies: “In the wake of devastating flooding in the Midwest in May, people created their own maps of everything from bridge closures to outlines of flood zones to Home Depot locations where people could get supplies. The maps in turn were made available to anyone.”
Web link to full article: http://gislounge.com/collaborative-mapping-for-disasters/
Sichuan Shows Value of Spatial
The earthquake that struck Sichuan province in May, resulting in an official death toll of 69,195, is by no means the worst natural disaster to ever afflict the Chinese people. However, it is possibly the largest since the Chinese have had access to modern information and communications technology.
That it made a difference is indisputable. Large numbers of people and resources were mobilised within days – some within hours. According to Wenjie Wang from Intergraph China, staff from Wuhan University had a ZI Digital Mapping Camera over the region on the first day. Rescue teams performed heroic feats to uncover people buried in their homes or trapped by rubble.
But in trying to build an understanding of what went right and wrong, it is easy to be deceived by the significance of this early response. Spectacular rescues – the family airlifted from a roof, the grandmother who survived days trapped in the ruins of her home – make great television. But the real stories are not found on TV.
These stories are about the thousands of people who did not die from lack of food because someone, somewhere, knew where the people were and where the food was. Someone knew where the doctors were, what supplies they would need and how to get from one to the other.
Web link to full article: http://www.asmmag.com/news/1065
Reprinted from www.asmmag.com, copyright 2008 ASM.
Monitoring Rice Production: Burma
In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, the Foreign Agriculture Service of the US Department of Agriculture has begun producing a series of maps of damaged agricultural areas.
Cyclone Nargis, a category 3 tropical storm, struck the low-lying and heavily populated coastline of Burma (Myanmar) on 2 May 2008. It killed 84, 537 people and left 53, 836 others missing and 19,359 injured, according to the officially-released death toll of the Burmese government.
FAS uses remote-sensing and an ArcGIS database to analyse global crop production capacity. It then issues commodity intelligence reports on international crop conditions. Its mission is to improve the position of US agriculture in the global marketplace.
Web link to full article: http://www.asmmag.com/news/1055
Reprinted from www.asmmag.com, copyright 2008 ASM.
Vexcel's founder, Franz Leberl, gave a rousing and enthusiastic speech about the future of digital cameras to the first plenary assembly of the 21st congress of the International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing in Beijing, 4-11 July. Leberl is the company founder, and thus one of those most responsible for the new world of digital imaging.
Vexcel released its UltraCamXp product, an incremental upgrade of the UltraCamX at the conference. It features a 17,310 x 11,310 pixel CCD. It has been pre-sold to two customers in Europe, with general release likely later this year. This brings the total of cameras sold to 100, about 40 per cent of the market, Vexcel says.
Leica Geosystems has replaced its ADS40 with the ADS80. It has improved radiometry - perhaps a small increment over its predecessor - but Leica also showed off some significant software that goes towards increased productivity for owners.
Intergraph, meanwhile, was able to point to the sale of three of its Digital Mapping Cameras, including the latest, to AAMHatch in Wollongong.
Web link to full article: http://www.asmmag.com/news/1042
Reprinted from www.asmmag.com, copyright 2008 ASM.
Upcoming Events
SSI Regional Conference – Last Chance to Register!
24-25 July, Curtin University, WA
A great line up on speakers and topics, including “Influencing Energy Efficiency with Spatial Analysis” (very topical in WA at present) and “The Search for the Sydney” are featured in this year’s SSI WA regional conference. Contact the SSI Office for more information: ssiwa@iinet.net.au
Western Australian Spaital Excellence Awards – Last Chance to Register!
25 July, Fraser’s Restaurant, Kings Park, Perth
WA will be celebrating the best projects and individuals, in a spatial sense, at a gala dinner at Fraser’s Restaurant on 25 July 2008. Jointly organised by ASIBA and SSI, this is an event not to be missed! Contact the SSI office for more information: ssiwa@iinet.net.au
National Science Week 200816-24 August, Throughout Australia
National Science Week will be marked by events at different venues throughout Australia. Check the website for details and get involved.
GITA 2008 Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conferece
25-27 August, Sydney, Novotel Sydney Olympic Park
One of the features of this year’s conference program is the special session on Intelligent Grid / Smart Metering. Whilst both ESRI and GE Energy (Smallworld) are leading various aspects of this session, its focus will be on end users (not a sales pitch!). Another feature of the conference program is the high calibre (and high number) of keynote presentations. Register online by clicking here!
Open Spatial User Forum 2008
9-11 September, Novotel Rockford, Darling Harbour, Sydney
This will be the 6th Annual User Forum and the attendance of “observers” who are interested in the Conference Theme and may be considering the use of Open Spatial’s solutions are encouraged.
The theme of the Conference is Asset Management and Data Integration. In addition to a selection of User Case Studies and product directions, the two Keynote Speakers will be Ivan Albertini (Solutions Director for Utilities in Asia Pacific, Oracle) who will discuss how information and spatial technologies play a critical role in supporting the asset related needs of the Utilities industry; and Jeff Roorda (MD of Jeff Roorda & Associates) who will outline a number of studies that have provided the backdrop for the rapidly developing national framework for a consistent approach to strategic asset management.
Register before July 31 to receive the early bird discount of $100 on the normal full Forum price.
Maritime Domain Awareness 2008
16-18 September, Marque Hotel, Canberra, ACT
Implementing Best Practice Strategies to Maximise Security & Maritime Domain Awareness Capabilities.
Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
29 September-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
Digital Earth Summit on Geoinformatics
12-14 November 2008, Wissenschaftspark Albert Einstein, Potsdam, Germany
The Digital Earth Summit on Geoinformatics is being held in Potsdam, Germany. Themed ‘Tools for Global Change Research’, speakers will cover geoinformatics, global change research, spatial data infrastructures, digital earth initiatives, Earth observation activities, and the interaction between these fields. It is being organised by the International Society for Digital Earth.
Check the website for details.
Asia Pacific Spatial Innovation Conference 2008 (APSIC)
18-19 November 2008, Rydges Lakeside Hotel, Canberra
The theme of the conference is “Innovative Solutions for a Spatially Challenged Nation – Where the Hell Are We?”
There is a spatial element in virtually very commercial or government activity. Spatial analysis is now an essential enterprise-wide business tool. Learn from the presenters how the adoption of spatial innovation has underpinned successful outcomes for their businesses.
Hosted by the Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) and the Australian Spatial Information Business Association (ASIBA), the conference will focus on Australia’s innovative developments in the spatial information industry.
Click here to register your interest.
Interesting Website of the Month
National Tree Day
National Tree Day is Australia's biggest community tree-planting event. Since Tree Day started in 1996 more than 1.5 million volunteers have planted over 11.5 million native trees and shrubs! Join in this year on National Tree Day - Sunday, 27 July 2008 and Schools Tree Day - Friday, 25 July 2008 (plus a range of additional dates) to help make the event even more successful and help save and enhance our environment. See how you can get involved here.
Link to website: http://treeday.planetark.com/
You can also use the website’s mapping function to search for a tree planting site near you.
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.