September 2007 eNews
WALIS Forum, SLIP Updates, Marine and Coastal Data Management.
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
WALIS Regional Workshop: Kalgoorlie
SLIP - Natural Resource Management (NRM)
SLIP-Electronic Land Development Project (eLDP)
SLIP- Emergency Management (EM)
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
4th Annual Conference of the CRC
Graduate Intake Programs and University Student Projects and Funding
Marine and Coastal Data Management: a lasting legacy
Australian Angle
Guy Perkins Joins Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging
ABS Reviewing Statistical Geographical Classification
Remote Sensing Technologies an Everyday Reality
New Airborne Geophysical Data to Aid Salinity Management
News from Around the Globe
Google, NASA Bring Moon into Focus
Satellite Sales Prospecting from 800,000 Feet
Traffic Problem Finds Cell Phone Solution
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 International Forum 2008 will be held on 12-14 March at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. The Forum theme “Public Private Partnerships” aims to demonstrate initiatives in the use of geographic information involving collaboration and sharing of information across government and the private sectors. Registrations for the Forum will open soon, and submission of abstracts will be accepted until 28 September 2007. For more information, visit www.walis.wa.gov.au/forum.
WALIS Regional Workshop: Kalgoorlie The WALIS Office is presenting a regional workshop on Thursday the 11th of October at the Curtain Seminar room. The seminar will introduce and examine the range of spatial information (GIS) data products available, how to access them, who to contact, and how they can be used. The Agenda and registration form can be found on the WALIS website to reserve a place at this workshop contact: Karen Barns (08) 9273 7046 Karen.Barns@walis.wa.gov.au
Agency reports for the spring issue of WALIS News have been collated and the design work has commenced. Thanks to all agencies that submitted reports. WALIS News is due to be released in November. If you would like to be added to the WALIS News mailing list, please contact gen.gongora-mesas@walis.wa.gov.au.
Landgate launched SLIP Enabler to State government agencies on 23rd August 2007, with a launch to private industry planned for early 2008. There have been 170 New Registrations and Over 25,000 visits for the Month of August. That is over three times the number of Visits for July. Currently agencies are connected to SLIP Enabler and there are 153 datasets available. Landgate is working to finalise the Operation Level Agreements for sign-off in the near future.
SLIP - Natural Resource Management (NRM)
A survey and audit of data used and produced by the Western Australian Regional NRM Groups, funded through the NHT and NAP, has been completed. The results are being used to refine the information products and datasets available through SLIP NRM Information, and to develop new Data and Information Management Toolkits for the Regional Groups.
SLIP-Electronic Land Development Project (eLDP)
The eLDP program is in the midst of preparing a tender for the core application design and development, which will soon go to the marketplace. Development is expected to commence in earnest in the second quarter of 2008. Consultation with various State Government agencies and Local Government Authorities will re-commence once the tender process is underway.
The production date for IE spatial pilot has been set for 14/11/2007. Following this the project plan has been re-base lined. The initial production will be to a limited number of customers with a full launch in December 2007. The Business Case for Phase 3 of the project will commence in the near future. A variety of presentations have been done to business groups to establish a wider understanding of what the IE system is achieving for the business.
SLIP- Emergency Management (EM)
SLIP-EM has been released as an operational pilot to selected staff in support of HAZMAT and Search and Rescue operations at FESA and WA Police respectively. The pilot service is also in final stages of configuration for Bushfire operations and has recently been trialled in a series of operational exercises. Further configuration is being programmed in support of tropical cyclone activities with recent workshops held in Port Hedland and Karratha to understand these specific requirements.
The State Mitigation Committee has tasked the SLIP-EM Program to develop an implementation plan for the service to become fully operational in support of other State hazard responsibilities and to provide access to a broader group of emergency management agencies and staff. This plan will be developed over the next few months and will include a formal review of the developments from Phase 1 of SLIP-EM.
Agreement has been reached between DEC, FESA and WA Police to use the new Emergency Services Directory (ESD) Specifications as a common map integrating the various existing mapping products (older Emergency Services Directories, CALM Operation Graphics and other State and Commonwealth topographic maps). As part of this process, a state wide map grid has been developed that ensures a unique map number for all ESD maps (A3 format) across the State.
The next ESD for the South West is scheduled for release in March 2008 and will cover the local government regions of Augusta-Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Bunbury, Busselton, Capel, Collie, Dardanup, Donneybrook-Balingup, Harvey, Manjimup and Nannup. Planning has also commenced for the development of the following ESD to cover the South Coast region.
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
4th Annual Conference of the CRC
The annual conference of the CRC for spatial information occurred between the 16th and 18th of this month. There was a good selection of people from the WALIS community that attended. Issues discussed included Future developments of the CRS and the rebid for the CRC. Presenters included Dr Vincent Tao director of Virtual Earth, Microsoft, Dr James Macgill from Google and founder of ER Mapper, Stuart Nixon.
Graduate Intake Programs in Your Organization and University Student Projects and Funding
If your organisation has a Graduate Intake program, now is the time to advertise these at the universities as students are making decisions about post-graduation employment. Many organisations have done this already, but we have had feedback from students that they often do not hear about opportunities, and also from organisations who do not know the best way to approach programs. One possibility is to send announcements of your organisations programs to the university departments that teach Geographic Information Technology, so that they can be sent out on student email lists or posted on job notice-boards.
Many organisations have projects and funding that would be suitable for an undergraduate or post-graduate student to work on. Now is also the time of the year that students are thinking about studies for the following academic year. If your organisation has any suitable projects now is a good time to approach GIT departments in the universities to discuss possible projects and funding opportunities. Often organisations leave this until later in the year where many students already have projects and funding locked in.
More information about current GIT university courses and contacts can be found on the WinGIT web site under ‘Courses’ at: http://wingit.asn.au/ For more information contact: Rebecca Handcock Chair of the University Liaison sub-committee of WinGIT at: rebecca.Handcock@csiro.au
Marine and Coastal Data Management: a lasting legacy
The Western Australian Marine Science Institute is holding a free public seminar on Thursday 25th October 2007. For those who are interested in finding out more about what is happening nationally and here is Western Australia on Marine Data Management Information. For more information [click here].
Australian Angle
Guy Perkins Joins Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging
With the recent acquisition of Earth Resource Mapping (ER Mapper), Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging is pleased to announce that Guy Perkins, former CEO, will join the executive management team as Vice President, Global Services.
ABS Reviewing Statistical Geographical Classification
The Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) is currently under review. The aim of the review is to create a new Australian statistical geography that better meets the contemporary needs of users and addresses some of the shortcomings of the current ASGC. A panel of ABS and non-ABS experts have developed a proposal that brings together all the geographical boundaries used by the ABS.
Remote Sensing Technologies an Everyday Reality
Remote sensing is set to become an everyday tool for forest managers following recent successful trials of new remote sensing technologies commissioned by Ensis.
New Airborne Geophysical Data to Aid Salinity Management
The data, released on Tuesday 11th September, was gathered through a pilot project designed to test the relevance of airborne geophysical data for mapping the distribution of salt-affected land and sub-surface salt. The aim of the project was to map the sub-surface geology to aid in the mapping of groundwater movement and subsequent salt mobilisation.
News From Around the Globe
Google, NASA Bring Moon into Focus
NASA and Google have launched an updated version of the search engine's Google Moon, offering new higher-resolution images of the lunar surface, and markers designating the Apollo missions' landing sites and surface activities.
Satellite Sales Prospecting from 800,000 Feet
Geospatial data integration company Geosemble today announces a new Lead Generation Service that is the first to use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to automatically generate sales leads based on satellite imagery.
According to a recent Eurobarometer opinion survey, Europeans are highly positive about the GALILEO program, which aims to develop Europe’s own satellite-based navigation system. The survey indicates that most of EU citizens are aware of the role global positioning systems play in their everyday lives, know about possible applications and are firmly behind the development of such new technologies.
To continue reading visit Coordinates
Traffic Problem Finds Cell Phone Solution
The Bangalore Traffic Information System is a fresh project that is expected to provide a far more accurate definition of the traffic problem. It could go some way toward developing a common view of the issue before arriving at micro and holistic solutions. Little wonder that M.N. Reddi, additional commissioner of police-traffic in Bangalore City, is excited about the latest public-private initiative.
Upcoming Events
OZRI 2007
15-17 October 2007, Sydney Hilton Hotel, Sydney.
ESRI Australia’s national client conference, OZRI 2007, will this year focus on the theme ‘GIS – Serving today’s demands’. Conference sessions will explore the current imperatives and demands that are broadening the expectations and requirements of today’s GIS, including evolving technology architectures and system integration, increasing requirements for instant web access to GIS, and ever-simplified interfaces to complex GIS work processes.
For more information about OZRI 2007, including online registration, visit the conference website (link to www.esriaustralia.com.au/ozri), or email ozri@esriaustralia.com.au.
South East Asian Survey Congress (SEASC)
30 October - November: 9th, Christchurch
Incorporating NZIS, Trans Tasman Surveyors and CASLE Conferences; Developing Enquiries to Arna Wahl Davies <arna@conference.co.nz> on +64-3-379-0390; www.surveyors.org.nz/congress2007
IMTA (Asia Pacific) Region Conference & Trade Show;
Connecting the Business of Maps in the Asia Pacific.
2-3 November: Gold Coast International Hotel, Surfers Paradise, Queensland;
International Map Trade Association
Enquiries to +61-8-8357-1777; <imtaaspac@chariot.net.au>; www.maptrade.org
12d User Conference
13 November 2007, Brisbane.
Email conference@12d.com; www.12d.com
14 November: Mapped Out 2007; Spatial Data to Enhance the Operation and Delivery of Government Services; Riverina Spatial Information Group and REROC; Wagga Wagga; Enquiries to +61-02-6931-6050; <mail@reroc.com.au>; www.reroc.com.au
ESRI Asia Pacific User Conference
17-18 January 2008, Tokyo, Japan.
More information will be provided in the coming months.
WALIS International Forum 2008
12-14 March 2008, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, Perth
The call for papers is now open! WALIS Forum is one of the premier GIS events in Australia, attracting over 650 participants from a diverse range of professions. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/forum/ or email forum@walis.wa.gov.au to register your interest.
Interesting Website of the Month
A Vision of Britain Through Time
A vision of Britain between 1801 and 2001. Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
A vision of Britain through time. [Back to top]
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.