Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications

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    Creating an enabling platform for the delivery of spatial information
    Rajabifard, A. ; Binns, A. ; Williamson, I. P. ( 2005)
    The ability of single organisations or government agencies to deliver services and tools that meet user needs withinthe spatial information market is shrinking. Users now require precise spatial information in real-time about realworldobjects. This requires governments and industry to work together to create such products and services. Theproblem in Australia however, is that much of the spatial information needed to create these services resides withingovernment agencies which is often difficult for industry to access.Governments are moving forward in relation to creating policies and initiatives which open up some of thisinformation to the public. They are also creating whole-of-government initiatives such as Western Australia’sShared Land Information Platform (SLIP) and Information Queensland which aim to make governmental spatialinformation accessible across all government agencies. What is lacking however is the ability for industry to engagedirectly with these whole-of-government/cross-agency initiatives. There is a need to create an infrastructure orenabling platform linking government and private industry from which applications and services can be leveragedand value added, providing the ability to grow the private sector and spatial information industry as a whole.This paper aims to describe the issues surrounding the creation of an enabling platform linking governments spatialinformation initiatives and the private sector. It also explores the relationship between top-down research required tospecify strategic goals and vision, prioritize plans, resolve policy issues and build enabling framework and thebottom-up commercialisation required to promote various local initiatives and build application-specific andenterprise-wide databases and services. This is done through an analysis of the concept of a virtual jurisdiction,outcomes of case studies undertaken within five Australian jurisdictions on spatial data infrastructure and spatialinformation initia
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    Creating an enabling platform for the delivery of spatial information
    Rajabifard, A. ; Binns, A. ; Williamson, I. P. ( 2005)
    The ability of single organisations or government agencies to deliver services and tools that meet user needs withinthe spatial information market is shrinking. Users now require precise spatial information in real-time about realworldobjects. This requires governments and industry to work together to create such products and services. Theproblem in Australia however, is that much of the spatial information needed to create these services resides withingovernment agencies which is often difficult for industry to access.Governments are moving forward in relation to creating policies and initiatives which open up some of thisinformation to the public. They are also creating whole-of-government initiatives such as Western Australia'sShared Land Information Platform (SLIP) and Information Queensland which aim to make governmental spatialinformation accessible across all government agencies. What is lacking however is the ability for industry to engagedirectly with these whole-of-government/cross-agency initiatives. There is a need to create an infrastructure orenabling platform linking government and private industry from which applications and services can be leveragedand value added, providing the ability to grow the private sector and spatial information industry as a whole.This paper aims to describe the issues surrounding the creation of an enabling platform linking governments spatialinformation initiatives and the private sector. It also explores the relationship between top-down research required tospecify strategic goals and vision, prioritize plans, resolve policy issues and build enabling framework and thebottom-up commercialisation required to promote various local initiatives and build application-specific andenterprise-wide databases and services. This is done through an analysis of the concept of a virtual jurisdiction,outcomes of case studies undertaken within five Australian jurisdictions on spatial data infrastructure and spatialinformation ini
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    Researching frameworks for evolving Spatial Data Infrastructure
    Feeney, M-E. F. ; Williamson, I. P. ( 2000)
    Technology and infrastructure both play key roles in achieving the optimisation of spatial data to support decision-making, in the spatial data community. Many institutional and technical initiatives have arisen in response to the increase in quantity and improving quality of spatial data to help users to structure the influx. However, there are persistent challenges to integrating institutional and technical solutions to optimise the utilisation of available spatial data. Embracing and continuing to develop a flexible, methodological, framework for the integration of decision-supporting technologies with infrastructure is fundamental to supporting effective incorporation of spatial data in decision-making. This paper reviews the nature of current developments of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) and Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) and discusses issues pertinent to the optimisation of spatial data utilisation, access and management to support spatial decision making environments. A research procedure is proposed to investigate the hypothesis that increasing the functionality of SDIs to support the use of spatial data for decision making can be facilitated by developing methods for the integration of SDSS. Literal and meta-level models are developed of the data flows between SDSS, SDIs and decision makers from data gathered via a case study methodology. The research will provide the means for designing a methodological framework that will enable integration of SDSS by SDIs to enhance facilitation of the capacity for spatial data utilisation in decision-making.
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    Spatial data infrastructures: concept, SDI hierarchy and future directions
    Rajabifard, A. ; Williamson, I. P. ( 2001)
    The world as we know it is changing. Economies world wide are undergoing a process ofprofound and continuing structural change, and the global village is becoming a reality driven byIT and communication technologies. With this in mind, many countries believe that they canbenefit both economically and environmentally from better management of their spatial data assetsby taking a perspective that starts at a local level and proceeds through state, national and regionallevels to global level. This has resulted in the development of the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI)concept at these levels.SDI is fundamentally about facilitation and coordination of the exchange and sharing ofspatial data between stakeholders from different jurisdictional levels in the spatial datacommunity. Understanding of its role and nature are important to the acceptance of the conceptand its alignment with spatial industry objectives.The aim of this paper is to present the nature and concept of spatial data infrastructures,including the SDI hierarchy, which have helped to build understanding about the importance ofthe relationships within different levels of SDIs to support the interactions and partnerships of thespatial data communities. Moreover, the paper will highlight the importance of sharing andunderstanding its special social system, followed by a discussion of the future direction of SDIs. Itis argued that by better understanding the future direction of SDIs, any SDI development can gainsupport from a wider community of both government and non-government data users andproviders.
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    Spatial data infrastructure frameworks to support decision-making for sustainable development
    FEENEY, M ; Rajabifard, A ; WILLIAMSON, IP (Geography Institute of Colombia, 2001)
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    Land administration and spatial data infrastructures: trends and developments
    Williamson, I. P. ; Feeney, M-E. ( 2001)
    Historically, the strength of a land surveyor lies in the ability to use and understand bothmeasurement science and land management, and to apply these skills in a wide range ofland related activities ranging from land development to environmental management. Inresponse to the theme of this conference "2001 - A Spatial Odyssey" it is appropriate toconsider how these skills have evolved and are evolving within the broad surveyingdiscipline.It is proposed that a major dimension of the measurement science skill is reflected in thegrowing importance of spatial data infrastructures (SDI) and the land related skills arereflected in the re-discovery that the role of land administration plays in serving economic,environmental and social priorities in society. While SDI play a much broader role thansupporting land administration, land administration could be considered a key driver in SDIevolution.The objective of this paper is to identify SDI and land administration trends anddevelopments by drawing on the research of past and current projects undertaken byresearchers in the Centre for SDI and Land Administration at The University of Melbourne.The paper identifies some new research areas being planned by the Centre.
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    Land administration and spatial data infrastructures: trends and developments
    Williamson, I. P. ( 2002)
    Historically, the strength of a land surveyor lies in the ability to use and understand bothmeasurement science and land management, and to apply these skills in a wide range of landrelated activities ranging from sustainable development to environmental management. Inresponse to the theme of this conference which focuses on the role of Geomatics in GlobalSustainable Development it is appropriate to consider how these skills have evolved and areevolving within the broad surveying discipline.It is proposed that a major dimension of the measurement science skill is reflected in the growingimportance of spatial data infrastructures (SDI) and the land related skills are reflected in the rediscoverythat the role of land administration plays in serving economic, environmental andsocial priorities in society. While SDI play a much broader role than supporting landadministration, land administration could be considered a key driver in SDI evolution.The objective of this paper is to identify SDI and land administration trends and developmentsby drawing on the research of past, current and future projects undertaken by researchers in theCentre for SDI and Land Administration at The University of Melbourne.
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    Key Factors Influencing Regional SDI Development and Relevance to Global and Other Levels
    RAJABIFARD, A ; WILLIAMSON, IP (GSDI6, 2002)
    The challenge of designing, building, implementing, and maintaining an SDI draws on many different disciplines and requires examination of a large number of factors and issues. It is essential that SDI practitioners understand the significance of human and societal issues as much as technical issues, all of which contribute to the success of SDI developments. Key issues include sustaining a culture of sharing, establishing a common language, and maintaining reliable financial support. This paper presents and discusses major classes of factors which influence, or contribute to the development of a Regional SDI initiative together with recommendations to facilitate the development of Regional SDI initiatives. It is argued that the adoption and implementation of these recommendations can assist Regional SDI coordinating agencies to receive more support and speed up their progress in the development of SDI initiatives. This paper draws on research conducted by the authors in Asia and the Pacific region, based on the theory of innovation diffusion which provides the research framework. The results and lessons learned from this research can also be used and applied in other regions, and potentially other jurisdictional levels such as local, state, national and global.
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    The Cultural Aspects of Sharing and Dynamic Partnershipswithin an SDI Hierarchy
    Rajabifard, A. ; Feeney, M-E. F. ; Williamson, I. P. ( 2002)
    The need to create multi-participant, decision-supported environments to address the issues of sustainable development and improving the quality of life creates a growing need to organise data across disciplines and organisations through different forms of spatial data infrastructure (SDI). This infrastructure is fundamentally a concept about facilitation and coordination of the exchange and sharing of spatial data between stakeholders from different jurisdictional levels in the spatial data community. The concept is well explained as an integrated, multi-levelled hierarchy of interconnected SDIs based on partnerships at corporate, local, state/provincial, national, regional (multi-national) and global (GSDI) levels. The creation of such an infrastructure and understanding the role of dynamic partnerships within an SDI hierarchy are essential to develop any SDI initiative. This paper reviews the nature and concept of SDIs, including the SDI hierarchy, which has helped to build understanding about the importance of the relationships within different levels of SDI, to support the interactions and dynamic nature of partnerships between spatial data communities. The role that human nature plays in any endeavour based on interaction and sharing makes cultural and social factors within a business environment important to the acceptance of the SDI concept and its alignment with spatial industry objectives. Further, the importance of establishing a culture for sharing as well as understanding the dynamic partnerships necessary to support such a culture is highlighted, and three classes of factors influencing SDI development are identified. It is argued that the adoption and implementation of these factors and selection of a proper model for SDI development can assist SDI coordinating agencies to overcome the problem of low participation and speed up the progress in the development of SDI initiatives.
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    Anticipating the cultural aspects of sharing for SDI development
    Rajabifard, A. ; Williamson, I. P. ( 2003)
    The complexity of communications and relationships between sectors and agencies to achieve a common understanding of spatially related issues across a jurisdiction is paramount for any economy, management of the environment, social issues and security. On the other hand, the need to create multi-participant, decision-supported environments to address the issues of sustainable development and improving the quality of life creates a growing need to organise data across disciplines and organisations through different forms of spatial data infrastructure (SDI). This infrastructure is fundamentally a concept about facilitation and coordination of the exchange and sharing of spatial data between stakeholders from different jurisdictional levels in the spatial data community. This paper reviews the role that human nature plays in any endeavour based on interaction and sharing makes cultural and social factors important to the acceptance of the SDI concept and its alignment with spatial industry objectives. Cultural aspects and social factors influence the complexity and dynamics of developing SDIs. Therefore, positioning to consider these aspects and factors are important elements in design and development of SDIs. Further, the importance of establishing a culture for sharing as well as understanding the dynamic partnerships necessary to support such a culture is highlighted. It is argued that by better understanding and promoting a culture for sharing spatial data, any level of SDI development can gain support from a wider community of both government and non-government data users and producers.