Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemThe dynamic nature of spatial data infrastructures: a method of descriptive classification( 2001)Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is understood and described differently by stakeholders from different disciplines and different administrative/political levels. However, current SD Idefinitions are individually insufficient to describe the dynamic and multi-dimensional nature of SDI. Despite the international interest and activities toward SDI development, SDI remains very much an innovation even among practitioners. There are still doubts regarding the nature and identities of SDI, particularly in connection with how it evolves over time to meet user needs. Asa starting point a means to describe SDI’s multi-dimensional capacity as an inter- and intra- jurisdictional spatial information framework is required. The aim of this paper is to better understand and describe the nature of SDI and its components. A method to classify the perceived roles of SDI is identified. The method is extrapolated from a technique to describe different perspectives of Geographical Information System (GIS) diffusion, based on identified parallels between GIS and SDIs. The methodology may facilitate description and understanding of the SDI technological and user environment, by promoting insight into the dynamic roles of SDI.
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ItemResearching frameworks for evolving Spatial Data Infrastructure( 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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ItemFuture applications of GIS: depth vs breadth: the case of the Land Use Profiler( 2000)As society becomes increasingly spatially enabled, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) will evolve, and geographical information will be embedded in most information applications and services that society uses. This trend presents many opportunities and challenges. It means GIS technologies will facilitate 'more' by becoming' less'. As the general use of GIS increases, the visible appearance of GIS decreases, as it becomes an integrated part of organisational and societal information systems. The trend is for GIS to move from a multi-use tool for project and departmental systems, to specific product systems for multiple users, multiple applications and multiple purposes. These new systems are not all technically GIS, but are systems with embedded geographic knowledge, and the data and tools to capitalise upon the capabilities and to facilitate distribution. The Land Use Profiler (LUP) system is an easy to use spatial analysis tool developed by the Department of Infrastructure in Victoria. It constitutes an illustration of these trends in GIS. Developed to locate areas of land best suited to particular land-use purposes, the LUP is a tool being piloted to facilitate preliminary investment decisions. The LUP adopts user-friendly interfaces, easy-to-assemble query structures and GIS embedding to facilitate broad-spectrum inquiries across a number of datasets using a 'what-if-analysis'. The use and implementation of such a tool raises interesting issues about the transparency of spatial information processing. It reinforces the developmental trends of GIS and provides an indication where these trends may lead.
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ItemAre SDIs serving the needs of local planning?: case studies of Victoria, Australia and Illinois, USA( 2001)National spatial data infrastructures (SDI) have been initiated and built throughout 1990s in both Australia and the U.S., initiated and coordinated by the Australia New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) and the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), respectively. Numerous SDI-related activities at the national, state, and local level in both countries share similar core objectives, which are to stimulate coordinated collection, dissemination, and use of spatial data by public and private entities. This coordination is to result in digital databases that would be easily accessible and seamless across administrative and organizational boundaries and that would help secure social, environmental, and economic benefits to the involved communities. The improved information resources at the local level in particular are expected to contribute to sustainable urban development and to enhance the cooperation between government and nongovernment sectors. This paper raises the question about the actual effectiveness of the existing SDI developments and about the outcomes of the related interactions between the local, state, and national levels. Case study of local governments in Victoria, Australia and Illinois, U.S. are used to evaluate the utility of existing SDIs to local planning activities and to offer recommendations for increasing their effectiveness in supporting sustainable development.
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ItemSpatial data infrastructure frameworks to support decision-making for sustainable development(Geography Institute of Colombia, 2001)
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ItemLand administration and spatial data infrastructures: trends and developments( 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.