Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemEconomic rationalism in managing spatial data infrastructure: the Australian experience( 1997)One of the most interesting developments in GIS over the last few years has been the attention given to the development of spatial data infrastructures at state and national levels. These jurisdictions are moving towards holistic management of their spatial data to support both the government and the rapidly expanding spatial information industry. Paralleling this growth in spatial data infrastructure has been a move to economic rationalism and micro-economic reform in many developed countries worldwide. In Australian governments this has led to the development of a Purchaser/Provider model and the introduction of the National Competition Policy. This paper will use the State of Victoria in Australia as a case study to highlight the impact of economic rationalism in managing spatial data infrastructures. The analysis draws on current research on the diffusion of GIS, the experiences of working with governments in Australia and overseas on the development of spatial data infrastructures in general, and the key component, digital cadastral databases, in particular.
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ItemDigital cadastral databases: the Australian experience( 1997)Countries in the world that have maintained some form of cadastral mapping are now proceeding to a full digital representation of these cadastral maps with the ultimate aim of having country wide coverage at an accuracy level consistent with current technology in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and surveying. GIS have shown the economic and information benefits of integrating the data sets and functions of the mapping, land titling and land management institutions. Also in each of these countries the current status and future directions of digital cadastral databases (DCDB) in any jurisdiction depends very much on the historical origin of the cadastral systems and the land related institutional structures (or current restructuring). In contrast to the varied paths to the present digital cadastral maps of any country the current problems and required solutions are surprisingly similar worldwide. This paper focuses on the current problems and solutions strategies for state DCDBs within Australian with particular focus on the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW). A brief explanation of the origin of state DCDBs in Australia is followed by an overview of the information flow in the cadastral systems to contextualise the current issues and strategies for the update and upgrade of the Australian state DCDBs.
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ItemAn introduction to the use of a case study methodology to review cadastral reform in Papua New Guinea( 1997)Cadastral reform is generally considered to be complex, costly, high risk, time consuming and often difficult to introduce. This paper reviews the use of a case study methodology to assess its effectiveness in understanding such reforms. Current cadastral reform in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is used in this paper as an example to evaluate the methodology. Case studies in two different provinces are described to highlight PNG's social, political, economic and cultural background and the performance of recent cadastral reform initiatives, particularly with regard to the registration of customary land. Current cadastral reform in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is used in this paper as an example to evaluate the methodology. Case studies in two different provinces are described to highlight PNG's social, political, economic and cultural background and the performance of recent cadastral reform initiatives, particularly with regard to the registration of customary land.
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ItemThe Bogor declaration for cadastral reform( 1997)An Inter-Regional Meeting of Experts on Cadastre was held in Bogor, Indonesia, in March 1996, with the primary objective being "to develop a document setting out the desirable requirements and options for cadastral systems of developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region and to some extent globally". A number of important issues arose from the meeting. First, the basic justification for a cadastral system was agreed on, being for economic development, environmental management and social stability. In rural areas cadastral systems are important for promoting increased investment in agriculture, and in urban areas, to support an active land and real estate market. It was recognised that all countries have individual needs and requirements, but that countries at similar stages of development have some similarities in their requirements. Secondly, the meeting recognised that the key to a successful cadastral system is one where the three main cadastral processes of adjudication of land rights, land transfer and mutation (subdivision and consolidation), are undertaken efficiently, securely and at a reasonable cost and speed, in support of an efficient and effective land market. Key cadastral issues were also discussed and in particular, it was agreed that "the success of a cadastral system is not dependent on its legal or technical sophistication, but whether it protects land rights adequately and permits those rights to be traded (where appropriate) efficiently, simply, quickly, securely and at low cost".
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ItemStrategic management of cadastral reform: institutional issues( 1997)A key objective of this paper is to show the increasing importance of cadastral reform in economic development, social stability and environmental and in particular the requirement for institutional reform in achieving such these reforms. This is achieved by briefly reviewing key UN initiatives over the last five years, such as the Earth, Social and City summits. The paper argues that cadastral reform requires a national commitment by governments to strategically manage the reform process. Central to this reform process are a range of economic, technical and institutional issues. From an institutional perspective, the cadastral surveying and mapping, and land registration functions in government, are also developing close strategic alliances or are merging. The paper concludes by identifying a range of key issues which must be addressed if the above initiatives are to become a reality. In drawing conclusions the paper draws heavily on the Statement on the Cadastre developed by the International Federation of Surveyors and the Bogor Declaration, which resulted from a joint meeting of cadastral experts brought together by the United Nations, the International Federation of Surveyors and the Indonesian Government.
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ItemA cadastral model for low value lands: the NSW western lands experience( 1997)The operation of the cadastre in the semi-arid lands of Western New South Wales has remained relatively unchanged since settlement. This paper examines the problem of sustainable resource use and how the introduction of a Multi-Purpose Cadastre can provide a more certain future. The development and use of a consistent spatial framework, comprehensive datasets and new rules and procedures for boundary definition and demarcation are proposed as improvements to the existing cadastral system.
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ItemDoes the cadastral surveying profession have a future?( 1997)The surveying profession is currently facing the biggest challenge in its modern history. Rapid technological change, micro-economic reform, internationalisation, de-regulation of the professions, and the Internet are placing pressures on traditional professional operations and structures never previously experienced. Yet issues of environmental degradation, sustainable development, the management of our cities and economic rationalism are presenting opportunities and challenges to our profession never thought possible. Issues central to our profession such as cadastral reform and spatial data infrastructures are grabbing the attention of policy makers as they realise their importance in economic development, environmental management and social stability. Within the context of the Global Village, surveyors are increasingly working in the international market place. This is placing pressures on our education and training and the role that we see ourselves playing in society. The international push for cadastral reform, land and geographic information systems, improved urban management, environmental management and sustainable development is creating almost unlimited opportunities for our profession if we are prepared to grasp them; there are already other professions moving or ready to move into these traditional areas of the surveyor if we don't act. Can the surveying profession survive these changes and what does the future hold? This paper endeavours to seek answers to these questions by looking at the past, endeavouring to understand the present and trying to look into the future. The paper focuses on the Australian surveying profession while recognising that many of the issues discussed may be relevant to Southern Africa.
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ItemThe role of GIS in the management of primary health care services( 1997)The application of Geographic Information Systems with health has been relatively slow to develop in Australia. The aim of this paper is to show the role that a GIS can play in the management of Divisions of General Practice (GP). We are proposing to use GIS to allow data in General Practice to be analysed visually through desktop mapping as a way of developing a Practice profile. Most of the research projects in this area in western countries are at this stage of development. The favourable conditions in Victoria, Australia (due to the amount of complete digital data bases) allow us to be more ambitious. Thus the aim of the project presented through this paper is not only to reach a visual representation of the spatial health data but to explore the potential of GIS in the following issues: • the combination of health data with other data such as the location and characteristics of private services related with health, • spatial and thematic queries, • sophisticated spatial analyses related with the optimal distribution and location of the practitioners, • simulations regarding the actual and future demand, and • optimal routing Two Divisions of General Practice, one in rural Victoria and one in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, are being used in a pilot study. The data and results presented in this paper are related to these settings.
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ItemDefinition of GIS: the manager's perspective( 1997)Two perspectives of defining GIS are identified, namely, technological and organisational. The technological perspective is suitable to describe a GIS developed in a local GIS scenario as in the case of a GIS developed for a business process. The organisational perspective is better for a GIS developed in a global GIS scenario as in the case of a corporate GIS. Based on the limitations of the two perspectives identified, a model is developed to highlight the qualities of a corporate GIS from a manager's perspective. It is suggested that a corporate GIS is multi-element and modular in nature. It comprises four technological elements (data, standards, information technology and people with expertise) and an organisational setting. Each module of the GIS is defined by the role it plays, namely, infrastructure or business process. A corporate GIS is integrated through the development of a module of infrastructure GIS to support the various modules of business process GIS. The development of the different modules of GIS is significantly affected by the organisational settings. The significance of these qualities towards implementation of an integrated corporate GIS is discussed.
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ItemLand administration, information technology and society( 1998)Land administration reforms into the future are likely to be influenced by: • Society's changing priorities • Globalization • Information technology revolution The latter is an important tool in delivering land information systems that support society's changing needs. However, technology also has the potential to dominate rather than serve society. The challenge will be to harness the information revolution to support land administration reform that addresses society's needs. This paper outlines the evolution of the humankind to land relationship with a view to demonstrating the changes in society that highlight user-needs for information technology. The paper will address this issue in two parts: First, whilst the economic imperatives have and always will drive reforms to land administration systems, western society in particular is experiencing a phenomenon of measures to formally temper those economic imperatives with concern for sustainable development, the environment and social justice. Second, information technology has the potential to greatly assist those processes. From society's perspective, what are the existing capabilities of and concerns about this technology? How do these fit with land administration trends for the future?