Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications

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    The dynamic nature of spatial data infrastructures: a method of descriptive classification
    Chan, Tai On ; Feeney, Mary-Ellen ; RAJABIFARD, ABBAS ; Williamson, Ian P. ( 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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    Are SDIs serving the needs of local planning?: case studies of Victoria, Australia and Illinois, USA
    Nedovic-Budic, Z. ; Feeney, M-E. F. ; Rajabifard, A. ; Williamson, I. P. ( 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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    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.