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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    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.