Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications

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    A formal approach to imperfection in geographic information
    DUCKHAM, MATT ; MASON, KEITH ; Stell, John ; Worboys, Mike (Elsevier, 2001)
    Traditional computational models of geographic phenomena offer no room for imperfection. Underlying this tradition is the simplifying assumption that reality is certain, crisp, unambiguous, independent of context, and capable of quantitative representation. This paper reports on initial work which explicitly recognises that most geographic information is intrinsically imperfect. Based on an ontology of imperfection the paper explores a formal model of imperfect geographic information using multi-valued logic. The development of Java software able to assist with a geodemographic retail site assessment application is used to illustrate the utility of a formal approach.
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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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    Digital lodgement of cadastral survey data in Australia - user needs
    Falzon, Katie ; Williamson, Ian P. ( 2001)
    Survey plan lodgement is an essential part of the land development and land registration systems in all Australian jurisdictions. Lodgement is still carried out using paper based processes, however it is suggested that digital techniques are inevitable in the near future. This paper discusses the advances being made in this area in several Australian jurisdictions.
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    Land administration and cadastral trends: a framework for re-engineering
    Williamson, Ian P. ; TING, LISA ( 2001)
    This paper reviews the need for a new land administration vision that takes a more integrated approach rather than the historic fragmented approach and examines change management of land administration and cadastral systems in the context of global drivers of change. This results in the development of a framework for re-engineering land administration systems. After discussing a land administration vision the paper reviews trends and issues in the context of this framework. While the paper discusses global issues and trends, the paper concentrates on the experiences and ongoing land administration research of the authors’ and their colleagues with a focus on Australia.
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    Land administration and cadastral trends: the impact of the changing humankind-land relationship and major global drivers
    TING, LISA ; Williamson, Ian P. (Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), 2001)
    The aim of this paper is to discuss some of the current forces of change on the humankind/land relationship and why an increasingly integrated approach to land administration and management is imperative. An overview of the past forces of change on land administration is discussed to demonstrate the dynamic nature of the humankind/land relationship. Particular attention is given to major global drivers such as sustainable development, globalization, economic reform and the information technology revolution. The potential impact of these current forces (particularly sustainable development), on the institutional, legal, political and technological frameworks of a nation, is discussed. New Zealand, which has undergone considerable economic and legislative reforms since the mid-1980s, is used as an illustration of trends and the imperative for a more integrated approach to land administration across those frameworks.
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    Re-engineering land administration systems for sustainable development: from rhetoric to reality
    Williamson, Ian P. ( 2001)
    Current land administration systems are the product of 19th century economic and land market paradigms and have failed to properly support sustainable development. The need for urgent reform is accepted, but the way forward unclear in many jurisdictions. This paper will discuss current international initiatives and research to develop a new land administration vision to promote sustainable development. Within this context, this paper describes the changing humankind to land relationship, identifies some of the growing environmental pressures facing modern society and the need for sustainable development, explores the evolving role of land administration in society and highlights the need for land administration systems to play a more proactive role in supporting sustainable development objectives. The process to re-engineer land administrations is briefly reviewed. The paper then highlights the development of a national land administration vision and strategy. In proposing strategies the paper draws on international trends and experiences such as highlighted in the recent United Nations - International Federation of Surveyors Declaration on Land Administration for Sustainable Development.
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    Land administration "best practice": providing the infrastructure for land policy implementation
    Williamson, Ian P. ( 2001-12)
    Land administration systems, and particularly their core cadastral components, are an important infrastructure which facilitates the implementation of land use policies. While most land administration systems traditionally have a primary objective of supporting the operation of land markets, they are increasingly evolving into a broader land information infrastructure which supports economic development, environmental management and social stability in both developed and developing countries. While a great deal of attention is given to land use policies world wide concerned with such areas as forest management, coastal zone management, environmental sustainability and managing the urban environment, less attention is given to the infrastructures which facilitate the implementation of the associated policies and programs. Importantly all these activities rely on some form of land administration infrastructure which permits the complex range of rights, restrictions and responsibilities in land to be identified, mapped and managed as a basis for policy formulation and implementation. As a result there is an increasing interest in the concept of land administration infrastructures and their core cadastres, in the principles and policies concerned with establishing such infrastructures and in “best practices”. In addressing this need, this paper attempts to explain the evolving concept of land administration infrastructures, the concept of “best practice” and the concept of a land administration “tool box” of principles, policies, laws and technologies which are useful in reforming or re-engineering land administration systems in support of a broader land policy agenda.