Major Policy Breakthroughs Announced at Spatial@Gov 2012

The first day of this year’s Spatial@Gov conference saw two major government policy announcements: the establishment of a National Foundation Spatial Data Framework, and the imminent whole-of-government licence of PSMA’s Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF).

The National Foundation Spatial Data Framework defines the ten data themes that form the authoritative geographic data layers that underpin other data and decision making. The policy recognises these as so critical that government will focus its energy and resources on ensuring its authoritative, reliable supply.

The whole-of-government G-NAF licence means that individual departments no longer need to separately get a G-NAF licence, saving a lot of money and greatly extending its potential utilisation. It is my hope that this could extend beyond government as well.

The Rise and Fall of Bushfire Connect

This week, Bushfire Connect closed up shop, after more than two years collecting and sharing Australian bushfire information and alerts with local communities.


The official statement is here. In this post, I’m sharing some personal views and experiences.

SDI in the CRC-SI: Also-ran or Opportunity?

Sample of the parallel discussion in the Twittersphere

At last week’s annual conference of the CRC for Spatial Information, we saw the (re-) launch of its “Spatial Data Infrastructures” (SDI) research agenda, which generated vibrant (online) discussions. Though this CRC has been operating for more than 2 years now, its Spatial Infrastructures program has been a bit of a wasteland. In part due to the lack of a dedicated Science Director, the program has to date failed to formulate any vision, nor a credible agenda, and delivered disappointingly little.

Inaugural GeoNext conference an outstanding success

“Refreshing content and a great window into the future”; “…great to see people from outside the 'traditional' industry”.

These are just two of the many accolades received from attendees of the inaugural GeoNext conference, held on Wednesday 29 February 2012, at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney.

Unless you’ve been living under some massive rock, you would have noticed that in the first decade of the 21st century, the business of location intelligence has been moving well beyond the traditional domains of surveying, remote sensing and spatial analysis. 

Funding available for GIS skills training

If you are an Australian SME in the spatial information business, you may be eligible for up subsidies of up to 75% of the costs of staff training.

The Spatial Information Business Association (SIBA) is coordinating submissions to the National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF). Though primarily aimed at SIBA member organisations, this opportunity is open to non-members as well.

There is a very short deadline though - firms need to register their interest by Monday 13 February 2012!

The details are set out in an email (below) from SIBA board member George Havakis.

Good luck!