Development of Victorian Spatial Information Strategy

Victorian Spatial Information Strategy 2004-2007 Development

Contents
Introduction
Draft Victorian Spatial Information Strategy
Workshop Outcomes
Forum
Issue Identification
Discussion Paper

Introduction

Since 1993 Victoria has had a series of spatial information strategies, each of about three years duration, and each with a specific strategic focus. The most recent, the Victorian Geospatial Information Strategy, focused on the development and consolidation of Victoria’s fundamental spatial information products and services - Vicmap.

Development has begun on the next strategy iteration, the Victorian Spatial Information Strategy (VSIS). While the maintenance and development of Vicmap will continue to be a significant objective of VSIS, the priority in terms of strategy has shifted to development of:

a more cohesive whole-of-government approach to the acquisition and application of spatial information; and
a fully coordinated whole-of-industry approach to spatial information industry development, coordinating the objectives and activities of the public, private and academic sectors,

to achieve the best possible outcomes for Victoria as a whole.

The spatial information industry is a small but rapidly growing industry that has the potential to impact significantly on the operations of both the public and private sectors, and to provide social, economic and environmental benefits for Victoria. Both whole-of-government and whole-of-sector (encompassing all levels of government, the private sector and academia) approaches to the acquisition, development and application of spatial information must be realised to provide effective outcomes for Victoria from the spatial information industry, and to realise the full extent of the potential benefits.

Contents

Draft Victorian Spatial Information Strategy (Released For Comment)

The Victorian Spatial Information Strategy (VSIS) is the fourth in a series of strategies that have shaped the spatial information environment in Victoria since 1991.

The aim of VSIS is to develop a more cohesive whole-of-government approach to the acquisition and application of spatial information; and a fully coordinated whole-of-industry approach to spatial information, coordinating the objectives and activities of the public, private and academic sectors.

Land Victoria has been developing the Strategy since September 2002, and has put in place a comprehensive program of stakeholder consultation and participation.

The shape of the draft Strategy has been influenced by the results of a workshop conducted in November 2002, with participants from a wide range of stakeholder groups, at which the outcomes, performance measures and 2003 priorities were largely determined.

The current document particularly emphasises the need for a high level co-ordinating body that will oversee the implementation of VSIS within government, and will engage with the private and academic sectors to ensure their participation in achieving the objectives of the Strategy.

Feedback on the draft is now being sought prior to the development of the final strategy for release in late April/early May 2003.

Please address your comments, in writing, to

Mr Bruce Thompson
Acting Director
Land Information Group
Department of Sustainability and Environment
PO Box 500
EAST MELBOURNE 3002

Or via email to Elizabeth.Thomas@nre.vic.gov.au

Comments should be forwarded to either of the above addresses by 31 March 2003.

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Contents

Workshop Outcomes

A one-day workshop was conducted in 22 November 2002, with participants drawn from government, industry and academia, as part of the second stage of developing the Victorian Spatial Information Strategy, ie to develop a statement of objectives and outcomes.

Participants on the day were:

Ivars Satins	Department of Infrastructure
Alistair Craw	Department of Innovation Industry & Regional Development
Tim Sullivan	Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development
Frank Culliver	VicRoads
Yvonne Thompson	Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner
T.O Chan	Department of Primary Industries
Ron Grenfell	Department of Geospatial Science, RMIT University
Norm Jackson	Department of Education and Training
Helen Vahl Meyer	Department of Premier and Cabinet
Chris Reynolds	Geospatial Information Reference Group
Mark Garvey	Emergency Services GIS User Group
Geoff Sanguinetti	Building Commission
Abbas Rajabifard	Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne
Mary-Ellen Feeney	Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne
Daniel Steudler	Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne
Neil Brown	Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne
Jessica Smith	Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne
Mathew Warnest	Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne
John Spring	Geographic Information Services
Guy Perkins	MapInfo Australia Pty Ltd
Ian Cannington	Autodesk Pty Ltd

The workshop addressed the strategic framework or direction statement for VSIS, incorporating outcomes, the benefits that need to be demonstrated and the ‘strategic pathways’ to get there.

The results of the group’s deliberations were presented as a series of slides.

(119k, Requires Acrobat Reader)

The themes that emerged from the day were:

There is a clear need for co-ordination at the highest levels of government to establish the institutional arrangements for encouraging wider use and development of spatial information.
While data quality remains important, the emphasis is on creating the environment for use and development of spatial information through partnerships, access, pricing, and awareness, as well as demonstrating the benefits obtained from its application.

Next steps

A first draft of the Victorian Spatial Information Strategy will be circulated for comment at the end of January 2003.
Feedback on the outcomes of the workshop is welcome. Please submit your comments by 31 December 2002.

Contents

Issue Identification (from GIRG)

Below is a summary of the key issues raised at the GIRG Forum on 24 October 2002. The purpose of the forum was to identify some of the key issues that participants believe should be addressed by VSIS. Below is a summary of the views of both GIRG participants and presenters. It is not exhaustive nor is it organised in priority order.

1. Issues raised by presenters – not in priority order

The list below is only a summary of the issues raised by the presenters. The full presentations are available in PowerPoint format (see “presentations” above).

retention of existing VGIS focus on SI management principles
broader engagement and take-up of SI
whole-of-government level integration and application of SI - cross-government management mechanism?
whole-of-Victoria level integration, application of SI - cross-sectoral consultation and liaison mechanism?
inter government communication
national spatial information market
alignment of VSIS with SIIAA and ASIBA
review of quality standards for SI
business case for ‘survey accurate cadastre’
review of pricing, licensing and access arrangements, and incorporation of national considerations
uniform privacy and data-sharing arrangements
value of combined data
public safety & security
data quality & scope of Vicmap

composition and extent of Victoria's framework information - telecommunications infrastructure, government assets, soils etc.
representation
completeness and timely availability of spatial data
user needs and expectations
location based services, web mapping, mobile commerce, wireless technology
bandwidth
online GIS and bandwidth, especially rural
Global Positioning Systems
A clear definition of the roles of public and private sector
Roles, relationships
Industry development priority
Commitment to international initiatives
Education and awareness
Community involvement
Identify achievements

2. Issues from the floor– not in priority order

The open floor discussion considered the issues raised by the presenters and enabled participants to present their views on what VSIS should address. The questions below summarise the key issues that were raised in this discussion.

What is the impact of privacy on data collection and dissemination?
What comes first – data or privacy?
How do we bring about whole-of-government level integration, participation and application of SI - cross-government management mechanism?
How do we bring about whole-of-Victoria level integration, participation and application of SI - cross-sectoral consultation and liaison mechanism?
How do we get a coordinated whole of government approach to data delivery?
How do we encourage metadata participation?
How do we make data available?
How do we bring about consistent licensing and pricing?
How do we encourage custodian participation?
How do we encourage data and knowledge sharing between sectors?
How do we overcome the perception of risk in spatial information (delivery and data sharing)?
How do we encourage up-take of spatial information among new users?
How can we reconcile Vicmap accuracy (vertical topology) to survey accurate spatial information?
How do we strategically move towards survey accurate spatial information?
What methods will we follow to achieve a consistent approach to spatial information projections and formats?
When will we complete Vicmap Address? How do we capitalise on Vicmap Address?

This summary forms the basis of the first phase of VSIS development – identifying the issues. Any feedback is welcomed and encouraged. The summary and feedback received through this process will provide the input into the next stage of VSIS development - identifying problems and objectives.

Contents

Discussion Paper: Development of VSIS

The Victorian Spatial Information Strategy is a whole-of-government strategy concerned with all aspects of Victorian's spatial information industry. It considers roles and requirements of the public and private sectors and academia in advancing Victoria's social, economic and environmental goals through the provision and application of spatial information.Land Victoria.

(100k, Requires Acrobat Reader)

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Document Change Control

version	date	updated by	description
1.0	09/09/02	Bruce Thompson	Initial Version
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Background
The Victorian Spatial Information Strategy (VSIS) will be the fourth in a sequence of planning documents that have helped shape the strategic direction for spatial information in Victoria, each having a broad lifespan of about three years. The current strategy, the Victorian Geospatial Information Strategy 2000–2003, was developed in mid 2000 and endorsed by Cabinet in February 2001.

The proposed name change from Victorian Geospatial Information Strategy (VGIS) to Victorian Spatial Information Strategy (VSIS) is to bring the document in line with contemporary industry practice, and in particular to provide nomenclature consistent with the Spatial Information Industry Action Agenda (SIIAA) and the Australian Spatial Industry Business Association (ASIBA).

Purpose of VSIS
The purpose of VSIS is to provide a strategic plan and a policy framework for Victoria's spatial information industry. It is a both whole-of-(state) government policy and a whole of Victoria policy. This means that, while primarily developed and managed by state government it should consider the requirements and objectives of all levels of government, the private sector and academia. In establishing the best possible strategic and policy framework for Victoria's spatial information industry its goal is to advance Victoria's social, economic and environmental goals through the provision and application of spatial information. The following 'tag line' is proposed for VSIS.

The Victorian Spatial Information Strategy is a whole-of-government strategy concerned with all aspects of Victorian's spatial information industry. It considers roles and requirements of the public and private sectors and academia in advancing Victoria's social, economic and environmental goals through the provision and application of spatial information.

Purpose of this document
This document is the first step in setting the scope and extent of VSIS, and in determining the development process, key elements, consultation and liaison requirements, resource requirements and timelines. It should also set out the major external influences and impacts that will shape the policy. Ultimately, VSIS itself should have four elements:

An statement of our current position (where are we now?);
A statement of our objectives (where do we want to go?);
A plan and timetable for achieving those objectives (how are we going to get there?); and
A mechanism for communicating these statements (everybody knows what we're going to do)

Scope and extent
The scope of VSIS should be determined by the capacity of the spatial information industry to contribute to Victoria's social, economic and environmental objectives. The scope of VSIS should encompass the spatial information operations and requirements of government, industry and the community. In seeking to determine scope and extent, the following high level questions should be considered:

What spatial information outputs/products does Victoria require to serve its social, environmental and economic interests?
What levels of quality, accuracy, reliability and currency should be set for these various spatial information outputs/products?
What are the respective roles of government, academia and the privates sector, and what legislative, administrative or policy instruments are required to achieve these spatial information outputs/products to the standards required?
What performance indicators are required to assure the Victorian government, the private sector, academia and the community that their objectives are being met?

Key elements
Within these high level issues there is a range of specific issues and elements to be addressed, which will form the core of VSIS (not in priority order):

Retention of the existing VGIS focus on information management principles;
Broader engagement and take-up of spatial information within State government, local government, Emergency Services Organisations and the private sector;
Development of whole-of-government level integration and application of spatial information, with particular emphasis on supporting public safety and emergency services, infrastructure planning and provision (including health, education and justice) and natural resource and environmental planning. This may involve the development of cross-government management mechanism such as the West Australian WALIS model;
Development of whole-of-Victoria level integration and application of spatial information, with particular emphasis on the development of cross-sectoral consultation and liaison mechanisms. Key partners in this process will include ANZLIC, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and local governments, the Australian Spatial Industry Business Association (ASIBA), the Spatial Sciences Coalition (SSC) and the Australasian Spatial Information Education and Research Association (ASIERA);
Alignment of VSIS with SIIAA and ASIBA principles and objectives. Currently there is a high degree of alignment between SIIAA and VGIS; however, document nomenclature and structure, as well as content and objectives should be reviewed;
Review of quality standards for spatial information. Increasing levels of use by a broader range of users has resulted in increasing demands for quality improvements, in terms of completeness, currency, reliability and spatial and attribute accuracy;
Review of pricing, licensing and access arrangements, and incorporation of national considerations;
Investigation and development of the technological drivers of the spatial information industry (and the changing business models they generate), for example location based services, mobile commerce and wireless technology and Global Positioning Systems;
Development of a mechanism for testing and determining the composition and extent of Victoria's framework information. An immediate example would be assessment of inclusion of telecommunications infrastructure as a framework information product; and
The need for uniform privacy and data-sharing arrangements providing not only for privacy, but public safety and useability. The development of these issues is a major focus for ANZLIC.

Specific issues
There are a number of specific issues already identified; others will be added as they emerge:
1. Technical

Accuracy, completeness, GDA, metadata
Survey accurate cadastre
Temporal issues – changes over time

2. Policy, Process

impediments to VSIS – legislation, technology (eg. bandwidth)
Allocation and prioritisation of VSIS activities?
Targeting key high profile applications to highlight the importance of spatial in the activities of government, industry and the community
Education and awareness
Involvement of the community, their needs, requirements, supporting, promoting
Monitoring and evaluation
Measuring the success of VSIS
Transparency of the review

3. Roles, Relationships

Interface to the community at large. Current strategy mentions community but little comment is made in how they will be involved or their awareness raised
Role of utilities, their representation and requirements, their contribution
Boundaries (State/Commonwealth)
Relationship of VSIS to national policy, strategy and datasets
PSMA, SIIAA, other State Govt. policies (eg. AGLS, metadata, web delivery)
VSIS – relationships to SIIAA
National datasets – relationship to PSMA.
Clarify the relationships with the Commonwealth and the States
Scoping of the “ins” and the “outs” of the strategy
Requirement for nationally-compatible datasets

4. Identify Achievements

Acknowledgment of the achievements (of previous strategies) during each period of VGIS. A summary of this background information could subsequently be referenced as an Appendix to VSIS to demonstrate the progress made to date, particularly to those new to spatial information industry (ie put a positive spin on the achievements).

5. Data requirements

Clarification of the difference between Framework Information and Business Information – and how to identify these – eg. Land Use, Land Capability
The role of the public sector in the production of framework information
Additional framework information — eg. Land Use, Land Capability, planning schemes

VSIS development process
For VSIS to be both a whole-of-Government and whole of Victoria strategy there will need to be related policy commitments from the State government, the private sector, and academia. It is proposed that VSIS, jointly developed and endorsed, would form the policy platform for at least two related documents:

A public sector strategic workplan, primarily focussed on Land Victoria as the lead agency within State government, setting out operational objectives that will support VSIS; and
A private sector strategic workplan, primarily focussed on ASIBA as the peak body for the spatial information industry private sector, setting out operational objectives that will support VSIS.

Similar documents may be developed by SSC and ASIBA.

The development process should include the following key elements:
1. Review of existing strategy:

What did VGIS achieve?
What was not achieved?

2. Inventory of changes, external influences and impacts, and trends:

Online service delivery;
Land Exchange initiative;
Spatial Information Industry Action Agenda (SIIAA);
Victorian Auditor-General’s Report on accuracy of survey information;
Security of supply of emergency services, and emergency response capability (September 11 issues);
Government and community directions;
Land Registry automation;
Property Information Project and related programs
Privacy legislation

3. Identification and specification of actions and policy elements:

Existing policy initiatives and programs that should be discontinued
New policy initiatives and programs required.

4. Consultation:
For VSIS to be both a whole-of-Government and whole of Victoria strategy there will need to be a high degree of participation by the private sector, by local government, academia, professional associations. Broad consultation will be necessary within each sector. At State government level this will mean the inclusion of all government agencies; commensurate consultation span will be necessary within other sectors.

Active consultation process, broadly promoted and publicised
Discussion papers generated from stages 1 and 2
GIRG and other forums for presentation/introduction to encourage participation
Broad distribution of drafts and the timelines of the process

5. Communication:
For VSIS to be both effective it must be communicated to all participants in the spatial information industry.

Timelines
The intended completion date for VSIS is April 2003, with completion provided by Cabinet endorsement. VSIS outcomes will, potentially, require Cabinet endorsement and have budgetary and organisational issues across Government, particularly any proposal for a cross-government spatial management entity, or for coordinated delivery and application of spatial information. Key time points are:

July-September 2002	Initial formation gathering
August 2002	Confirmation of scope and extent of VSIS review
September 2002	Release of issues/discussion paper
October 2002	First round draft strategy released for comment
October-November 2002	Negotiation and endorsement of VSIS content sufficient for key stakeholders to determine appropriateness of development of accompanying (sectoral?) Strategic Workplans.
November 2002-January 2003	Incorporation of stakeholder feedback and requirements, development of final draft. Concurrent development of sectoral Strategic Workplans
February 2003	Final draft strategy released for comment and review
February-March 2003	Incorporation of stakeholder feedback and requirements, development of final strategy
April 2003	Stakeholder endorsement and finalisation
May 2003	Cabinet submission
June 2003	Implementation

Contents

This document was last reviewed on 7/09/2007.