Spatial data moves to mainstream focus

James Riley
Monday, 04 October 2010 23:18

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Next generation software is dependent on the concept of 'where,' driving the need for more accurate and available geospatial information, Spatial Industries Business Association chief executive David Hocking says.

Speaking ahead of the peak Spatial@Gov conference in Canberra on Tuesday, Hocking says the geospatial data is the key ingredient for everything from economy-wide infrastructure investments like smart grids and the National Broadband Network to consumer applications run on smart phones.

All of these applications and infrastructure investments are based on location.

"More and more of what people are doing these days is related to the concept of where," Hocking told iTWire. "Almost everything you can think of has some sort of location element attached to it."

"That is, where something is, and where it is in relation to something else," he said. "There is very little that you can think of here that isn't where-related."

"No smart infrastructure is smart unless it's geo-enabled. Spatial data is the glue for Smart Infrastructure," Hocking said.

Newly-appointed Parliamentary Secretary Kate Lundy will deliver the keynote address at the Spatial@Gov conference this morning, and is thought to be planning to address access to government data sets, as well as the influence on the spatial industry of the National Broadband Network.

Other speakers include Centrelink deputy chief executive Barry Sanderson, Resources, Tourism and Energy departmental secretary Drew Clarke, and Howard Government Special Minister of State Gary Nairn who works in the sector.

The Spatial@Gov conference is jointly presented by Cebit organiser Hannover Fairs Australia, SIBA and other spatial sector organisations like the Spatial Information Council, which represents all levels of government of Australia and New Zealand.

Hannover Fairs Australia managing director Jackie Taranto said new innovations and tools being released by the spatial industry would contribute significantly to better government decision making, planning and management on infrastructure projects.