New Zealand Geospatial Strategy

GIS at the Ministry of Social Development

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:22:00 +1300

At the Ministry of Social Development we regularly use GIS to analyse, inform and visualise data. GIS is a relatively new tool in the organisation and we are still exploring how to realise its full power and capabilities. People all across the Ministry are often surprised and impressed with the added benefits location intelligence provides, frequently exceeding their expectations of simple paper maps and charts.

The New Zealand Geospatial Strategy is one way in which GIS can expand and grow a greater audience by allowing spatial data to be shared between government departments. A forum like this provides us with an opportunity to inform others of the work we currently do in the hope that it will foster collaboration.

The recent economic downturn has increased interest in understanding where the growing numbers of unemployed people are concentrated, and how we can ensure our resources are well positioned to provide help where it is needed. MSD's Work and Income has been proactive about trying to redirect its services and resources as more current information about the location of need becomes available. This is where spatial analysis has come unto its own. Decision makers used mapping scenarios to determine potential boundary realignments for service centre catchments. At a glance, the decision makers were able to see where to shift clients from an overburdened service centre to one more capable of dealing with extra demand. Work in this area illustrated the importance of geocoding client information, then mapping Work and Income clients to better understand the impact of the economic downturn on service centres. Without GIS to visually interpret the data, decisions like these may have taken a lot longer.

The Ministry has a front line geocoding system that allows the service centre and call centre staff to update address information whenever contact is made with clients, who will include Work and Income benefit/supplement recipients, NZ Super recipients and Child, Youth and Family clients. Benefit and NZ Super recipients alone include nearly one million active clients. The geocoding hit rate is on average between 85% and 90%. The geocoded database is then combined to produce maps showing the distribution of clients by categories such as benefit type, ethnicity, age, and benefit duration. These maps are used for project planning and implementation as well as for informing the Minister of current trends. As is often the case, the client data alone is not enough to paint an entire picture and other data sets like the Department of Labour Industry data, Statistics New Zealand demographics, the University of Otago Index of Deprivation and the New Zealand Police family violence data are used to view trends above and beyond what the numbers show.

The Ministry also oversees a large number of government and non government funded programmes in the social sector. Determining existing funding volumes vs. client needs is a common information request. Being able to produce maps that show the distribution of programmes against our client data can be invaluable to people implementing or reviewing initiatives. Because the issue of funding can be complicated with programmes being delivered to different types of regions (for example some are targeting at a specific Territorial Authority while others might deliver services for several MSD service centres) the Funding and Contracting system has been enhanced to include a model to approximate funding for consistent geographic boundaries. This has greatly improved the ability to utilise datasets from other organisations that report by different boundaries.

Currently, MSD is set up to perform individual mapping and spatial analysis projects with work being done from a central point within the Centre for Social Research and Evaluation unit. Elsewhere in the Ministry, there is the potential to expand the use of GIS into Integrity Services to help with benefit fraud detection. For users across the Ministry, the implementation of a mapping portal has the potential to expand the use of spatial information and enhance quicker decision making. We are currently gathering support and investigating different solutions to achieve this.

If you would like more information or would like to discuss how we can work together, please contact me at beth-anne.lee007@msd.govt.nz.

Beth-Anne Lee

Senior Analyst - Geographic Information Systems
Centre for Social Research and Evaluation
Ministry of Social Development

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NZGO Activity Update

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:17:00 +1300

Event Date: 23 November 2009

Since our last update in August our main acomplishments have been that we have:

Launched the report on the economic value of spatial information
Refreshed the Geospatial Strategy work programme and received approval from the Geospatial Executive Group to proceed with the next phase of work
Got approval to establish a standards coordination function
Worked with Ministry of Research Science and Technology to develop a prototype environmental science and spatial data cataloguing service
Filled the Geospatial Custodian Role
Asked the Geospatial Executive Group to nominate members for the Geospatial Steering Committee
Hosted a Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information roadshow and started planning for a local coordination point
Hosted the latest Australia New Zealand Land Information Council meeting
Raised awareness of the importance of spatial information and Land Information New Zealand's plans in the spatial arena. This work included writing to the Minister of Economic Development highlighting the opportunities for spatial information and technology to feature in the Government's emerging economic growth agenda. We also proposed to the National Infrastructure Unit that spatial information is critical in supporting the planning and management of New Zealand's infrastructure assets.

Standards Coordination Function

Land Information New Zealand has agreed to establish a dedicated role to coordinate the use of standards for spatial information. We hope to start recruiting early in the new year.

Next phase of work under the Geospatial Strategy

At their last meeting earlier this month, the Geospatial Executive Group endorsed the future direction for work to implement the New Zealand Geospatial Strategy. The two main areas of work involve:

Fundamental Data Services

Activity Stream

Scope & Deliverables

Establish a Framework for Fundamental Data Services

... that meet the ongoing collective needs of New Zealanders

- Strategy 5.3.1(d)

Deliver on the following Geospatial Strategy actions:

5.2

5.2.1 (c); 5.3 ; 5.3.1 (a,b,d,e); 5.4; 5.4.1 (b,c,d); 5.5; 5.5.1 (a,d)

Agreement on what core reference datasets are needed to meet New Zealand's collective needs

Choose and publish the technical standards for access and interoperability

Establish guidelines (quality) and management rules for agreed datasets

Ensure accountability for the quality and reliability of each reference dataset is clearly identified

Agreed Framework to

o Set standards

o Check if met

o Act if not

Identify and/or initiate prototype projects that inform and support initial framework development. (Possible initiatives include work by the Department of Conservation to build infrastructure for spatial data (SDI); geographic-names; road centre-lines?)

Case for government intervention and links with relevant policies

Evaluation

Deliver on the following Geospatial Strategy actions:

4.3 Key principles

5.2.1 (e,g); 5.3

5.3.1 (c); 5.4.1 (b); 5.5

Status of core Fundamental Data Services against agreed standards

Identify areas where joint purchasing of services or data would be beneficial

Identify opportunities for data improvements

List of critical gaps

Reporting on what geospatial activity is underway across sectors

Enhance Data Services

Deliver on the following Geospatial Strategy actions:

4.3 Vision

5.2; 5.2.1 (b,c,g); 5.3.1 (d)

5.4; 5.4.1(b,d); 5.5

5.5.1(a,d)

Establish Action Agenda

Project proposals for improvements

Business Cases/Funding Bids as required

Where possible, note indicative costs

Coordinate improvements

Action (ongoing) on strategically important projects

Mandate and enforce as required

Communication & coordination activities, including

Establishing geospatial standards co-ordinator role to communicate standards & guidelines (emerging from work associated with Fundamental Data Services, outlined above) and encourage uptake, including links with New Zealand E-government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF)
Supporting the evolution of www.data.govt.nz to meet needs of spatial community
Developing material to raise awareness of role & value of Geospatial Information and Technology to New Zealand
Establishing role to coordinate New Zealand's participation in Co-operative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI2)
Establishing Geospatial Steering Committee and assist with establishment of working groups to support work associated with Fundamental Data Services, outlined above.
Ongoing liaison as NZ representative on Australia New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) and Group on Earth Observations - current focus is putting ANZLIC metadata standard through New Zealand E-government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) process and providing helpdesk support for metadata entry tool (Geospatial Strategy action 5.4.1)
Supporting open government and data re-use initiatives led by Statistics NZ and others
Supporting development of New Zealand Government Open Access and Licensing (NZGOAL) framework, including testing on 3 datasets held by Land Information New Zealand
Maintaining nfrastructure for spatial data (SDI) to help promote re-use and avoid duplication
Engagement and planning activities, including support for activities relating to sector development, training and education
Developing communications and reporting mechanisms that give more visibility to geospatial activities across all sectors
Establishing an evaluation framework and improved reporting regime for the Geospatial Strategy
Publishing guidelines for users and holders of spatial data - driven from action area one
Establishing working groups with local and regional government for mutual benefit

We are working to secure dedicated resources from the Geospatial Executive Group to bring effect to the above work.

Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) supported the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information's (CRCSI-2) recent successful re-bid and is now a partner in CRCSI-2. LINZ is establishling a New Zealand coordination point for CRCSI-2 activity, and will be recruiting for a dedicated role to lead this, in cooperation with other sectors.

John Forne

Analyst
New Zealand Geospatial Office

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CRCSI-2 Roadshow Presentation

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:26:00 +1300

On 19 November 2009, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) hosted presentations by Peter Woodgate, Chief Executive, and Mike Ridout, Communications Director, from the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI). Peter and Mike presented to a mix of government officials and representatives from industry and the spatial sciences sector.

Download

Download Peter and Mike's presentation:

Spatially Enabling Australia and NZ - CRCSI-2: the Next Decade (PDF 1.53MB)

About the presentation

Peter and Mike's presentation outlined:

the business model of the renewed venture, known as CRCSI-2
the history and general purpose of the initiative
opportunities for New Zealand to become part of the success story.

The eight-year CRCSI-2 initiative will focus on applications in the areas of health, energy provision, agriculture, defence and security, and urban development, and will involve creating infrastructure that will benefit both New Zealand and Australia.

LINZ supported CRCSI's successful re-bid and is now a partner in CRCSI-2. LINZ is establishing a New Zealand coordination point for CRCSI-2 activity, including recruiting for a dedicated role to lead this, in cooperation with other sectors.

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NABIS Rebuilt... NABIS 2009

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:50:00 +1300

On the 9^th of October, after 2 years of hard work from a small but very dedicated team, the Ministry of Fisheries launched a new NABIS website.

The site has always been about increasing the accessibility of fisheries spatial data and as a consequence increasing the ability of interested parties to visualise and participate in decision making processes. The Ministry's staff also find the old adage "a picture paints a thousand words" rings true on a number of occasions.

If you know the old site (NABIS 2004) the new site (NABIS 2009) shouldn't look much different. The brief was to replace the java site with a .net site, while rebuilding the infrastructure to allow other Ministry applications easy access to the data. There are currently two other Ministry applications using the wealth of spatial data held within the spatial data warehouse. The database also uses Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards and we hope to have WMS and/or WFS available to the wider public in the future. We have also updated our administration tool and added a content management system which allows for a very speedy turn around of data and content from the desktop to live publication on the web. Hopefully you will notice it is quicker, we have a new search function and an improved print function.

Because of the size of the project we haven't completely replaced NABIS 2004 but will do so according to the needs of our users. If you have any feedback regarding the tools and data then please let us know. NABIS 2004 will be kept running (in parallel with NABIS 2009) for the next 6 to 12 months; just in case users need any of the tools that haven't yet been implemented on NABIS 2009.

We have all learnt a great deal from the project and would be happy to share our experience with others heading down the same path. If you would like more information please contact the NABIS team at nabis@fish.govt.nz

Juliane Sellars
Ministry of Fisheries

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Spatially Enabled Government Asia 2010

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:20:00 +1300

Event Date: 27 - 28 April 2010

Spatially Enabled Government Asia 2010 will focus on the strategies for data management and data sharing. The conference will draw on local case studies from countries across the Asian region to showcase the different geospatial applications for a variety of governmental purposes, namely health, urban planning, transport, defence, environment and others.

Key topics for discussion at Spatially Enabled Government Asia will include:

Delhi State Spatial Data Infrastructure Project - India
GIS applications for Commonwealth Games - India
Bakosurtanal - Indonesia
SG Space - Singapore
SEMIS II - Thailand
Department of Survey and Mapping - Malaysia
PUB - Singapore
CRISP - Singapore
Taiwan Taichung City Council - Taiwan
National database - Vietnam

Spatially Enabled Government Asia will bring together representatives and decision makers from key government agencies especially those in:

mapping
GIS / geospatial / geographic / geography
spatial / space
surveying
imaging
cadastral / cartographic
information / IT data.

For more information and to register, please visit the Spatially Enabled Government Asia website.

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FOSS4G Conference - Free & Open Source Software for Geospatial

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:50:00 +1300

FOSS4G is an annual conference about open source software for geospatial systems. Each year it is held in a different city around the world, this year it was in Sydney.

Although attendance was reported to be down on last year it still attracted many of the open source industry's key figures.

One of the themes I picked up on is a narrowing of the gap between open source and proprietary software. Proprietary companies have realised making some of their software open source removes barriers for software uptake and improvement. There is also a realisation that software companies, whether they're open source or proprietary, make their money from things such as support services, training, developer communities etc; and not the actual code itself.

The talk that struck me the most was given by a Professor Andy Pitman, an Australian climate scientist. Although he talked mostly about the software they use for climate science, he predicted that if carbon emissions continue as they are we will be facing serious consequences by 2030.

Geospatial is at the core of work to manage things such as climate change.

Ian Harrison

GIS Analyst
Land Information New Zealand

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LINZ - Authoritative & Federated Land & Seabed Information

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:54:00 +1300

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) holds some significant pieces of land information such as our geodetic system, cadastral survey, land register and topographic and hydrographic datasets.

Although these datasets are a small part of the total NZ geospatial information pool, they are important foundation layers that can be built upon and combined with other datasets.

LINZ is committed to improving access to spatial information and our current Statement of Intent identifies two key outcome areas related to this that LINZ will focus on over the next three years.

The first outcome is providing 'authoritative land and seabed information' - so that people who need our land information can access it easily and be confident in how they communicate and make decisions about locations based on its application.

The second outcome is 'federated geospatial information' - a system where the datasets that are distributed throughout the country are linked together and are able to be combined and used by the community. This system requires agencies throughout the sector to contribute to be truly federated. LINZ has a core role in developing this system and leading agencies to collaborate.

As part of LINZ's commitment to spatial information, we're taking the following initiatives over the next year:

We've launched the new NZTopo50 maps (on 23 September 2009) based off a new datum and projection. We'll continue to provide paper maps (still in high demand), but people can also download for free from the LINZ website raster digital images, provided in two formats: (1) TIFF - the whole map including legend and index (essentially what the hard copy map looks like but in electronic format), and (2) GeoTIFF - spatial data area only, with georeferencing (that can be used a base layers in Geographic Information Systems). Please note that if you want to download more than one TIFF or GeoTIFF image, it is easier to contact the LINZ helpline (0800 665 463) or email the LINZ Topographic Product and Service Owner for the complete set for a region or the whole country.
In addition to providing raster digital images, LINZ will make vector-based topographic data available to download for free from the LINZ website in shapefile format - commonly used by many Geographic Information Systems.
We'll also be working on how we update topographic information and how that update is rolled out - a version control issue that will impact on emergency services, so needs to be carefully considered.
We're investigating how to improve access to our paper survey and title records. LINZ faces the same challenges as anyone looking to move a large amount of paper into the electronic age, where it isn't feasible to scan everything. We're working on establishing indexes, what degree of imaging is appropriate, and how this should be accessed.
We're continuing to produce and maintain Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC's). The electronic format of ENCs, when used with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), integrates with other navigational systems and gives mariners access to a wide range of informational features to aid safe navigation.
We're investigating the development of an infrastructure to support the re-use of spatial information, and are looking to build on models that have been effective overseas, such as Shared Land Information Platform in Western Australia.
A key early building block for this infrastructure is the development of a catalogue to capture the wealth of spatial information about New Zealand. LINZ is supporting work to develop such a catalogue, with LINZ-held data included from the outset. The catalogue will be based on the ANZLIC metadata standard, so the spatial data is described (metadata) consistently. The catalogue will assist discovery of spatial information and provide metadata such as how accurate the information is, when it was last up-dated, and where to get the information.
We're working with the State Services Commission on developing the New Zealand Government Open Access Licensing (NZGOAL) Framework by applying the framework to datasets held by LINZ.

The importance of shaping our strategic direction for greater access to information has been highlighted by the recent findings of the report on the value of spatial information to the New Zealand economy. How LINZ manages the risks and opportunities involved in freeing up its data will fundamentally affect how the spatial sector, amongst others, makes use of that data, and how as an organisation we contribute to a healthier economy and improved standard of living in New Zealand.

James Dempsey

Customer Services Strategy Manager
Land Information New Zealand

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Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) New Zealand Region

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:53:00 +1300

I'm just back from SSC2009 in Adelaide where it was announced that Wellington would host the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute's (SSSI) next conference in 2011. The last time this conference was held in New Zealand, as AURISA, was in 1997 in Christchurch. We were overdue for a national, or in this case international, spatial conference. SSC2011 will be run by both the SSSI and the NZ Institute of Surveyors. We also have agreement in principle from our main GIS vendor user groups to incorporate their 2011 event into SSC2011.

At Adelaide there were over 600 delegates and almost 50 vendors - not a bad turnout during an economic recession. Some of the things I picked up at the conference included:

The value of open standards.
The need to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions.
Use terms like "maps" and "location" and avoid using "spatial".
60% of the state of Victoria's legislation has some form of spatial footprint.
WALIS's SLIP as a model for data dissemination.
Using an information management approach for environmental monitoring.

However, my primary role in Adelaide was to promote SSC2011 and try to capture the imagination of the Australian delegates to encourage them to come over for the conference. It wasn't difficult. There is genuine interest in having the conference here - and bringing the family over for a holiday. People still speak highly of the 1997 conference. Then there's the date. October 17-21 is the week between the semi-finals and the final of the Rugby World Cup (both held in Auckland). We expect this to attract a few more delegates from overseas.

The challenge is to deliver a conference that exceeds our expectations. This is where you can help - with ideas and a helping hand. We might have two years, but that will go by very quickly.

If you would like to get involved, in any way, please contact me at karl.majorhazi@gmail.com.

And finally, I'd like to thank all those who supported our bid.

Karl Majorhazi
Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute

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Geography Awareness Week '09

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +1300

Event Date: 15-21 November 2009

Geography Awareness Week falls on the third week of each November. While the focus is on promoting geography education in the United States, there are a range of online resources available to make learning about geography easy for everyone.

Areas of educational focus for the week include:

human geography / cultures
physical geography / environments
geo-technologies
global hotspots
careers.

Visit the Geography Awareness Week website to find out more about how geographic information is being used by people all over the world to improve their lives.

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Geospatial Custodian role filled

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:26:00 +1300

Kevin Sweeney has been appointed as Land Information New Zealand's Geospatial Custodian.

Kevin joins LINZ following 16 years of both managerial and technical geospatial experience in the public, private and academic sectors in his native United States.

Kevin's visa application is currently being processed, and he's anticipating starting in the role in the New Year. Kevin, his wife and daughters - aged six and three - are looking forward to relocating to Wellington. We will advise when Kevin's start date is confirmed.

For the last six years, Kevin has worked in the private sector as a GIS Manager at CH2M HILL in Atlanta, Georgia, and FMSM Engineers in Columbus, Ohio. In these roles, he administered GIS staff and operations, managed programmes and projects, and coordinated business development efforts. He also served as a senior consultant for LAND elements inc., in Colorado Springs, Colorado, advising a start-up land planning company on geospatial technology solutions.

Kevin has worked in the public sector in multiple leadership roles, including Director of Technical Services for Marana, Arizona. He provided a wide range of technical support, including GIS implementations, 3D visualization, application development and cartographic production. Kevin was the Marana representative for regional planning and geospatial initiatives, served as a senior technical liaison for city administrators, and coordinated strategic planning and policy development for the GIS Division.

Throughout his career, Kevin has developed and delivered geospatial training sessions and presentations for a wide range of audiences. He is certified in the US as a GIS Professional.

Kevin holds a Masters degree in Geography from the University of Arizona and a Bachelors degree in Geography from Northern Arizona University. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys hiking, mountain biking and travelling, and is eager to explore all of the natural and cultural wonders New Zealand has to offer.

LINZ advertised the Geospatial Custodian role in May, and we went to great lengths to ensure the successful applicant has the right mix of technical and inter-personal skills, as well as private and public sector experience.

Acting Geospatial Custodian, Adam Cooper, will continue in the role until Kevin comes on board early next year.

Sue Gordon
General Manager Strategic Development and Support
Land Information New Zealand

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