NZGO Activity Update

Author: John Forne
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
• A range of communication and coordination activities

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 inventory of remote sensing data 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