The Property Information Program - a vital infrastructure for Victoria
VSC Forum July 2006
The Property Information Program (PIP), a collaborative initiative of State and Local Government, began in 1998.
Since that time, the relationships that have been established have become central to the ongoing maintenance and improvement of Vicmap Property. However, PIP has reached a critical stage as it makes the transition from an initiative to improve match rates between Local and State Government databases to being the basis for their ongoing maintenance, supply and use.
A major evaluation of PIP, commissioned by the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Local Government Spatial Reference Group and the Department of Sustainability and Environment, was conducted throughout 2005.
It has reviewed the processes used to maintain Vicmap Property and identified a set of practices that could improve the effectiveness and efficiency of PIP. The result is a detailed assessment of its achievements and the potential barriers to creating a long term and sustainable Program.
The Evaluation has concluded that the collaborative partnership established by PIP is an achievement not matched any where else either in Australia or internationally, a high level of skills and expertise among participants has been established, and there has been a significant improvement in the accuracy and integrity of local council property records. However, there are major issues associated with the resourcing of the Program and maintaining the currency of Vicmap Property that could seriously impact its long term future.
The Victorian Spatial Council's first Forum for 2006 will present the findings of the PIP Evaluation and responses by Local Government, State Government and users.
The open forum will provide further perspectives on PIP, its strengths and shortcomings, and its value to Victoria. The outcome will be a comprehensive report to the proposed PIP Migration Stakeholder Project Management Committee, which is being established to implement the Migration Strategy and recommend strategic directions to State and Local Government, and key stakeholders.
Where to next for the spatial industry in Victoria? - VSC Forum December 2006
The way in which spatial information is being delivered and presented is rapidly developing and is changing the way it is being perceived in the community.
The likes of Google Earth, Microsoft's Live Local product, and, closer to home, the Victorian Mapping and Address Service, are opening up the potential of spatial information to the non specialist user, who is now able to access it without the need for any specialised hardware, software or training.
Similarly, it seems that almost anyone can create 'spatial applications', such as the so-called 'mash-ups', which are using freely provided API software to draw maps and update them in real time.
Victoria's strategic framework is supporting the push toward greater availability of spatial information by stating explicitly that development of applications should enable data to be accessible by anyone anywhere; cater for all users; and enable data exchange, regardless of technology and formats.
But what does the pace of this change mean for the traditional spatial industry - the data producers, vendors, and GIS experts in government, the professions, business and academia?Is our existing spatial information management framework capable of supporting it?
And what are the strategic and policy directions needed to meet these challenges, as well as the ongoing need to guarantee the quality of spatial information, improve the way in which it is managed and maintained, and to find national solutions to environmental, economic and social issues?
In 2007, the Victorian industry will embark on developing the next Spatial Information Strategy that will set the course for the years 2008-2010.
The Victorian Spatial Council's December Forum will highlight some of the recent significant changes in the availability and delivery of spatial information and provide an opportunity for participants to begin to identify the key issues that should be considered in the next Victorian Spatial Information Strategy.
Page last updated: 2010-04-12 08:38:07