The Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure: Its current status and future directions

Abstract

The concept of a national infrastructure is not new. The major road and telecommunications networks, and basic health and education facilities have been funded by governments around the world to ensure that consistent infrastructures are developed in the national interest. In a similar manner, spatial data requires an infrastructure to provide the availability and quality of spatial data in the application of high-benefit GIS applications. The government and the academic and private sectors all have a role to play in the Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure (ASDI). The Australia New Zealand Land Information Council is promoting the ASDI within Australia with support from other coordinating bodies, while the Australian Surveying and Land Information Croup is taking a lead role at the Commonwealth level. Input to the debate on the nature of the ASDI is encouraged from all sectors of the spatial data community, particularly during the developmental stage of the infrastructure.