Abstract
Abstract. A summary is presented of the results of questionnaires sent to mapping agencies in Oceania, covering Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island countries, to investigate the status of mapping in those countries. After World War II, the Australian Federal Government funded the initial small scale mapping of the whole country leading to increased percentages of map coverage of Australia. Mapping at larger scales is undertaken by the states and territories in Australia, including cadastral mapping. In New Zealand mapping is maintained by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) at 1:50,000 scale and smaller with regular updating. The results of the questionnaires also demonstrate the extent of map coverage in six Pacific Islands, but there is little information available on the actual percent coverage. Overall there are estimated to be an increases in the percentages of coverage of most map scales in Oceania. However, there appear to be insufficient professionals in most Pacific Island countries to maintain the mapping programs. Given that many Pacific Island countries will be impacted by rising sea level in the future, better mapping of these countries is essential. The availability of modern technology especially satellite images, digital aerial photography and airborne lidar data should enable the Pacific Island countries to provide better map products in future, but this would depend on foreign aid on many occasions.
Highlights
Konecny (2013) stated that surveys of the status of mapping around the world were carried out in 1968, 1974, 1980 and 1987, the last survey revealing the status of mapping in 1986, 30 years ago
The survey of mapping in Oceania in 1986, of which Australia covers the majority of the area, revealed that 18.3% of the area had been mapped at a scale of 1:25,000, 24.3% had been mapped at 1:50,000, 54% at 1:100,000 and 100% at 1:250,000
The paper gives a brief description of the map coverage in Oceania including the Australia federal government and states/territories, New Zealand and some Pacific Island countries
Summary
Konecny (2013) stated that surveys of the status of mapping around the world were carried out in 1968, 1974, 1980 and 1987, the last survey revealing the status of mapping in 1986, 30 years ago. In order to undertake this survey, government departments responsible for mapping in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries were approached to complete a questionnaire indicating the types of mapping being undertaken. Responses were received from the federal government and all states and territories in Australia, New Zealand and six Pacific Island countries. This paper will reveal that there have been increases in the percentages of coverage at most map scales since the last survey 30 years ago, but there is little information available on the revision cycles of these maps or the actual percentage of coverage in each of the Pacific Island countries. Overall the survey reveals that the major map scales covering Australia continue to be the scales of 1:50,000, 1:100,000 and 1:250,000, with limited coverage of larger scales in the populous areas. New Zealand mapping is based on complete coverage of 1:50,000, 1:250,000 and smaller scales
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