Press Release - January 21
2008
A number of recent press articles (particularly those appearing in The Weekly Times) have highlighted mapping errors in Spatial Vision's Vicmap Books. In the face of this press coverage, we believe it important that purchasers of Vicmap Books understand how these products are produced and why they are the best available on the market, delivering significant benefits to many Victorians.
The press coverage has commented on the quality of some of the mapping information contained in Vicmap Books. Every map feature represented in the books, such as a sealed road or 4WD track, is based on the State's official map base (Vicmap) administered by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). Vicmap data is derived from a wide range of sources. Maintenance remains a large and ongoing task and is dependent upon the contribution of a significant number of organisations. For example, local government plays a key role in providing information regarding most public roads. However, DSE and Parks Victoria are responsible for roads in State Forests and National Parks, respectively; school information is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development; hospital locations are provided by the Department of Human Services; and so on.
Vicmap quality, accuracy and completeness varies according to the type of information (e.g. roads, vegetation, etc) as well as regionally (data for some areas of the State are updated more frequently than others). Spatial Vision's books reflect these variations in data quality.
Spatial Vision has been working closely with Country Fire Authority (CFA) and DSE to improve the underlying mapping data for future Vicmap Books and a number of initiatives have been established including a range of data review and update programs being undertaken by DSE, CFA and others. In addition, CFA brigades are now being provided with draft maps to field-verify map features.
In addition to these improvements, user feedback also plays a key role. Spatial Vision has facilitated the implementation of a feed-back system for both the Vicmap Books and the underlying Vicmap information. This system enables users to pass comments to DSE via e-mail, fax or post. In addition, DSE has been trialling a new on-line feedback system in the North-West of the State and aims to have a state-wide system available later in 2008. All contributors are provided with a report on the outcome of their suggestions. |
The nature of the information contained in the Vicmap Books and the production process means that it is not possible to produce a comprehensive state-wide map book series that is completely error free. Changes to roads and other features occur all the time. Publication takes around four months. As a result, these maps will always trail what happens on the ground in Victoria. In producing our publications, Spatial Vision takes particular care to use the most recent, authoritative mapping data ensuring Vicmap Books contain the latest and most up-to-date information available.
The press coverage has commented on the previous CFA map books, a state-wide series of over 11 topographic map books produced largely for internal CFA use. Some books were sold to the public but they were not widely available. The old map books were well regarded but in many cases were up to 10 years old and contained variable (and in some cases outdated and inaccurate) information. Importantly, these maps were not consistent with the State Government's map base as well as maps used by other emergency services.
Some press articles have expressed concern regarding the absence of house occupant details. Privacy legislation which became operative in 2001 prevents this type of information from being published in this way. Accordingly it has been discontinued in the current Vicmap Books. To assist, a comprehensive rural addressing system has been included allowing users to locate a required address even in remote areas.
In 2003, the Victorian Bushfire Inquiry concluded that the range of topographic mapping used by the State's various emergency services agencies was retarding effective operations and recommended that the State's emergency management services adopt a coordinated and consistent approach to mapping.
In 2004, in a response to a public tender issued by DSE, Spatial Vision proposed a new series of topographic map books based on the latest available Victorian Government spatial (mapping) data. Under this proposal, map books would be consolidated into five publications and updated every two years. Spatial Vision proposed that the map books also be produced in digital form to support systems used by CFA and other emergency services including the State's 000 emergency dispatch system (operated by the Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority). Adoption of these map books by other emergency services (such as Victoria Police, the Rural Ambulance Service and State Emergency Service) would ensure all agencies are working with the State's authoritative map base.
A key element of the Spatial Vision proposal was the establishment of a three-way partnership between Spatial Vision, CFA and DSE which has now been achieved.
The first of Spatial Vision's new Vicmap Books was introduced in early 2006 with state-wide coverage completed in mid-2007. These new books have been extremely well received, and have been adopted by a wide range of Government agencies (including all of Victoria's emergency services) and an increasing number of the private companies and the public generally. |
Work is well underway for the next edition of the Vicmap Book series with the new Central Vicmap Book due out in June and new versions of the North-West and South-West Books to be released later in the year.
The Vicmap Book program undertaken by Spatial Vision with the support of CFA and DSE is an ambitious one. And despite the recent issues identified, it reflects significant progress in addressing the fundamental concerns raised by the 2003 Victorian Bushfire Inquiry regarding the lack of a common topographic map base being used by emergency services. Use of this common map base has now been achieved. With the publication of the Vicmap Books, the State's map base has been exposed to far greater scrutiny than in the past allowing errors and discrepancies to be addressed much sooner than might otherwise have occurred. Continued improvement will ensure it better supports the needs of map users and the Victorian community into the future.
Spatial Vision is committed to this ongoing improvement and will continue to work closely with CFA, DSE and other key stakeholders to ensure the most up-to-date and accurate information is included in each Vicmap Book.
Glenn Cockerton
Managing Director
Monday 21st January 2008
Copyright © Spatial Vision, Monday, 21-January-2008 |
