Press Release - June 21 2007

Concerns over climate change, the ongoing drought and management pressures regarding Victoria's water resources have reinforced the need to better understand and manage the State' the State's water related data. Many organisations need spatial data to support effective decision making and to respond to important issues including water security, emergency events, infrastructure planning, as well as monitoring and protecting biodiversity. In most situations, the spatial datasets that these organisations require are currently held across several agencies and are not readily accessible.

The Victorian Spatial Council has backed a Department of Sustainability & Environment (DSE) Water Office and Spatial Information Infrastructure (SII) initiative to develop a comprehensive state-wide spatial data framework for water information.

Vicmap Water is the working title for the new framework that would expand the existing surface water feature hydrography dataset to include significant water, sewerage and drainage infrastructure, water supply sources and groundwater resource areas. Emergency services will be supported with data on hydrants and emergency supply access points.

Spatial Vision has been contracted by DSE to consult a broad range of stakeholders, and to document their requirements for the proposed Vicmap Water and their potential to contribute data. This information will then be used to scope out Vicmap Water and develop a business case to justify its implementation.

The Spatial Vision team is led by Graeme Martin and includes Ishara Kotiah and Lucy Minato.

Graeme Martin
Ph: (03) 9691 3000
email info@spatialvision.com.au

Copyright © Spatial Vision, Thursday, 21-June-2007