Client: NSW Department of Primary Industries
Geologists from the Minerals Resources division of NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) undertake geological mapping based on extensive field surveys. Traditionally the geologists manually annotated their field work on large format hard copy base maps. These base maps were then passed on to an office-based cartographer who recaptured the geologist’s annotations and compiled the geological map. The compilation process typically took many months.
DPI’s Geological Survey Office now use a number of tools to improve the efficiency of the field survey and compilation process including digital aerial photography, field mapping using ESRI’s ArcPad on PDAs and SITES, an Access database application for recording detailed geological descriptions.
Spatial Vision was contracted to integrate the ArcPad and SITES applications and streamline the data collection process. This stage involved the design of the new SITES CE application that integrates the capture of geological observations into the ArcPAD application and enables automatic synchronisation of the Pocket Access database with the SITES MS Access database on a Laptop PC or a local server. The integrated application was then successfully trialled by the field geologists at the Orange and Maitland offices and deployed for production operations.
DPI’s project manager in Orange, Kevin Capnerhurst, said that the new integrated SITES CE application was very well received by users and will definitely improve the efficiency of data collection and processing. The intuitive nature of the SITES CE application interface and processes makes the training of new users much more straight-forward. Existing users are pleased that they no longer have to use two different applications to create and update geological observations.
Spatial Vision is also developing an improved procedure for synchronising the PDA captured geological data with DPI’s corporate ORACLE database. This process will assist to make geologist’s data available to the broader organization prior to publication. In doing so, it will make it possible to easily track and report on status of a map sheet at any time at a state-wide level.
Demonstrated Capabilities
- Understanding of current GPS capabilities
- Design of system architecture and data model
- Understanding of the Windows CE Environment, including VBScript and synchronisation with desktop computers
- Customisation of ArcPAD environment, data extraction tools and data-entry forms
- Working with Pocket Access
- Integrating field captured data with office products
Resources
Ishara Kotiah was responsible for design of the data model and development of the product.
Technologies Applied
- ArcPad Developer’s Kit
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