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Client: Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information

The term ‘NDG’ stands for the National Data Grid.  NDG is a data platform that adopts a grid cell (also called raster) based approach to managing spatial information (SI).  The basic objective of NDG is to provide a platform which supports the SI needs of modellers and decisions support systems.  Once established, the same platform can also support simple spatial queries and analyses to spatially enable professionals, with little or no SI knowledge, to a point where they can build SI into their processes in a simple and repeatable manner.

To achieve this, NDG aims to develop a shared infrastructure that provides an economic and effective means to integrate SI from a variety of sources, and in various formats, to support commonly required query, analytical and modelling tasks.   This will be based on a set of standard grids and projections to support new and existing business activities.  The goal is for production systems based on NDG across Australia to be developed as an integral part of the Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure, providing easy access to current and authoritative grid cell-based data. 

To promote the full potential of NDG to key users and stakeholders in Australia, the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI) has funded the development of an NDG Demonstrator.

The purpose is to develop typical functions of NDG and showcase to interested parties the core technical components and user interactions experience that exemplify the full NDG Production system.  The Demonstrator aims to form the reasoning for the larger scale development of NDG through an evaluation strategy involving a host of partners including the Victorian Departments of Sustainability and Environment, Justice, and Primary Industries; Geoscience Australia and Spatial Vision.

A formal evaluation on the NDG Demonstrator application will be undertaken to assess core technical components and user interaction experience, and evaluate if the Demonstrator establishes the case for the larger scale development.  The project includes a separate investigation into scalability issues.

An evaluation of the NDG Demonstrator application is scheduled for completion in June 2010.  Spatial Vision* is responsible for the development of the NDG Demonstrator application. DSE is managing the project on behalf of the CRCSI. Other project participants are supporting the project by contributing specific modelling expertise and experience.

*Spatial Vision is a member of 43 Pty Ltd, the company formed to manage SME interaction with the CRCSI (see www.crcsi.com.au for further information).

Demonstrated Capabilities

• Ability to manage and undertake all aspects of a complex spatial demonstrator project with national application, including specification, development, hosting and evaluation components
• Implementation of consultative processes to ensure needs of multiple agencies, and unique and contrasting business processes are met through an application.
  
• Ability to develop a complex application using ESRI ArcGIS Server.
• Implementation of .NET application created using ArcGIS Server manager.
  

Resources

Stephen Farrell was responsible for managing development of the NDG Demonstrator.
Ian Miller was responsible for architectural design, functional and system specification.  
Ishara Kotiah was responsible for system development.

Technologies Applied

• ArcGIS Server
• C# in .NET framework
• SQL Server
• ArcSDE