Services 
Client: National Oceans Office
The National Oceans Office, based in Hobart, is responsible for the implementation and further development of Australia’s Oceans Policy. The Office is responsible for managing the development of regional marine plans around Australia.
The National Oceans Office contracted Spatial Vision to produce National and Regional Marine Atlases showing the non-fisheries uses of Australia’s marine jurisdiction. To prepare the comprehensive Atlases, Spatial Vision contacted almost 100 organisations nationwide to identify their relevant data holdings, collected and documented an extensive range of marine datasets of various standards and formats, and loaded them into a sophisticated geodata library. Spatial Vision used its expertise in spatial information development to transform much of this source data into cartographic products appropriate for an atlas. One such example is the transformation of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority ship location information into a density surface that provides a clearer representation of shipping movements within Australian waters.The Atlases cover a comprehensive range of themes including: shipping; petroleum and mining; indigenous issues; defence; tourism, recreation and sport; natural heritage; ocean disposal; research; cultural heritage and social topics. These themes are presented individually or as multi-use maps to illustrate the extent, breadth and dependency of use of the oceans surrounding Australia.
The Atlases contain over six hundred individual maps and were published as two hardcopy documents (one National Marine Atlas and one Northern Marine Atlas), and an interactive CD-ROM containing maps for all marine regions. The interactive CD also contains links to map metadata and other supporting information.
A key success factor for this project was the early decision to manage the vast array of spatial data collated for this project in a structured way. Spatial Vision designed a data model (or data architecture) specifically for this purpose. This management tool was also used to batch produce the large number of maps for the Atlas. Spatial Vision implemented the project using ESRI ArcGIS technology and developed a suite of custom map production tools and map templates in ArcMap to facilitate the efficient production of a range of information products as well as the hardcopy outputs. The map production process for the Atlases made full use of the advantages offered by ESRI’s geodatabase technology over traditional data formats.
Information collected and developed in the preparation of the Atlases will provide a basis for a number of regional marine management plans to be developed by the Australian Government around the continent. Further information regarding the National Oceans Office and marine information and maps can be found at http://www.oceans.gov.au.
Demonstrated Capabilities
- Comprehensive knowledge of a broad range of geospatial information sources
- Design of effective data models and geodatabases
- Significant expertise in the collation and standardisation of geodata from multiple sources into coherent and comprehensive geodatabases tailored to project and client needs
- Significant expertise in the development of database driven batch production processes
- Significant expertise in value-adding primary data for analysis and cartographic purposes.
- Delivery of high quality information products for use in consultation with government, industry and the community.
- Design of CD packages for the distribution of information including html interfaces, metadata indexes and ArcReader published GIS data and map layouts.
Resources
Ishara Kotiah developed the data model, designed the GIS-end batch production process/tools and implemented the ArcReader publishing processes.
Amanda Tyrer designed, developed and managed the database that is the core of the map production process.
Roger Heeps developed and managed all print ready map layouts and the overall publication design, developed the multimedia interfaces to the digital atlas products and oversaw the physical printing process of each Atlas.
Milos Pelikan provided methodology design expertise, data set value-adding and project management support.
Technologies Applied
- ESRI ArcGIS for data creation, collation and management; and production of Atlas map components
- Microsoft Access for map production batch processing, map management, copyright/acknowledgement management and metadata management.
- MacroMedia Freehand for publication layout design and development.
- ArcPublisher for publishing ArcMap GIS datasets and map layouts to CD for use with ArcReader
