Geoscience Australia’s former National Mapping Information Group has undertaken a significant strategic review of its operations over the last year. The review covered many areas of operations with the focus on:
The Group has emerged from the review with a clear focus on its role in Australia’s contemporary spatial environment. From 1 July 2010 the Group implemented a transition to a new structure, with an immediate restructure of work units and a fresh new name -National Geographic Information Group (NGIG).
The new name better represents the changing role that the group has as a steward of national authoritative geographic information. It positions NGIG to assist the Australian Government to get the most value and benefit from geographic data, including building upon the ‘capture once, use many’ approach, and providing improved access to up-to-date geographic databases for government and the community.
Benefits for stakeholders and users of spatial information
Geoscience Australia’s role as the authoritative custodian of topographic data continues. The organisation’s traditional role as a mapping agency is strengthened by focussing on the needs of the community through assisting government agency programs (that benefit by using spatial data) to deliver their outcomes.
Non-government producers of spatial information have not been neglected either. They benefit from a focus on government-driven needs which is shown by the reality that previously, mapping might not be undertaken in many remote areas because of limited budgets and such a large area to map-onshore Australia has an area of around 7.7 million square kilometres.
