The National Map

Abstract: from the ability to locate and compare the WUI in different states and regions. To support this aspect of WUI management and strategic planning, we created a map of the WUI across the lower 48 states (Radeloff et al. 2005b). Unlike a community-level WUI map that can be enriched by using detailed local data, this “big picture” national map required nationally consistent data and a single standardized WUI definition. Here, we sought to understand how the national WUI map is influenced by the WUI definition used, the relative effect of each part of the definition, and the overall usefulness of the map in identifying homes likely to be affected by wildfire. We used geographic information system (GIS) analysis to address

Abstract: Based on open data, the project is providing an improved data infrastructure and visualisation capability for Australians in accessing government data. The aim of the initiative is to bring together dispersed information which has been collected and produced by governments at all levels and in all functions, into an easily searchable, viewable and fully customisable map-based view. The sort of searchable data that is available is varied and includes data about broadband coverage, location of surface water and waste management facilities, infrastructure developments such as gas lines, and electoral boundaries. What is the technology? The National Map has been designed to be a fully open framework. The web front-end uses NICTA's TerriaJS TM software and connects directly to data servers at each government agency using open protocols and open data formats. Any data viewed in the National Map can easily be directly accessed for use outside the National Map. As well as getting data directly from government agencies, the National Map gets data directly from the Australian government data site data. gov.au. The National Map is also now used as a previewer for spatial data sets in the data.com.au site. The National Map website could eventually assist with the visualisation management of environmental information, such as ecosystems, koala movements, salinity and air quality. NICTA's unique approach Relying on the strong geospatial visualisation skills at NICTA, the software uses Cesium, an open source WebGL virtual globe and map engine, which NICTA is co-developing with an international community of developers. NICTA is also building specialised web services using TerriaJS TM for customers which provide additional functionality, such as specialised spatial data analytics. Collaborators The National Map is an initiative that NICTA has built for the Department of Communications. It has also partnered with Geoscience Australia on the project and worked with many other government agencies in providing access to their services. Status The National Map is available at http://nationalmap.gov.au and is used as a spatial data previewer at http://data.gov.au. For more information about TerriaJS TM and the National Map, and to see sites developed using TerriaJS TM , go to Putting government spatial data, which was previously difficult to access, into the hands of community, software developers and industry will act as a key enabler of innovation and boost to government and industry productivity. Working for the Australian Department of Communications (and working closely with partner Geoscience Australia), the Terria team developed …

Abstract: Many applications of geospatial data in coastal environments require knowledge of the nearshore topography and bathymetry. However, because existing topographic and bathymetric data have been collected independently for different purposes, it has been difficult to use them together at the land/water interface owing to differences in format, projection, resolution, accuracy, and datums. As a first step toward solving the problems of integrating diverse coastal datasets, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are collaborating on a joint demonstration project to merge their data for the Tampa Bay region of Florida. The best available topographic and bathymetric data were extracted from the USGS National Elevation Dataset and the NOAA hydrographic survey database, respectively. Before being merged, the topographic and bathymetric datasets were processed with standard geographic information system tools to place them in a common horizontal reference frame. Also, a key part of the preprocessing was transformation to a common vertical reference through the use of VDatum, a new tool created by NOAA's National Geodetic Survey for vertical datum conversions. The final merged product is a seamless topographic/bathymetric model covering the Tampa Bay region at a grid spacing of 1 arc-second. Topographic LIDAR data were processed and merged with the bathymetry to demonstrate the incorporation of recent third party data sources for several test areas. A primary application of a merged topographic/bathymetric elevation model is for user-defined shoreline delineation, in which the user decides on the tidal condition (for example, low or high water) to be superimposed on the elevation data to determine the spatial position of the water line. Such a use of merged topographic/bathymetric data could lead to the development of a shoreline zone, which could reduce redundant mapping efforts by federal, state, and local agencies by allowing them to customize their portrayals of the shoreline using a standard baseline elevation dataset.

Abstract: 1. The Emergence of National Geographic Information Strategies 2. What is Geographic Information and Why is it so Important? 3. Britain: The Creation of a National Digital Topographic Database 4. The Netherlands: The Emergence of a National Geographic Information Strategy 5. Australia: The Commonwealth Dimension of State Geographic Information Strategies 6. The United States: The National Spatial Data Infrastructure in Perspective 7. What Lessons Can be Learned From These Experiences?