Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

CeCC has been involved in an ongoing project since 2006 working with stakeholders from the Corrangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), the University of Ballarat Department of Geology and Ennoble Consulting. The driving principle has been to create an interoperable web-based GIS for the dissemination of environmental information to the general public.

Groundwater, salinity, erosion and landslide GIS databases have been created by the UoB geology department over the past 15 years. The datasets currently comprise many thousands of entries, each relating to a groundwater bore, or salinity site, or erosion site or landslide site mapped in the Corangamite region (and beyond). There are approximately 10,000 entries in the groundwater bore database, and a similar number in the landslide and erosion database. The databases are complemented by many theses, reports, measurements and photos which are not readily accessible to the potential users of the knowledge.

Project background

Place-based development approaches generate new leadership and participation opportunities for communities. They also generate new demands for local information and for more effective integration with whole of region, state and national initiatives.

Lack of access to regional data places the sustainability of regional and rural communities at risk. In the South West Region of Victoria organisations including Local Governments, Catchment Management Authorities, and community organisations often lack the infrastructure and shared service models to support them in delivering decision useful information in an intuitive, cost effective and timely manner.

The amount of data generated in projects commissioned by the Corangamite CMA (mostly through the National Action Plan for salinity and water quality) over the past eight years is staggering. In the salinity and soils programs alone there has been many tens of gigabytes of spatial data assembled into GIS datasets and models by numerous organisations working in the Corangamite region, such as the CSIRO, UoB, consultants and state government research agencies. While many collaborating organisations have developed highly useful spatial datasets these are generally only available internally within an organisation and are difficult for others to access.

There is a growing demand for organisations such as the Corangamite CMA and the UoB to provide effective access to the information which they hold. The main driver for this project has been overcoming the traditional difficulty of getting the most current NRM data and relevant information into an environment where it can be shared and accessed by catchment managers, researchers, consultants, municipalities, government agencies, community organisations and members of the general public.

Feasibility Study

During 2005 the Corangamite CMA commissioned the UoB to investigate the area of web-based GIS, to present an analysis of feasible options and to make recommendations for future directions for the CMA. In reflecting on the opportunities which web-based GIS systems could provide, the University’s research team identified an opportunity for the Corangamite CMA to adopt a proactive approach and show leadership through the establishment of an interoperative web-based system.

The research team recommended that the Corangamite CMA adopt a staged approach towards the full implementation of an Online Spatial Data Project with Stage 1 being the deployment of the Corangamite Ground Water Bore Monitoring and Research Database and the Corangamite Erosion and Landslide Database. This would demonstrate the potential and benefits of further investment in web-based GIS services while also undertaking preliminary steps toward the development of a comprehensive information privacy, security and quality policy.

Internet distribution of NRM data project

The “Internet distribution of NRM data project” was commissioned by the Corangamite CMA in November 2007. The support of Peter Codd, Community and Partnerships Program Manager, and the Salinity and Soils Operational Portfolio Group is acknowledged in getting the project established. The Corangamite CMA provided $75,000 funding through the National Action Plan for salinity and water quality and the UoB contributed $25,000 in new hardware.

The project objective was to establish an internet-based interoperative GIS and database using four datasets:

• Corangamite Groundwater Monitoring and Research Database
• Corangamite Salinity Database
• Corangamite Landslide Database
• Corangamite Erosion Database

These datasets which are maintained and managed by the UoB geology department (and collaborators) have grown organically over a period of two decades. However, the datasets have been greatly expanded in recent years largely through research, investigation and monitoring undertaken through the Corangamite salinity and soils programs.

Project Partners

The project has been auspiced by the CCMA but its success is dependant on the partneships and collaboration of several parties.

Corrangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA)

The Corangamite CMA is the major stakeholder and owner in this project. Corangamite CMA has been involved in an advisory capacity during all elements of project implementation. This project provides the CMA with a significant resource which it would otherwise have to develop in-house. The collaborative nature of the project has allowed the CMA to maintain and foster relationships with the project partners, utilising diparate skill sets without expending significant internal resources.  

University of Ballarat (Department of Geology)

Pete Dahlhaus has been the driving force behind this project and is the primary custodian of the datasets. It has only been through his persistance to disseminate the information to a wider audience that this project has been able to succeed. Over several years the Department of Geology within the School of Science and Engineering has maintained and expanded the datasets utilising staff, postgraduate students and external consultants.

Centre for eCommerce and Communications

CeCC was integral in the initial feasibility study and has been intimitely involved throughout the project. In addition to expertise in web-based application development, CeCC has helped to project manage and co-ordinate the various stakeholders. CeCC has developed expertise in web-based GIS throughout the course of the project and has been able to couple this with its extensive database/application development skills to provide the missing link between the GIS experts and the general public.

Ennoble Consulting

Sam Majid (Director / Solution Architect) of Ennoble Consultancy has been involved with this project since its inception and was crucial to informing the prior feasibility study. Sam has a proven track record in establishing web-based GIS services across a broad cross section of industry and government.

A.S.Miner Geotechnical

Collaborating organisations

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