Spatial research is a growing area of focus for the University of Ballarat. This presentation profiles some of the activities which the Centre for eCommerce and Communications is involved in leading.

1. Spatial Research
CeCC Success 2/5/12

2. Background
• The Centre for eCommerce and Communications (CeCC)
is located within the Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Research) at the University of Ballarat.
• Key areas of applied research, commercial activities and
community engagement include eResearch, digital futures
and spatial research.
• Spatial research projects vary in their scale, complexity
and technology use.
• This presentation illustrates how different approaches and
technologies are being utilised in diverse contexts.
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3. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
The VVG portal provides
access to groundwater data
from across Victoria. It
features a unique state-wide
map of over 275,000 bores,
providing access to a user-
friendly database offering the
most comprehensive view of
groundwater data in Victoria.
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4. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
• Interoperability
– Consumes and provides layers and data
– Map generated from seven separate data sources dynamically
– Map data is consumed via SOAP web service or WFS
– Project is contributing to development of ISO standard for Ground
Water Markup Language (GWML 2.0) for future interoperability.
• Features
– Large dataset, Redlining, Layer querying, Map export
• Technology
– Open layers, Map server, Spatially enabled database, WMS,WFS, GML,
GWML
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5. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
Coming soon
• 3D visualisations of the ground water system
– In conjunction with Queensland University of Technology
• Historical map overlays
– In conjunction with State Library of Victoria – digitisation of original
mapped records
• Mobile interface
– Tailored functionality and simplified menu for mobile users
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6. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
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7. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
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8. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
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9. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
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10. CeCC Success 2/5/12

11. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
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12. Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
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13. UB Spatial
• UB Spatial provides the most relevant and current Natural
Resource Management data in an environment where it can
be shared with and accessed by catchment managers,
researchers, consultants, municipalities, government agencies
and members of the general public.
• Technology
– Map server, Open layers, Spatially enabled database
• Features
– Redlining, Custom imagery (Aerial imagery available as a base layer)
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14. UB Spatial
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15. UB Spatial
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16. UB Spatial
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17. UB Spatial
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18. Integrated Fire Management Planning
• An interoperable spatial information system for Barwon
South West stakeholders
• Providing access to the most current relevant information
and fire risk data
• Supporting the community to develop integrated regional
and local fire management plans.
• Technology
– Open layers, VicMAP API
• Features
– Layer stacking, layer transparency, interoperable data
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19. Integrated Fire Management Planning
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20. Integrated Fire Management Planning
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21. Dairy Innovation Australia
• C-Milk is an acronym for a Collaboration on Milk Industry
Knowledge.
• The web accessible prototype platform provides dairy
industry participants with a tool for monitoring and
benchmarking milk production and quality
• For the first time delivering a single point of access to the
relevant dairy data from across Australia to achieve this.
• Technology
– Open layers, Spatially enabled database, Dynamic layer
generation from production database, Custom geographical
regions
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22. Dairy Innovation Australia
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23. Dairy Innovation Australia
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24. Dairy Innovation Australia
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25. Corangamite CMA Knowledge Base
A web-based knowledge base:
• Designed to effectively support the Corangamite CMA and
other key stakeholders
• Assists in developing natural resource management focused
research and development projects within the Corangamite
region
• Goal is to leverage past projects and fill identified gaps and/or
priority areas for research
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26. Corangamite CMA Knowledge Base
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27. Corangamite CMA Knowledge Base
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28. Corangamite CMA Investment Portal
A natural resource investment framework that layers the
government priorities for investment, catchment strategies and
regional plans with existing environmental asset data to derive
investment needs and opportunities.
• Technology
– Map server, Open layers
• Features
– Layer stacking, Layer transparency, Layer querying
– Interoperable
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29. CMA Investment Portal
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30. CMA Investment Portal
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31. CMA Investment Portal
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32. Sport and Recreation Spatial
• A national geographic information system (GIS) for presenting
spatial data.
• The goal is to provide the sport and recreation sector with
increased capacity for research, strategic planning, and
development of participation programs and facilities.
• Technology
– Map server, Open layers, Spatially enabled database, Thematic maps,
Large dataset (ERASS 10 year survey), queryable layers, sortable layers,
transparent layers
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33. Sport and Recreation Spatial
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34. Sport and Recreation Spatial
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35. Sport and Recreation Spatial
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36. Sport and Recreation Spatial
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37. Regional ICT Studies
• Extensive experience in coordinating regional and local ICT
planning projects:
– Great South Coast Regional Communications Strategy
– Yarra Ranges Opportunity Assessment for Economic and Community
Growth through the Broadband Economy
– Wimmera Southern Mallee and Central Highlands ICT studies
– Moorabool Community Broadband and Telecommunications Strategy
– Ballarat ICT 2030 strategy
• Research results presented using innovative approaches:
– Live geographical analysis of business and community survey data
– Technologies : Customised Lime Survey package, Google Maps API
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38. Regional ICT studies
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39. Regional ICT Studies
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40. Birchip Cropping Group
Wildlife Ponds
• Collaborative projects around knowledge management,
member communications and technology innovation with
BCG since 1999
• The Wildlife Ponds project was developed to demonstrate and
promote the use of new web technologies to enhance
biodiversity on-farm
• Technologies utilised included an interactive map for users to
contribute information, images and videos of wildlife spotted
in their area
– Google Maps, API, Social Media
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41. Wildlife Ponds
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42. Seeding Victoria
• Seeding Victoria (previously Ballarat Region Seed Bank) has
consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver appropriately
sourced indigenous seed for regional re-vegetation works
• The Seeding Victoria Seed Supply System has been developed
to support stock management, seed collection, seed testing
and revegetation area information
• Groups or individuals undertaking revegetation projects can
browse the seed catalogue online, view the species native to
specific areas and place orders for seed.
• Technology: Google Maps API, Custom database, Radius search
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43. Creswick Regional Seedbank
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44. Australian Digital Soil Mapping
• OzDSM is a collaborative workspace for researchers working
on digital soil mapping (DSM) in Australia.
• DSM utilises numerical methods and information technologies
to produce predictive maps of soil types and their properties.
• Technologies include Map server, Open layers with features
incorporating
• Features: Spatially enabled database, Layer querying
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45. CeCC Success 2/5/12

46. CeCC Success 2/5/12

47. Grains Research and Development
Corporation
• The GRDC Online Libraries project has included undertaking
research to inform staged implementation of customised web-
based workflow systems and the collation, evaluation and
conversion of GRDC final reports into a consistent format for
dissemination via GRDC internal and external online services
• Project outputs include the spatial presentation of
informaiton about past research based on factors such as
agro-ecological zones
• Underlying technologies include Map server, Open layers,
Spatially enabled database, and layer querying
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48. GRDC Digital Libraries
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49. GRDC Digital Libraries
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50. UB Commute
• Australia’s first National Telework Week was held in
November 2012 to raise awareness of the opportunities,
benefits, and practical issues associated with working from
home.
• The University of Ballarat participated as a Telework Partner.
Activities included creating a visualisation to demonstrate the
commuting patterns of more than 1,000 UB staff.
• The visualisation demonstrates the distance and time
associated with travel by staff between their home and
destination campus location
• Technologies included Google maps API and animated display.
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51. UB Commute
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52. UB Commute
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53. Summary of areas of focus
• Spatial and eResearch
– Environment
• Groundwater monitoring, landslides and salinity
• Digital soil mapping
• Fire management planning
• Citizen science
– Health and wellbeing
• Participation in sport and recreation
– Agribusiness
• Grains research
• Dairy production
• Farming trials
• Digital futures
– Advocacy and planning linked to next generation communications
– Central Highlands Digital Enterprise Program
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54. Some reference sites
• www.vvg.org.au
• www.ubspatial.com.au
• www.cmilk.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&
id=107&Itemid=451
• www.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au
• www.sportandrecreationspatial.com.au
• www.cecc.com.au/maps/vic_map.php
• www.bcg.org.au/wildlife_ponds
• www.seedingvictoria.com.au/catalogue_map.php?id=1
• www.ozdsm.com.au
• webapps.ballarat.edu.au/maps/ub_commute
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55. Further Information
Helen Thompson
Director
Centre for eCommerce and Communications
• Phone: 03 53279418
• Email: h.thompson@ballarat.edu.au
• Email: www.cecc.com.au
CeCC Success 2/5/12