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GEOGRAPHY

OBJECTIVES

The key objective of the Geography Program is to provide geospatial leadership in the statistical production process.

The specific objectives for the program are to:

• improve the integration of statistical and spatial information through the development and implementation of a Statistical Spatial Framework (SSF) within ABS, the National Statistical System, and internationally
• develop and apply geospatial capability, standards and processes to improve the collection, production, dissemination and integration of spatial statistics
• provide geospatial data management, infrastructure, geographic analysis, mapping and geospatial services corporately and through specifically funded work such as the Land Account, Carbon Farming Initiative and the Census of Population and Housing.

• documentation and supporting material for the SSF, which is published on the National Statistical Service website
• the publication of a statistical geography standard, known as the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS), that consists of five volumes and supporting material, including the geographic boundaries
• a statistical geography web portal that provides information on geographic classifications and supporting information
• maintenance of the ABS Master Spatial Database, including incorporation of Public Sector Mapping Agencies data, including Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF), and additional new sources of data
• implementation of enterprise geospatial capability, including network analysis, geospatial visualisation and corporate solutions for address coding and validation
• geospatial capability and support services for the execution of statistical programs including the Census of Population and Housing, Carbon Farming Initiative support, the production of environmental accounts and data acquisition and collection.

• implement a new ABS geospatial policy and further develop supporting material to guide both the implementation of the SSF within ABS statistical operations and the development of ABS enterprise architecture - throughout 2014-15
• improve the corporate geocoding infrastructure, including a new interactive spatial coder - during 2014-15
• further develop and promote the SSF within Australian governments, nationally and internationally - ongoing
• continue to develop new geospatial techniques and data sources to support the ABS involvement in the Carbon Farming Initiative, including development of an Agriculture land parcel frame - ongoing
• continue to develop new geospatial techniques and data sources to produce environmental accounts - ongoing
• reviewing the scope and effectiveness of the 2011 ASGS and revising it for 2016 - ongoing.