[Aust-NZ] $180 million dedicated to the Australian Coorperative Research Center for Spatial Information

[Cameron Shorter]

http://cameronshorter.blogspot.com/2009/08/180-million-dedicated-to-australian.html

PRESS RELEASE

Key Australian industries will gain access to new data, technologies and 
services through the $40 million funding of a major research program in 
spatial technologies, announced by Senator Kim Carr today.

With a total budget of $180 million, the new Cooperative Research Centre 
for Spatial Information (CRCSI-2) involves over 100 organisations 
including from government and the private sector coming together with 
universities in an eight-year joint venture.

“The new CRC SI will help us to remain internationally competitive and 
capitalise on rapid growth in the spatial industry. The CRC Program’s 
investment in this industry will deliver tremendous benefits to the 
nation.” Said Mary O’Kane, Chair-elect of the CRCSI-2 Board.

“Through this funding the CRC Program has recognised the tremendous 
potential spatial information offers to the Australian economy,” said 
CEO Dr Peter Woodgate.

The spatial information industry currently contributes an estimated 
$12.6 billion to national GDP. Direct outcomes from the CRCSI-2 are 
expected to deliver a further $305 million to the nation if emerging 
developments can be leveraged for Australian industry. The wider 
benefits are far larger.

Over 90 end-users, mostly small and medium companies, will participate 
in the program to direct and speed delivery of research outcomes.

“Our end-users give us a tremendously strong picture of the technology 
and services the marketplace needs,” said Dr Woodgate.

The CRCSI will deliver benefits to several industry sectors including:

    * Health – Preventative medicine policies will be improved through
      the way in which spatial information can show patterns of disease
      which are otherwise undetectable. CRCSI-2 will spatially analyse
      data for early detection of colo-rectal cancer and childhood
      leukaemia.
    * Energy and utilities – Unmanned air craft will monitor powerlines
      with laser scanners to get timely, accurate knowledge on the
      condition of power infrastructure which will improve safety and
      reduce costs for consumers.
    * Sustainable urban development – Planning, transport costs and
      “living affordability” in our cities and towns will be assisted by
      spatially understanding what makes good urban areas work.
    * Agriculture and climate change – Farmers will have more precise
      information to guide the planting, treatment and harvesting of
      crops due to spatial precision agriculture. Scientists and land
      managers will be able to monitor landscape changes more closely,
      particularly important given the widespread effects anticipated
      from climate change.
    * Defence – research into new imaging technologies for national defence


Though its strong international linkages, the CRCSI-2 will also be 
targeting overseas markets to deliver new technologies and services.

“Our fledgling industry will have a great chance to gain international 
prominence through this initiative,” said David Hocking, CEO of the 
Spatial Industries Business Association which is also participating in 
the CRCSI-2.

“Overseas governments are spending big on infrastructure and that is 
where our 500 members operate.”

“In its first incarnation, the CRCSI helped to position Australia as a 
world leader in the development and use of spatial information 
technologies,” according to Warwick Watkins, Chairman of the Australia 
and New Zealand Land Information Council.

Background

Spatial Information is at the core of a number of platform technologies 
and services, from traditional surveying to contemporary technologies 
like GPS and location-based services. It describes the location of 
objects in the real world and the relationships between objects. 
Practical applications include environmental monitoring, GPS services, 
customer relationship management and the management of natural 
resources, biosecurity, assets, land and emergencies. The spatial 
information industry contributes up to $12.6 billion to Australia’s 
Gross Domestic Product.

For more information visit www.crcsi2.com.au <http://www.crcsi2.com.au/>

-- 
Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Systems Architect
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

Think Globally, Fix Locally
Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
http://www.lisasoft.com