There are moments in one’s career that, in retrospect, hold significance. The 24th August 2001 is one of those days – 20 years ago today. On 23rd August I travelled from Adelaide to Canberra and gave a number of presentations on my recent overseas trip on 24 August 2001. In this document I introduce two audacious initiatives: Aeronatical Intelligence and eGeoBriefs (via an avatar).

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A MEMORABLE DAY IN RETROSPECT – Friday 24 August 2001
Reflections of Dr Robert (Bob) Williams
Topographic surveyor and cartographer
Through Five Decades of Experience and Knowledge
2021
The farther backward you can look,
The farther forward you can see” [Winston Churchill]
I travelled from my organisation (Defence Science and Technology
Organisation) north of Adelaide, South Australia to Canberra on 23 August
2001 for a series of meetings and presentations on Friday 24 August on my
recent overseas trip.
Sites visited included the UK High Commission in Singapore (UK DGIA
Officer); Paris, France for meeting of the Digital Geographic Information
Working Group (DGIWG) and VaCWG (Vector ‘smart’ map Working Group);
Mons, Belgium for visit to NATO SHAPE Geographic Office; London, UK for
visits to DGIA (Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency) at
Feltham and Map Library at Tolworth; Washington USA area for visits to
Bethesda, Westfields and Reston to NIMA (National Imagery and mapping
Agency); and Marborough, MA, USA for visit to Raytheon (C3I Systems).

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The primary briefing was given to the Corporate Management Team at the
Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO) on “Overseas Trends
in Geospatial Information Development”. The following paragraphs are
extracts of the briefing notes.
“Introduction
On the 22nd July 1999, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, Dr John
J.Hamre, and US NIMA Director Army Lieutenant-General James C. King,
explained to the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence how
a series of errors led to the unintended bombing of the Chinese Embassy in
Belgrade on May 7th.
Dr Hamre described events leading up to that fateful day. He stated, quite
categorically that "the data bases were wrong". The Chinese Embassy was
incorrectly located. He, further, stated that "it is difficult - actually it is
impossible - to keep current databases for cities around the world".
This striking event raised the importance of providing extensive and accurate
Geographic Information services for weapon delivery and effective political
and military decision-making.
Although this event occurred two years ago (1999), the key issues of
geospatial database management, interoperability and standards, and
capability development not only remain but are becoming even more serious
as new capabilities come into service and new uses of geospatial information
are found.
So how does this event this relate to the overseas visit reported on in this
presentation?
The visit included a visit to NIMA, as well as other agencies and bodies
associated with mapping and the acquisition, production and management of
geospatial information. The issues observed, including that of database
management, relate directly to key issues confronting the Australian Defence
Organisation (ADO), and DIGO in particular, today.
Background
The objective of the visit was to obtain information that will assist in
developing the ADO's Future Defence Geospatial Environment, and
specifically aimed at:
• Assisting DIGO (Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation) in

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enhancing its strategic plan; and
• Identifying technologies and capabilities relevant to developing
capability options for Project JP2064 (Geospatial Information and
Services).
Summary of visit objectives
The objectives of the visit were met through a combination of activities.
Specifically:
v Research and development in the mapping sciences was addressed
primarily through discussions with officers at US NIMA's Research and
Technology Office and through NIMA's USIGS CONOPS 2010
initiative.
v Interoperability and standards (with respect to digital geographic
information) were focused on at the DGIWG (Digital Geographic
Information Working Group) meeting in Paris, France and at NATO
SHAPE in Belgium.
v Multinational issues were observed at the DGIWG meeting and at
NATO SHAPE.
v Information management and library issues were discussed at UK
DGIA (Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency) Feltham
and Tolworth facilities and NIMA.
v International boundaries were discussed with specialist staff at DGIA
Tolworth and NIMA Bethesda.
v Project acquisition of ADATS (Australian Defence Air Traffic System)
was discussed with project staff at Raytheon Marlborough, MA, USA.
Task was undertaken at the request of RAAF HQ.
Contemporary issues observed during the visit
Key observations are:
v Interoperability and standards remain critically important issues but
how to operationally address them remains an issue. The French
Military have developed policy that mandates the use of DIGEST
standards for all C3I, navigation, weapons systems, geospatial
production systems, etc. Other nations, in the main, appear to be
relying on vendor COTS solutions.
v Geospatial information management is the most important and
challenging issue facing defence organisations today. Geospatial
information management does not only involve the use of a commercial
data base management system and simplistic dissemination services,
but includes data base schemas, maintenance and revision,
accreditation for intended purpose of use, catalogues, electronic
libraries, releasability and security, and many other issues. The issue
of database management and its importance to emerging defence C3I,
navigation, and weapons systems has been known about for over two

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decades; the topics and issues are enduring.
v Capability development and acquisition continues to be plagued by the
length of the process and the continual sanitisation of the statement of
requirement over time. This means the final delivery of a system often
bears little resemblance to the original requirement.
v Research and development has now reached a critically low level of
effectiveness. A number of agencies have commented that the
universities and defence laboratories appear unable, or unwilling, to
adequately address their R&D issues. The issue of research and
development in the mapping sciences is now an issue of urgent
and pressing nature.
CMT Briefing
With that background, the topics and issues addressed in the CMT Briefing
include:
v A brief overview of the itinerary and agenda of an overseas visit
undertaken during 24 May - 8 June
v An overview of key observations and issues including interoperability
and standards, geospatial database management (compilation,
production, management, dissemination); capability development
(delivery services, a broader user community); and research and
development (key enabling technologies)
v Recommendations and actions for consideration by DIGO:
o Interoperability and standards - policy and doctrine, and specialist
technical standards advice
o Geospatial Information Management - library and catalogue
services; development of a global information grid; and management of
compilation processes

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o Capability development - geospatial information needs of other
projects (e.g. air traffic management); and experimentation to evolve
from a publication paradigm to an information service paradigm.
o Research and development - options for dramatically enhancing R&D
in the geospatial sciences.

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A visit to ‘little map shops’ around the corner!
The UK DGIA officer in the UK High Commission in Singapore took me on a
walk along lanes in Singapore where we visited a number of little map shops.
These places hold a vast away of maps, booklets, and documents suitable for
map libraries (as for UK Military Survey’s Tolworth facility).
‘Little map shops’ are unfortunately a
diminishing service. There is a belief that
web-services will ‘somehow magically’
provide the vast amount of geographic
information required by professional
mapmakers.
One example of a viable ‘little’ map shop
is The Map Shop in Adelaide, South
Australia. Its story was published on ABC
recently. They are still needed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-15/paper-maps-have-a-future-says-
cartographer-anthony-stephens/100303036

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DGIWG. Digital Geographic Information Working Group – Paris meeting
DGIWG is the developer and custodian of DIGEST (Digital Geographic
Information Exchange Standard). This forum was first formed in 1983.
Digital Geographic Information (DGI) has evolved into an essential element
in the planning and conduct of civil and military operations. The required data
volume, demands, and data complexity dictate that multi-national agreements
for digital data standards be established to assure compatibility. In support of
this aim, these standards define those aspects necessary to the exchange of
DGI. They are as follows:
- the data structures to be supported (incl spatial structure and metadata);
- feature and attribute coding scheme;
- format;
- exchange media; and
- administrative procedures.
The type of data to be exchanged using these standards includes the digital
representation of the following:
- geographic feature geometry and feature attribute information;
- information concerning the appearance and status of the Earth’s surface
and its features in the electromagnetic spectrum, e.g. radar, infra-red; and
- other geographic information.
The data will all be available on a common worldwide reference datum of
World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84).
In addition to the primary role of creating and formalizing DIGEST, members
can provide other services.
Borders. For example, Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975. The invasion
known in Indonesia as Operation Lotus, began on 7 December when the
Indonesian military invaded East Timor under the pretext of anti-colonialism
and anti-communism to overthrow the Fretilin regime that had emerged in
1974.
Australian played an important role in INTERFET. The International Force
East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational non-United Nations
peacemaking task force, organised and led by Australia in accordance with
United Nations resolutions to address the humanitarian and security crisis
that took place in East Timor 1999–2000 until the arrival of UN peacekeepers.
Very few nations acknowledged Indonesia’s claim of East Timor and so the
border between the two entities was in question. The island was split between
two colonial powers; Portugal (East) and the Dutch (west).
DGIWG members facilitated supply of copies of colonial era maps of the
complete coverage of the island.

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Tolworth – An amazing library
The Tolworth depot and library was large and was housed in old World War 2
buildings. The depot had 17,000 line items. The library has 600,000 items.
There was some amazing “stuff” but my interest was in historical documents.
This particular interest resulted from documents that I received back in 1999
concerning the border on Timor on the description of the border.
Example extracts are:
Treaty of Demarcation and Exchange of some Portuguese and
Dutch Dominions on the Solor and Timor Archipelago,
between Portugal and the Netherlands
Signed in Lisbon on 20 April 1859, ratifications having been exchanged as
at 13 August 1860.
His Majesty The King of Portugal and of the Algarve[s], and His Majesty
The King of the Netherlands, having deemed it prudent to put an end to the
disputes regarding the boundaries of the Portuguese and Dutch dominions
on the Timor and Solor Archipelago, and wishing to prevent for all time
any misinformation that might bring about ill-defined boundaries, and a
multiplicity of enclaves, in order to reach an agreement, using the full
powers vested in them, provided that namely: His Majesty The King of
Portugal and of the Algarve[s], Senhor António María de Fontes Pereira de
Melo, Knight of the Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Tower and
Sword, for Valour, Loyalty and Merit, that of Saint Benedict of Aviz, the
Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold of Belgium and that of Charles III of
Spain, a member of the Overseas Council, Captain of Engineers, Minister
and Secretary of State for the Affairs of the Realm, etc.; and His Majesty
The King of the Netherlands, Senhor Joao Luis Jacques António Henrique
Heldewier, Knight of the Order of the Crown of Carvalho, and of the
Legion of Honour, the Chargé d’Affaires of His Majesty’s Most Faithful
Government; who, after having provided evidence of the said full powers,
these having been deemed to be in order, agreed to enter into a Treaty of
Demarcation and Exchange, containing the following Articles:
Article I
The boundaries between the Portuguese and Dutch dominions on the
island of Timor shall be:

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And:
Convention for the Demarcation of Portuguese and Dutch Dominions
on the Island of Timor
Signed in the Hague on 1 October 1904, in which ratifications were exchanged on 29
August 1908
..
Article V
The boundary between the dominions of The Netherlands in the western sector and
those of Portugal in the eastern sector of the Island of Timor shall be a line running
from North to South:
1.Starting from the mouth of the Mota Biku (Silaba) via the thalweg of this river up to
its tributary, the We Bedain, via the thalweg of the We Bedain, as far as the Mota
Asudaät (Assudat), via the thalweg of this river as far as its source, and from that
point following the slopes of Kleek Teruïn (Klin Teruin) in a North-South
direction, and of the Berenis (Birenes) Kakótun;
6. Passing through the mountains Tahi Fehu, Fatu Suta, Fatu Rusa, the large tree
known as Halifca, the summit of Uas Lulik, afterwards crossing the River We
Merak, at the point at which its tributary, the We Nu, joins it, subsequently passing
the great rock known as Fatu Rokou, the summits of Fitun Monu, Debu Kasabauk,
Ainin Matan and Lak Fuin.
On 10 October 1999, INTERFET troops patrolling along the main road were
shot at as they were approaching the border bridge at Mota'ain while within
East Timor territory. One of the saving graces was the Indonesian troops were
using a copy of the old 1930s Dutch map whilst the Australian troops had the
current Bakosurtanal map showing the border and bridge in a different
location.

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It’s about borders!
Visit to Raytheon
# 2000-2001 Additional Estimates Hearing 21 February 2001
Major Capital Equipment Project Delays or Cost Overruns
AIR 5186 Australian Defence Air Traffic System
Slippage 59 months Contract 29 November 1995
The purpose of the visit was to review technical issues related to AIR 5186.
The lead-up to the Raytheon visit. In March 2001 I visited RAAF
Aeronautical Services (AIS) at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne for discussion on
aeronautical information chart products and digitization. A RAAF officer was
there and we talked about a new digital product VOD (Vertical Obstructions
Dataset) whilst looking at the Melbourne skyline.
Sadly, a lack of staff prevented pursuing the topic of producing a database.
Then, at a chance meeting at a QANTAS Club with a RAAF officer later in
March the officer mentioned to me that Government was discussing RAAF
and Air Services Australia systems (I don’t know the actual details). He knew
that I was visiting the US in June and asked me if I could manage to make a
side visit to check technical information for the RAAF project director for him.

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Thursday 7 June. I visited the US National Imagery and Mapping Agency
(NIMA) at Bethesda MD. My itinerary was to include discussion on
aeronautical information products including DFLIP (Digital Flight Information
Publication). This meeting did not take place due to the presenter being away
sick. The agency adjusted my visit itinerary that included a range of initiatives.
Although the term Geospatial Information was used extensively within NIMA,
there appeared to be little evidence of innovative 'new' information services.
The current practice seemed to be that of using technology to produce what is
little more than thematic paper products. Examples shown included
graphical representations of Foundation Data, Mission Specific Data Sets and
Controlled Imagery.
Friday 8 June – The Raytheon visit. I awoke early, checked out of the
Holiday Inn at Tyson’s Corner and took the first flight from Washington DC to
Boston passing right over New York and the towers and then drove to a
facility outside of Boston. I was shown a prototype of the RAAF Australian
Defence Air Traffic System (ADATS) and the new US FAA STARS system.
Later that day I flew from Boston Logan Airport on the direct flight to LAX
then connected to Sydney and Adelaide – overall a very long day. I was
disappointed in both the RAAF and FAA demonstrations; both were
somewhat simplistic computerization of the manual systems.
The so-called ‘adaptation data base’ within ADATS was made up of a number
of components, many of which are components within current Aeronautical
Publications such as Flight Information Publications, En Route Charts, etc.
The features were managed as tabular (text) files and graphical files.

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Comment. Briefing materials received on this visit revealed a general lack of
knowledge on geospatial data flows and a range of science and technology
issues, both by the ADF Project Team and Raytheon. The way that geospatial
data was acquired (input into the DMS (ADATS Data Management System),
organised into the DMS, and the simplicity of use (by ADATS) suggested that
the overall process seems to be little more that a 'digitization' of current
manual processes.
A WARNING AND INDICATOR
Exposing the adaptation data problem highlights perhaps even more
ranging and serious issues; the importance of the geospatial
component and wider uses of the geospatial information in navigation,
targeting, a multitude of operational planning systems, and future
'intelligent' platforms.
Friday 24 August - Canberra. I gave briefings to a number of groups in
Canberra on my overseas trip and highlighted deficiencies in the air traffic
management systems. I introduced my presentations with a hypothetical
event: an unidentified aircraft was approaching Australia across the
Indian Ocean. What action needs to be taken? And when? My event was
similar to the USS Vincennes – Iranian Air IR655 incident on July 3,
1988. In my presentation I reported that the databases were not
designed to permit analytical processes; such as, does the ‘dot on the
screen’ lie on a recognized air route? And does the ‘dot’ appear where a
scheduled flight should be?
I gave a presentation on what I called Aeronautical Intelligence (first two
slides below). I set a strategy to evolve to a new paradigm shift by 2020.

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SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A MEMORABLE DAY
24 August 2001
In summary I recommended that key organisations (both military and civilian)
should:
v AGREE that with respect to INTEROPERABILTY and STANDARDS
that multi-national bodies (such as DGIWG) specialising in the topic are
important; and
o OBSERVE that many agencies, companies and industry ignore
endorsed standards such as DIGEST; and
o CONCLUDE that specialist technical standards offices are
essential.
v ACKNOWLEDGE that GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
is a core capability of an organisation. Capabilities include:
o Developing a Global Information Grid that includes analysis of
analogue and digital databases along with schemas, datums,
media, etc.
o Managing Information systems for acquisition, compilation and
services observing readiness and responsiveness issues.
o Managing electronic library and catalogue service.

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v CONSIDER audacious goals in capability development
o Amendment to major project JP2064 Phase 2 to include Air Traffic
Management information (ADATS).
o Future geo-political advisor (for example, an Avatar with
eGeoBriefs)
v CONSIDER creating a virtual ADVANCED RESEARCH and
TECHNOLOGY for Surveying and Mapping
o AGREEING that People Matter and this requires a review of
qualifications and expertise of staff within Defence; and
o AGREEING that People Matter and it should be a mandatory
requirement for liaison and exchange personnel to have
qualifications and experience in a mapping science.

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AERONAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE
An original idea of Dr Bob Williams in 2001
EMPHASISING that AERONAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE is a key component in
future Air and Space management.
The concept is an original idea that sets a vision and a strategy:
v Geospatial environment – From a publication paradigm to an
information service paradigm
v Defence airspace management – From an information service to a
situation awareness paradigm
v National infrastructure – From a situation awareness paradigm to a
national security paradigm
A MEMORABLE DAY IN RETROSPECT – Friday 24 August 2001
Reflections of Dr Robert (Bob) Williams
Topographic surveyor and cartographer
Through Five Decades of Experience and Knowledge