The document provides a history of Australia's military mapmakers from 1910 to 2000. It discusses the early beginnings of military mapping in Australia after Federation in 1901. It outlines the various roles of Australian military surveyors during World War 1 and 2, including surveying in locations like the Sinai Peninsula, Belgium, and Papua New Guinea. It also discusses the development and adoption of new technologies like aerial photography, GPS, and digital mapping. The document concludes by discussing organizational changes to military mapping in Australia in the 1990s and 2000s in response to reviews and efficiency drives.

1. A Proud HistoryA Proud History
A Tribute toA Tribute to
Australia’sAustralia’s Military MapmakersMilitary Mapmakers
Videre Parare EstVidere Parare Est
1910 – 20001910 – 2000
Dr Bob WilliamsDr Bob Williams
20032003

2. Recognising a NeedRecognising a Need
The birth of the Commonwealth of Australia, on the first day of January 1901,
was an occasion not only for celebration but also for facing the new
responsibilities of nationhood. Among the powers acquired by the Federal
Government was that of providing for defence … …
The seriousness of the mapping deficiency was highlighted only a short time into the Commonwealth’s existence,
as reports stressing the lessons of the war in South Africa became available for public and professional scrutiny.

3. BeginningsBeginnings
On 23 November 1909 the Military Board considered the question of
establishing a permanent element to the military mapping effort …
Lieutenant W.L.Whitham
first OC of the Survey Section, RAE, 1910-12
The Military Board on its establishment in 1905
Lieutenant-Colonel W.T.Bridges, Chief of
Intelligence is seated second from right

4. Recognition of a CapabilityRecognition of a Capability
On 3 July 1915, just ten weeks after the Anglo-French landings at
Gallipoli in which the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps played
a leading role, a notice in the Commonwealth Gazette promulgated the
decision to form the Survey Section into a separate unit of the
permanent military forces to be known as the ‘Survey Corps’.
According to this announcement, the new body had already come into
existence with effect from 1 July. Precisely what lay behind this step
(which was highly unusual in that it departed from the practice of the
British Army), and the circumstances that prompted it at this particular
time, remains unknown today.
The Australian Survey Corps was
placed on the Order of Precedence
of Corps after the Royal Australian
Engineers.

5. Surveying in the SinaiSurveying in the Sinai
Terrain intelligence in BelgiumTerrain intelligence in Belgium
Mapping from aerial photographyMapping from aerial photography
on the Palestine Fronton the Palestine Front
Surveying with the First AIFSurveying with the First AIF

6. Surveying with the First AIFSurveying with the First AIF
 Mapping in the Sinai
Lieutenant A.S.Murray relaxing with friends in Cairo, c.1918
LT. Murray, as a topographer, was despatched in 1917 to the
front in Sinai where the Egyptian Expeditionary Force was
pressing against a Turkish defensive line stretching from the
sea at Gaza to Beersheba.
While working alone one day close to enemy lines near
Aqaba, Murray was alarmed to be surrounded by a band of
armed horsemen. Their commander was T.E. Lawrence, who
merely demanded to know what the surveyor was doing.
Sketch map of Sinai prepared by Lieutenant A.S.Murray

7. Surveying with the First AIFSurveying with the First AIF
 Terrain intelligence
Messines, Belgium
Prepared by the
Topographical Section of II ANZAC Corps
April 1917

8. Surveying with the First AIFSurveying with the First AIF
 Mapping from aerial photography on the Palestine Front
Examples of 1918 photography
Warrant Officer Shiels arrived in Egypt on 16 January 1916
and was attached to the Topographical Section that formed part
of the Intelligence Branch at General Headquarters, Egyptian
Expeditionary Force. He was promoted Lieutenant in
December 1917 and played a commendable role in assisting
Captain H.H. Thomas of the Royal Flying Corps in conducting
investigations that, by the start of 1918, had produced a
workable system of mapping from aerial photographs.
Photographs from
GEOGRAPHICAL RECONNAISSANCE BY
AEROPLANE PHOTOGRAPHY, WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE WORK
DONE ON THE PALESTINE FRONT
Read at the afternoon meeting
of the
Royal Geographical Society
by
H. Hamshaw Thomas, MBE, MA, FGS,
Captain RAF
Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge
12 January 1920
East-Central Palestine

9. Between WarsBetween Wars
 ‘Joint operations’
During 1923 a map of Western Port Bay in
Victoria, which used RAAF aerial photographs to
supplement a ground trigonometrical survey, was
produced by the Navy’s Hydrographic Branch.
The success of this venture was regarded as very
encouraging, since the final map produced
depicted useful information that could hardly have
been obtained except by this means, particularly
with regard to showing coastline and groups of
small island adjacent to the coast.
The same principle was applied to mapping the
Great Barrier Reef, an outcome that gave rise to a
notable joint venture between the RAAF and
RAN.
Segment of the 1:63,360 map of Western Port, Victoria,
drawn by Survey Section c.1910 and regarded as a
prototype for the standard military series

10. Between WarsBetween Wars
 Military grid system and
mapping from aerial photography
During 1933 Australia adopted the transverse
Mercator projection and the British modified grid
system. The grid was introduced on the Albury
map in 1933, primarily to meet the modern
demands of the gunner, following a conference of
survey and artillery officers held in Melbourne that
year.
The Albury map was was the first military map
produced in Australia in which significant use had
been made of aerial photography.
Segment of the 1:63,360 map of Albury (1931
edition, printed in 1933), which was the first
military map produced in Australia in which
significant use had been made of aerial
photography. (National Library of Australia)

11. With the Second AIF in the Middle EastWith the Second AIF in the Middle East
Establishing a triangulation station
near the Turkish border
2/1st
(Corps) Field Survey
Company takes part in the
march past Melbourne Town
Hall before AIF units
embarked for the Middle East
in January 1941
Trailer-mounted printing machine in Lebanon
Plane-tabling in Syria

12. Operational Mapping in PNG - WWIIOperational Mapping in PNG - WWII
Segment of two miles to one
inch map of the Kokoda area
Produced by 2 Field Survey
section, 1942First Army Survey section, Lae, May 1945
5 Field Survey Company at Morotai,
1945
Surveyors on the ‘road’ from Merauke
to Manggaterik
Survey units at Seventeen Mile near
Port Moresby, 1943

13. A Very Moving OccasionA Very Moving Occasion
1 Mobile Lithographic Section was
privileged to be given the task of preparing
the INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER from
text submitted to it on the occasion of the
surrender of Japanese 11 Army to General
Blamey.
The ceremony took place at Moratai at 1100
hours on 9 September 1945. The very
moving occasion could not be described
better than by the reproduction of the
photograph of the ceremony, the Surrender
Document and General Blamey’s Address.

14. Post War National DevelopmentPost War National Development
 National surveying and mapping programs
 Technological change
Electronic distance measurement
1958
Aerial triangulation
1960
Logistics for
Field surveying
1960
Computer-assisted mapping
1976
A visionA vision
for thefor the
futurefuture

15. 1978
1979
1980
Terrain modelling*
Command support systems
Enhanced force effectiveness
* From
Peuker, Thomas K., 1972. Computer Cartography,
Association of American Geographers, Resource Paper No 17,
Figure 1.1 Perspective View of Greater Vancouver
* From
Peuker, Thomas K., 1972. Computer Cartography,
Association of American Geographers, Resource Paper No 17,
Figure 1.1 Perspective View of Greater Vancouver
A Vision for the FutureA Vision for the Future
 Twenty years ahead of its time

16. ‘‘Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations’’
 Twenty years ahead of its time
DEF/MISC/5157E
December 1982
Future applications of the database*:
 “Permit the transportation Officer to
point to a bridge and have the system
return the width, allowable load and
structural components of the bridge
 Permit the Medical Officer to point to
all hospitals in an area and have the
number of beds currently available
 Permit the Commander to point to a
geographical area and have the system
return enemy unit designations, location,
strength and equipment status, and have
the system designed to permit data base
update so that the information returned is
current and accurate”
1982
* From
MAJOR John Charland. Military Applications of Digital Data,
presented to Austra Carto - ICA Conference, Perth 1984
* From
MAJOR John Charland. Military Applications of Digital Data,
presented to Austra Carto - ICA Conference, Perth 1984

17. Post War Defence Cooperation ProgramsPost War Defence Cooperation Programs
 Surveying and mapping programs in SE Asia and SW Pacific
 Spawning further technological change Surveying and mapping in Papua New Guinea 1962-1994
 Military operations in Vietnam 1965-71
DCP - INDONESIA
MANDUA
GADING 1
GADING 2
GADING 3
GADING 4
GADING 5
CENDERAWASIH 76
CENDERAWASIH 77
CENDERAWASIH 78
PATTIMURA 79
PATTIMURA 80
CENDERAWASIH 80
CENDERAWASIH 81
PATTIMURA 81
NUSA TIMUR 82
NUSA TIMUR 83
NUSA BARAT 84
DCP – SW PACIFIC
Various operations on:
 Solomon Islands
 Fiji
 Tonga
 Vanuatu
 Western Samoa
 Tuvalu
 Kiribati
 Nauru
 Cook Islands
Airborne profile recording
1963
Aerodist distance measurement
1967
Doppler satellite measurement
1974
‘Skai Piksa’ photography
1973
Laser terrain profiling
1974
Semi-direct compilation
(computer assistance)
1973
GPS surveying
1989

18. A Deceptive TimeA Deceptive Time
 1985 – 19881985 – 1988
HRH Diana, Princess of Wales
appointed Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Australian Survey Corps
1 July 1988
Operation Morrisdance - Fiji
Operation Sailcloth - Vanuatu
May 1987
May 1988
Operational mapping requirements
The Director of RASvy, COL Alex Laing asked the corps “to look at itself”
 More than just classical surveying and mapping
 Military terrain intelligence is the corps’ business
 the way-ahead for the corps into the 21st
century”
July 1985
Future military requirements
AND a period of reviews … …
Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Australian Survey Corps
RICHARDSON REVIEW .. DIBB REPORT .. AUDITOR-GENERAL REPORT .. BAKER/BYRNES REVIEW .. ETC
HRH Diana, Princess of Wales
appointed Colonel-in-Chief,
Royal Australian Survey Corps
1 July 1988

19. An Uncertainty in Capability Development …An Uncertainty in Capability Development …
 19891989 – …
25 September
1991
“A narrow concentration in Army’s system development on meeting map production
requirements has resulted in the development of AUTOMAP as a highly efficient
mapping system, but with a database that is not, at this time, structured for the wider
GIS applications. The net effect of this is that RASVY has moved from being a world
leader in the exploitation of digital geographic applications, to lagging several years
behind the civil community and our principal ABCA allies. Other system development
is also occurring within the ADF without overall policy guidance to ensure integration
and interoperability where it may be necessary. The diverse range of geographic
activity and database construction within various areas of Defence has developed
without any single organisation having a coordinating role to ensure compatibility and
interoperabilty between systems and the avoidance of duplication”.
October 1989
Report of the Joint Working Party on ADF GIS
INCLUDING a period of project delays, etc, etc
and leading to … …
COSC Minute No 129/91
 ACOPS – Policy development, tasking, coordination, …
 ACDEV – Defence Force Capability Proposal
 DIO – Management and dissemination of geographic information

20. The End of an EraThe End of an Era
 1 July 1996 – demise of the Royal Australian Survey Corps
“Since 1915 the Survey Corps has not just been a major
contributor to the tactical success of the Australian Army in
two World Wars and other conflicts, it has played a role in
the building of this nation – the Commonwealth of Australia
– and the building of other nations such as Papua New
Guinea. Without the impetus of military survey, much of this
continent would have remained unmapped, and hence much
of civil infrastructure, which we take granted for today,
would have been retarded in its development”.
Chief of the General Staff on the occasion on the integration of RASVY into RAE
“Australians as a whole might still be blissfully unaware and hence unappreciative of the debt of
gratitude owed to the generations of surveyors who have helped make possible the enviable standard
of living generally enjoyed today across the country. Should that situation ever change, and the story
receive the wider recognition that it deserves, then the part within that tale occupied by military
mapmakers is worthy of special acclaim by a grateful nation”.
C.D. Coulthard-Clark
“Australia’s Military Mapmakers”
2000

21. A Period of TransitionA Period of Transition
 1994 – 2000
Commercial Support Program (CSP)
Defence Efficiency Review (DER)
New Defence Arrangements
19941994
19971997
20002000
ATSE (Army Topographic Support Establishment)
DTA (Defence Topographic Agency)
DSMGI (D. of Strategic Military Geographic Information)
AIO (Australian Imagery Organisation)
1st Topographic Survey Squadron
DIGO (Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation)
RAN
Hydrographic
Service
RAAF
Aeronautical
Information
Service

22. ATSE / DTA
As a consequence of Commonwealth and Defence initiatives to ‘commercialise’
certain Defence activities, RASvy’s Army Survey Regiment’s role changed to that
of providing ‘non-core’ strategic mapping and changed to ATSE (Army
Topographic Support Establishment) then later to DTA (Defence Topographic
Agency).
ATSE/DTA products and services included the production of standard series
maps and charts and standard digital products.
Efficiency InitiativesEfficiency Initiatives
 1994 – 2000
AIO
During the same period, as a consequence of organisational change a new
organisation named AIO (Australian Imagery Organisation) was formed.
AIO improved its imagery and GIS capabilities through acquisition of new
systems.

23. GRPC
As a consequence of increased awareness of geospatial issues the old GRC
(Geographic Requirements Committee) was upgraded to the GRPC (Geographic
Requirements and Policy Committee)
Policy and Coordination InitiativesPolicy and Coordination Initiatives
 1994 – 20001994 – 2000
DSMGI
As a consequence of organisational change emanating from the Defence
Efficiency Review and Defence Reform Program, the Directorate of Strategic
Military Geographic Information was established.
Goal 1 Improve Coordination and Effectiveness of ADO Geospatial Information Organisations
Goal 2 Develop and Implement a Geospatial Information Infrastructure, Capable of Disseminating
Geospatial Information to Strategic, Operational and Tactical Users
Goal 3 Develop an Effective Information Requirement and Tasking Process, Capable of Identifying
Strategic, Operational and Tactical Geospatial Information Requirements While Optimising
Production
Goal 4 Develop and Implement Geospatial Information Systems and Applications to Support the
Needs of Defence
Goal 5 Provide for Joint and Combined Interoperability
Goal 6 Provide Accurate and Timely Geospatial Information Conforming to Standards and
Specifications to Satisfy User Requirements
Goal 7 Develop and Inform Our People
Goal 8 Capitalise on Industry Geospatial Information Developments and Pursue Capability
Development and Research
Goal 1 Improve Coordination and Effectiveness of ADO Geospatial Information Organisations
Goal 2 Develop and Implement a Geospatial Information Infrastructure, Capable of Disseminating
Geospatial Information to Strategic, Operational and Tactical Users
Goal 3 Develop an Effective Information Requirement and Tasking Process, Capable of Identifying
Strategic, Operational and Tactical Geospatial Information Requirements While Optimising
Production
Goal 4 Develop and Implement Geospatial Information Systems and Applications to Support the
Needs of Defence
Goal 5 Provide for Joint and Combined Interoperability
Goal 6 Provide Accurate and Timely Geospatial Information Conforming to Standards and
Specifications to Satisfy User Requirements
Goal 7 Develop and Inform Our People
Goal 8 Capitalise on Industry Geospatial Information Developments and Pursue Capability
Development and Research

24. 11stst
Topographic Survey SquadronTopographic Survey Squadron
As a consequence of increased awareness of
geospatial issues and other Defence and Army
initiatives “1 Topo” has evolved in its operational
capability over the past few years.
Operational Effectiveness InitiativesOperational Effectiveness Initiatives
 1994 – 2000

25. Geodetic SurveyingGeodetic Surveying
GeomaticGeomatic
Advice and BriefingAdvice and Briefing
Contemporary Military SurveyingContemporary Military Surveying
SupportSupport
toto
Operational PlanningOperational Planning

26. The Minister for Defence, John Moore, today announced the formation of the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation
(DIGO).
This initiative brings together three separate parts of the Defence Department: the Australian Imagery Organisation (formerly
located within the Defence Intelligence Organisation), the Directorate of Strategic Military Geographic Information (formerly
located within the Defence Headquarters), and the Defence Topographic Agency in Bendigo, Victoria.
"Imagery and geospatial information provide information about our world. When combined, as we have done with this new
organisation, they enable Defence to extract knowledge for specific strategic and planning purposes," Mr Moore said.
Key uses for this kind of information include situational awareness, decision making and operational planning.
"The change announced today will provide the Australian Defence Organisation and the Government with intelligence and
geospatial information needed to effectively operate in an increasingly complex environment.
"A modern and versatile defence force needs reliable information, ranging from accurate paper maps to digital data for electronic
equipment, to three-dimensional computer models for planning operations.
"Advanced weapons systems in particular require ‘smarter’ geospatial information to support them and Australia must be able to
produce this information. The formation of DIGO is a significant step in developing this capability," said Mr Moore.
While the Defence Topographic Agency will be integrated functionally into DIGO, it will remain in Bendigo,
reflecting the continuing commitment from Defence to regional Australia.
The Director of the new Organisation is Mr Chris Stephens.
DIGODIGO
 2000
New Defence Imagery and Geospatial ArrangementsNew Defence Imagery and Geospatial Arrangements

27. Article presented as a paper
Clem Sargent’s
The Royal Australian Survey Corps
1915 - 1990
Australian War Memorial History Conference
1990
Images and historical information from
Christopher Coulthard-Clark’s
Australia’s Military Mapmakers
Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2000
ISBN 0 19 551343 6
Images and visions from sappers of
1 Topographic Survey Squadron
Images and historical information from
Valerie Lovejoy’s
Mapmakers of Fortuna
A History of the Army Survey Regiment
Ex-Fortuna Association, Bendigo, 2003
ISBN 0 646 42120 4
Australia’sAustralia’s Military MapmakersMilitary Mapmakers
1910 – 20001910 – 2000
Background music to A Proud Heritage
Dire Straits
Brothers in Arms
Images and historical information from
Lawrence FitzGerald’s
Lebanon to Labuan
J.G.Holmes, Melbourne, 1980
ISBN 0 9594979