A small decision in 1995 led to large consequences for geospatial information infrastructure development in the US and other countries. Specifically, the decision to consolidate US intelligence imagery activities under a new National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) disrupted progress that had been made on transitioning from paper maps to a digital geospatial framework. Initiatives from the 1980s and 1990s to develop geospatial information infrastructures were mostly ignored after NIMA's formation. As a result, traditional paper map production continued rather than fully realizing a shared digital geospatial framework as envisioned. The consolidation also shifted leadership perspectives in a way that de-emphasized engineering expertise going forward.
Dare to Change 1980Reflections of one of Australia's Military MapmakersRobert (Bob) Williams
1. In the late 1970s, the author was given the opportunity to study cartography and computing science integration at the Canberra College of Advanced Education (now University of Canberra). There, he learned about developing digital mapping applications from his lecturer Waldemar Wassermann.
2. In 1980, the author wrote a discussion paper called "Defence Enquiry System" that proposed a geographic information system for defense applications like tracking personnel and equipment. He also worked on a mapping application called MAPPACK that demonstrated options for education and navigation uses.
3. MAPPACK allowed users to generate different map projections and manipulate continents to simulate plate tectonics. It also produced specialized maps for navigation including strip
This is an overview of a cartographic mapping package developed at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. The package demonstrates educational and navigational applications and was produced for the semester unit Special Studies in Computing in the course for the award of Bachelor of Arts in Computing Studies.
It was 20 years ago!
Dare to Change - Geographic Intelligence – The Key to Information Superiority
Request for assistance:
“I’ve lined up CDF (Chief of the Defence Force) to give a luncheon talk to the members of ASIBA (Australasia Spatial Information Business Association) on Thursday 10 October. Naturally I will have to write his speech! If you have any particular thoughts on what I might include, I would be grateful. The aim will be to give the spatial industry lobby a feeling that Defence recognises, values and needs quality geo information in many areas.
As well, I’ve agreed to speak to AURISA (Australasian Urban and Regional Information Association) on November 27 – guest / keynote speaker I think. Again any ideas you might want to proffer would be welcome”.
[Director, DIGO]
Geospatial Intelligence in Support of the Australian Approach to WarfareRobert (Bob) Williams
This paper (written in 2003) introduces the term geospatial intelligence to the lexicon of Australia’s national security. The paper describes a framework of concepts as they apply to imagery, imagery intelligence, and geographic, infrastructure and environmental information, referred to collectively as Geospatial Intelligence. The paper also describes the means of acquiring, processing and disseminating the range of products and services to the Defence community, referred to as Geospatial Information Infrastructure.
The article linked to (below) is somewhat of an odyssey. It commences with discussion on, possibly, the first land information system in Australia and my association with it - Eurobodalla.
It then briefly describes follow on applications including a military terrain-mapping product. Subsequent products cover the littoral zone for beach landings. So, it could be described as terrain intelligence.
This idea stemmed from the D-Day invasion maps (Benson and Bigot).
And, so, follows the Benson and Bigot story – an amazing cartographic accomplishment. To view a video of this stunning activity view the link at the end of the article
The article linked to (below) is somewhat of an odyssey. It commences with discussion on, possibly, the first land information system in Australia and my association with it - Eurobodalla.
It then briefly describes follow on applications including a military terrain-mapping product. Subsequent products cover the littoral zone for beach landings. So, it could be described as terrain intelligence.
This idea stemmed from the D-Day invasion maps (Benson and Bigot).
And, so, follows the Benson and Bigot story – an amazing cartographic accomplishment. To view a video of this stunning activity view the link at the end of the article.
Hydrospatial 21 [Education] - Dr Bob Williams
My presentation at Hydrospatial 21 at Cairns in February 2022 was titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future". It referred to supplementary information in other presentations.
This supplementary presentation describes "Education" and related topics; a personal experience
EDUCATION is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills and personal development and should be an enlightening experience.
- Policy initiatives from the 1980s aimed to establish guidelines for geospatial data standards and multi-national cooperation through agreements like the Digital Chart of the World project and the Digital Geographic Information Working Group.
- The 1987 Defence policy paper and 1994 DI(G) OPS 20-3 directive endorsed standards like DIGEST and S-57 to facilitate geospatial data exchange.
- However, transformational projects like Project Parare in the 1990s that aimed to establish a digital geospatial capability faced challenges and inconsistencies, and the capability is still being developed over 30 years later.
Dare to Change 1980Reflections of one of Australia's Military MapmakersRobert (Bob) Williams
1. In the late 1970s, the author was given the opportunity to study cartography and computing science integration at the Canberra College of Advanced Education (now University of Canberra). There, he learned about developing digital mapping applications from his lecturer Waldemar Wassermann.
2. In 1980, the author wrote a discussion paper called "Defence Enquiry System" that proposed a geographic information system for defense applications like tracking personnel and equipment. He also worked on a mapping application called MAPPACK that demonstrated options for education and navigation uses.
3. MAPPACK allowed users to generate different map projections and manipulate continents to simulate plate tectonics. It also produced specialized maps for navigation including strip
This is an overview of a cartographic mapping package developed at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. The package demonstrates educational and navigational applications and was produced for the semester unit Special Studies in Computing in the course for the award of Bachelor of Arts in Computing Studies.
It was 20 years ago!
Dare to Change - Geographic Intelligence – The Key to Information Superiority
Request for assistance:
“I’ve lined up CDF (Chief of the Defence Force) to give a luncheon talk to the members of ASIBA (Australasia Spatial Information Business Association) on Thursday 10 October. Naturally I will have to write his speech! If you have any particular thoughts on what I might include, I would be grateful. The aim will be to give the spatial industry lobby a feeling that Defence recognises, values and needs quality geo information in many areas.
As well, I’ve agreed to speak to AURISA (Australasian Urban and Regional Information Association) on November 27 – guest / keynote speaker I think. Again any ideas you might want to proffer would be welcome”.
[Director, DIGO]
Geospatial Intelligence in Support of the Australian Approach to WarfareRobert (Bob) Williams
This paper (written in 2003) introduces the term geospatial intelligence to the lexicon of Australia’s national security. The paper describes a framework of concepts as they apply to imagery, imagery intelligence, and geographic, infrastructure and environmental information, referred to collectively as Geospatial Intelligence. The paper also describes the means of acquiring, processing and disseminating the range of products and services to the Defence community, referred to as Geospatial Information Infrastructure.
The article linked to (below) is somewhat of an odyssey. It commences with discussion on, possibly, the first land information system in Australia and my association with it - Eurobodalla.
It then briefly describes follow on applications including a military terrain-mapping product. Subsequent products cover the littoral zone for beach landings. So, it could be described as terrain intelligence.
This idea stemmed from the D-Day invasion maps (Benson and Bigot).
And, so, follows the Benson and Bigot story – an amazing cartographic accomplishment. To view a video of this stunning activity view the link at the end of the article
The article linked to (below) is somewhat of an odyssey. It commences with discussion on, possibly, the first land information system in Australia and my association with it - Eurobodalla.
It then briefly describes follow on applications including a military terrain-mapping product. Subsequent products cover the littoral zone for beach landings. So, it could be described as terrain intelligence.
This idea stemmed from the D-Day invasion maps (Benson and Bigot).
And, so, follows the Benson and Bigot story – an amazing cartographic accomplishment. To view a video of this stunning activity view the link at the end of the article.
Hydrospatial 21 [Education] - Dr Bob Williams
My presentation at Hydrospatial 21 at Cairns in February 2022 was titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future". It referred to supplementary information in other presentations.
This supplementary presentation describes "Education" and related topics; a personal experience
EDUCATION is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills and personal development and should be an enlightening experience.
- Policy initiatives from the 1980s aimed to establish guidelines for geospatial data standards and multi-national cooperation through agreements like the Digital Chart of the World project and the Digital Geographic Information Working Group.
- The 1987 Defence policy paper and 1994 DI(G) OPS 20-3 directive endorsed standards like DIGEST and S-57 to facilitate geospatial data exchange.
- However, transformational projects like Project Parare in the 1990s that aimed to establish a digital geospatial capability faced challenges and inconsistencies, and the capability is still being developed over 30 years later.
My Hydrospatial 21 presentation titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future" contained a number of slides noting supplement.
This presentation is the Capability Development link. CAPABILITY is defined as the capacity to achieve a specific effect, in a nominated operating environment or location, within a specific degree of notice, and to sustain that effect for a given time. CAPABILITY has as its components: personnel; education and training; equipment; organisation; structure; deployment; preparedness; and doctrine
My Hydrospatial 21 presentation titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future" contained a number of slides noting supplement.
This presentation is the Rosetta link. It suggests that visionary capabilities are possible and uses components of the Rosetta mission with past capabilities.
Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the FutureRobert (Bob) Williams
This presentation was given at Hydrospatial 2021 held in February 2022 at Cairns, Queensland. The presentation looks at capability of the futuristic Oceania Infrastructure and Environmental Support System.
A presentation to supplement a presentation titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future" given at Hydrospatial21 held in cairns February 2022
Research and development project proposal written in december 1994. The purpose was to offer a strategy and a commitment to an evolutionary approach in the development of a system to provide Regional Geospatial Information and service.
Geographic intelligence. This presentation was developed in 2000-2001 in response to a question from a senior military officer who asked "how much geographic information do I need and what can go wrong if I haven't got it"!
Digital transformation and the concept of a 'virtual world' was a topic of interest in the 1990s. The Australian Defence Organisation conducted a number of major capability studies in the mid 1990s including the Environmental and Geographic Information Capability Study. Following on from that I presented this presentation.
eGeoBrief - Afghanistan - Facilities
The Facilities presentation was produced in October 2001.
The overall eGeoBrief has presentations for History, Geography, Politics, Communications, Facilities, Resources, Economy and Envronment.
CAUTION:
Information contained in this product has been compiled from a range of sources from the Internet.
Information has NOT been independently validated.
This product has been developed as a ‘proof of concept’ for electronic geographic briefs (eGeoBrief)
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).
Twenty years ago various organisations and professional bodies were developing leading edge capability in geospatial infrastructures. This presentation following an overseas visit was given to various groups in Canberra on 24 August 2001.
This document discusses two approaches to incorporating data quality statements into spatial databases. It describes the Vector Product Format (VPF) used by the Digital Chart of the World project, which contains data quality information at different levels to allow users to evaluate data utility. VPF includes seven types of data quality information such as source, positional accuracy, and logical consistency. The document also discusses guidelines from the International Cartographic Association to provide a consistent approach to assessing data quality.
This is a story of an amazing military mapping organisation and its iconic home - Fortuna Villa, Bendigo. The document include many photographs, figures, and descriptions.
My reflection is the the Mid-70s to Mid-80s were Enlightening years. This presentation describes my activities for that timeline including studies at the Canberra College of Education
In presenting his report on the 9/11 Commission Report, Thomas Kean stated "We have failures in: Policy, Management, Capability and above in IMAGINATION". This article follows on from my previous post "Deciphering a Historic Image; To reveal enduring requirements and capabilities". So, now, let me introduce you to Fitzy, desmond, Wally and Ben.
The document summarizes the history and purpose of Fort Lytton and the adjacent Lytton Quarantine Station in Brisbane, Australia. It describes how Fort Lytton defended Brisbane from colonial times through World War 2. The quarantine station opened in 1913 to isolate immigrants and potentially infected individuals. Both sites played roles in protecting against disease outbreaks. The document then discusses the need for capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, and mapping to safeguard nations from pandemics and other threats.
Geranium OIESS is an advanced system for managing events and incidents in Oceania's complex environment by 2025. It facilitates interaction with future navigation systems, integrates natural disaster information, and coordinates incident response. OIESS provides surveillance, navigation support, and environmental protection capabilities through assets like Cutlass and Flipper drones. It also manages vast amounts of geographic and environmental data through systems like Burrows' GISMO to support issues like climate change, security, and infrastructure protection.
Towards a Virtual World and an Intelligent [Artificial] Cartographer
Post-graduate education should be more than attending set courses and doing a final year project. It should be about undertaking activities and a major project that challenges current practice. It should be an experience that contributes to a science offering innovative thought and a vision for the future.
This document tells my experience for MSc (Cartography) at the University of Wisconsin in the mid-1980s including events before and after.
Cartography is a communication system and should be a fundamental infrastructure required to meet the information demands of contemporary challenges.
This presentation describes activities at the Australian Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, Victoria related to the introduction of digital mapping in the 1970s and 80s.
How To Cultivate Community Affinity Throughout The Generosity JourneyAggregage
This session will dive into how to create rich generosity experiences that foster long-lasting relationships. You’ll walk away with actionable insights to redefine how you engage with your supporters — emphasizing trust, engagement, and community!
My Hydrospatial 21 presentation titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future" contained a number of slides noting supplement.
This presentation is the Capability Development link. CAPABILITY is defined as the capacity to achieve a specific effect, in a nominated operating environment or location, within a specific degree of notice, and to sustain that effect for a given time. CAPABILITY has as its components: personnel; education and training; equipment; organisation; structure; deployment; preparedness; and doctrine
My Hydrospatial 21 presentation titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future" contained a number of slides noting supplement.
This presentation is the Rosetta link. It suggests that visionary capabilities are possible and uses components of the Rosetta mission with past capabilities.
Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the FutureRobert (Bob) Williams
This presentation was given at Hydrospatial 2021 held in February 2022 at Cairns, Queensland. The presentation looks at capability of the futuristic Oceania Infrastructure and Environmental Support System.
A presentation to supplement a presentation titled "Back to the Future: The Climate for Change and the Hydrographer of the Future" given at Hydrospatial21 held in cairns February 2022
Research and development project proposal written in december 1994. The purpose was to offer a strategy and a commitment to an evolutionary approach in the development of a system to provide Regional Geospatial Information and service.
Geographic intelligence. This presentation was developed in 2000-2001 in response to a question from a senior military officer who asked "how much geographic information do I need and what can go wrong if I haven't got it"!
Digital transformation and the concept of a 'virtual world' was a topic of interest in the 1990s. The Australian Defence Organisation conducted a number of major capability studies in the mid 1990s including the Environmental and Geographic Information Capability Study. Following on from that I presented this presentation.
eGeoBrief - Afghanistan - Facilities
The Facilities presentation was produced in October 2001.
The overall eGeoBrief has presentations for History, Geography, Politics, Communications, Facilities, Resources, Economy and Envronment.
CAUTION:
Information contained in this product has been compiled from a range of sources from the Internet.
Information has NOT been independently validated.
This product has been developed as a ‘proof of concept’ for electronic geographic briefs (eGeoBrief)
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).
Twenty years ago various organisations and professional bodies were developing leading edge capability in geospatial infrastructures. This presentation following an overseas visit was given to various groups in Canberra on 24 August 2001.
This document discusses two approaches to incorporating data quality statements into spatial databases. It describes the Vector Product Format (VPF) used by the Digital Chart of the World project, which contains data quality information at different levels to allow users to evaluate data utility. VPF includes seven types of data quality information such as source, positional accuracy, and logical consistency. The document also discusses guidelines from the International Cartographic Association to provide a consistent approach to assessing data quality.
This is a story of an amazing military mapping organisation and its iconic home - Fortuna Villa, Bendigo. The document include many photographs, figures, and descriptions.
My reflection is the the Mid-70s to Mid-80s were Enlightening years. This presentation describes my activities for that timeline including studies at the Canberra College of Education
In presenting his report on the 9/11 Commission Report, Thomas Kean stated "We have failures in: Policy, Management, Capability and above in IMAGINATION". This article follows on from my previous post "Deciphering a Historic Image; To reveal enduring requirements and capabilities". So, now, let me introduce you to Fitzy, desmond, Wally and Ben.
The document summarizes the history and purpose of Fort Lytton and the adjacent Lytton Quarantine Station in Brisbane, Australia. It describes how Fort Lytton defended Brisbane from colonial times through World War 2. The quarantine station opened in 1913 to isolate immigrants and potentially infected individuals. Both sites played roles in protecting against disease outbreaks. The document then discusses the need for capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, and mapping to safeguard nations from pandemics and other threats.
Geranium OIESS is an advanced system for managing events and incidents in Oceania's complex environment by 2025. It facilitates interaction with future navigation systems, integrates natural disaster information, and coordinates incident response. OIESS provides surveillance, navigation support, and environmental protection capabilities through assets like Cutlass and Flipper drones. It also manages vast amounts of geographic and environmental data through systems like Burrows' GISMO to support issues like climate change, security, and infrastructure protection.
Towards a Virtual World and an Intelligent [Artificial] Cartographer
Post-graduate education should be more than attending set courses and doing a final year project. It should be about undertaking activities and a major project that challenges current practice. It should be an experience that contributes to a science offering innovative thought and a vision for the future.
This document tells my experience for MSc (Cartography) at the University of Wisconsin in the mid-1980s including events before and after.
Cartography is a communication system and should be a fundamental infrastructure required to meet the information demands of contemporary challenges.
This presentation describes activities at the Australian Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, Victoria related to the introduction of digital mapping in the 1970s and 80s.
How To Cultivate Community Affinity Throughout The Generosity JourneyAggregage
This session will dive into how to create rich generosity experiences that foster long-lasting relationships. You’ll walk away with actionable insights to redefine how you engage with your supporters — emphasizing trust, engagement, and community!
Contributi dei parlamentari del PD - Contributi L. 3/2019Partito democratico
DI SEGUITO SONO PUBBLICATI, AI SENSI DELL'ART. 11 DELLA LEGGE N. 3/2019, GLI IMPORTI RICEVUTI DALL'ENTRATA IN VIGORE DELLA SUDDETTA NORMA (31/01/2019) E FINO AL MESE SOLARE ANTECEDENTE QUELLO DELLA PUBBLICAZIONE SUL PRESENTE SITO
This report explores the significance of border towns and spaces for strengthening responses to young people on the move. In particular it explores the linkages of young people to local service centres with the aim of further developing service, protection, and support strategies for migrant children in border areas across the region. The report is based on a small-scale fieldwork study in the border towns of Chipata and Katete in Zambia conducted in July 2023. Border towns and spaces provide a rich source of information about issues related to the informal or irregular movement of young people across borders, including smuggling and trafficking. They can help build a picture of the nature and scope of the type of movement young migrants undertake and also the forms of protection available to them. Border towns and spaces also provide a lens through which we can better understand the vulnerabilities of young people on the move and, critically, the strategies they use to navigate challenges and access support.
The findings in this report highlight some of the key factors shaping the experiences and vulnerabilities of young people on the move – particularly their proximity to border spaces and how this affects the risks that they face. The report describes strategies that young people on the move employ to remain below the radar of visibility to state and non-state actors due to fear of arrest, detention, and deportation while also trying to keep themselves safe and access support in border towns. These strategies of (in)visibility provide a way to protect themselves yet at the same time also heighten some of the risks young people face as their vulnerabilities are not always recognised by those who could offer support.
In this report we show that the realities and challenges of life and migration in this region and in Zambia need to be better understood for support to be strengthened and tuned to meet the specific needs of young people on the move. This includes understanding the role of state and non-state stakeholders, the impact of laws and policies and, critically, the experiences of the young people themselves. We provide recommendations for immediate action, recommendations for programming to support young people on the move in the two towns that would reduce risk for young people in this area, and recommendations for longer term policy advocacy.
AHMR is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed online journal created to encourage and facilitate the study of all aspects (socio-economic, political, legislative and developmental) of Human Mobility in Africa. Through the publication of original research, policy discussions and evidence research papers AHMR provides a comprehensive forum devoted exclusively to the analysis of contemporaneous trends, migration patterns and some of the most important migration-related issues.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Presentation by Rebecca Sachs and Joshua Varcie, analysts in CBO’s Health Analysis Division, at the 13th Annual Conference of the American Society of Health Economists.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos