MEDIA RELEASE
The Hon. John Moore, MP
Minister for Defence
Wednesday, 8 November 2000
MIN332/00
New Defence Imagery and Geospatial Arrangements
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.
Chris Wordsworth — Media Adviser — 02 62777800 0419 982482 Fax: 02 62734118
Email: word@defence.gov.au Web: www.defence.gov.au
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