Dear XXX
Urban DEMs in High Priority Areas Project and National Elevation Data
Framework
I am writing to provide an update, and seek your support for development of high resolution digital
elevation models (DEMs) over high priority coastal areas, and the development of the National
Elevation Data Framework.
On June 13, 2008, the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator the Hon Penny Wong
announced $2.8 million in funding to help our coastal communities plan and adapt to climate change.
$2 million has been allocated to the Urban DEM (UDEM) Project for the development of high
resolution DEMs and analysis over high priority urban areas subject to the impacts of climate change
including sea level rise, storm surge and extreme weather events. Digital Elevation Models and
Digital Surface Models are to be developed over key urban areas including Perth, Melbourne, Sydney,
Adelaide, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the NSW Central Coast. The NSW Central Coast/Lower
Hunter and Perth to Mandurah regions have been identified for initial pilot study activities prior to
completion of the remaining areas.
The Department of Climate Change awarded the UDEM project to the Cooperative Research Centre
for Spatial Information (CRCSI) in June 2008. A Project Management Committee has been
established with representatives from the Department of Climate Change, ANZLIC- the Spatial
Information Council, CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, the CRCSI and Sinclair Knight Merz who were
recently engaged as project manager.
In addition to the primary driver of better preparedness for climate change, the UDEM project has
two other important objectives. Firstly, it is a pilot project that begins the implementation of the
National Elevation Data Framework (NEDF) over key urban areas. Secondly, it starts the analysis
and development of industry capability for the implementation of the NEDF. It will be the first test
case for the program with a focus on areas of high priority due to risks from climate change which
may impact people, infrastructure and other assets.
The NEDF is developing a collaborative framework aimed at increasing the quality of elevation data
and derived products such as digital elevation models (DEMs) describing Australia’s landform and
seabed. The NEDF will optimise investment in existing and future data collections and provide
access to a wide range of digital elevation data and derived products to those who need them.
A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the NEDF implementation with
representatives from government, industry and academia. The members of the Steering Committee
include: ANZLIC representing state jurisdictions; Department of Climate Change and Water;
Geoscience Australia; CSIRO, the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI);
Bureau of Meteorology, and the Australian Spatial Industry Business Association (ASIBA)
representing private industry.
Recent NEDF development activities have included: a comprehensive analysis of the identified need
for a NEDF; a national elevation data audit; user needs analysis, new national data capture
guidelines; together with business cases and science cases. These activities have also been reviewed
and endorsed by the Australian Academy of Sciences and the Australian Academy of Technological
Sciences and Engineering, presenting a compelling case for the establishment of a national
framework.
Further information on the NEDF and new national data capture guidelines can be found at:
http://www.anzlic.org.au/nedf.html and http://www.icsm.gov.au/icsm/elevation/index.html
The national elevation data audit completed in late 2007 identified numerous high resolution
elevation data sets captured using airborne Lidar and photogrammetry, highlighting the significant
investment being made across all levels of government. It also highlighted the need to increase the
awareness, discoverability and access to elevation data.
In order to progress the Urban DEM Project, and the NEDF we are seeking further information in
relation to elevation data you may hold or be aware of. In particular we are seeking information on:
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Location and extent of high resolution elevation data collected anywhere in Australia
o A simple outline of the project area in digital form
Specifications of the elevation surveys including accuracy, currency, quality, formats etc
Custodial and licensing arrangements
o Who purchased the data
o Who is managing the data
o Licensing conditions regarding access and use
To help keep this information current and make it widely accessible, we would like to make this
information available in the form of standardised metadata describing the project data through the
ANZLIC website. Importantly, interested parties would be directed to data custodians to access the
data, with only maps and descriptions of the data being held on this site.
We would like to have this information by October 17th 2008. Should you require further clarification
please contact my Sydney office on 02 92367601 or Philip Tickle at Geoscience Australia on 02
62499769; email: Phil.Tickle@ga.gov.au. The requested information can be provided directly to
Geoscience Australia.
On behalf of ANZLIC, Department of Climate Change UDEM Project and the NEDF Steering
Committee I seek your support for these important initiatives, including the above request for
information on your data holdings, and look forward to working with you in the future.
Yours sincerely
Warwick Watkins
Chair, ANZLIC - the Spatial Information Council, &
NEDF Steering Committee.