Government launches national spatial database

The federal government has launched the new Location Information Knowledge Platform (LINK) to serve as a single point of access for federal and state government spatial data.

Users of the platform will be able to access verified location information without having to find the data sources divided across nine jurisdictions.

LINK is the latest project from the national Foundation Spatial Data Framework program, which aims to improve the delivery of location data to commercial and public recipients.

Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor said the platform will benefit a wide range of users, from sectors including insurance, emergency response, transport and agriculture.

“Government entities hold a significant amount of location information which is a strategic national resource. Accurate location information is a key influencer of productivity and will pave the way for new and innovative applications that increase efficiencies,” he said.

“Having access to consistent and accurate position and road network data enables cooperative intelligent transport systems such as vehicle charging, and freight, logistics and container management. This allows for faster and more efficient supply of goods to market, which is critical for the future of our smart cities and regional networks.”

As an example of commercial use of government spatial data, Taylor said Insurance Australia Group is using the public Geo-coded National Address File (G-NAF) to inform home owners of flood risks and insurance choices.

Emergency response dispatch centres also use G-NAF when responding to emergency calls, and accurate position and land information can help the agriculture sector pursue new innovations such as autonomous tractors, Taylor said.

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