One hit on the Internet will now take you to the Australian Special
Data Directory with more than 3500 datasets of spatial and
geographic information. The directory provides access to data
catalogues held by many Australian Government agencies via the
World Wide Web.
The extent of geographic or spatial information available about a
particular area can now be gleaned from the one inquiry.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Science and
Resources, Warren Entsch said it would prove beneficial for
resource and environmental managers, researchers, planners and
others who rely on geographic information to do their job.
The directory provides direct access to more than 3500 datasets
distributed throughout Australia through a simple method of search,
discovery and retrieval of spatial datasets.
"The directory has been in prototype mode for almost a year now,
averaging 2000 hits per month," Mr Entsch said. "This is expected
to grow as knowledge of the service becomes more widely known."
The development of the directory by Commonwealth and State
Govern-ment agencies was coordinated by the Australian Surveying
and Land Information Group, Environment Australia and the Bureau of
Resource Sciences.
The directory is an initiative of Australia's peak land information
forum, the Australia New Zealand Land Information Council.
—Department of Primary Industry & Energy
