Outcome 2 – Availability of Land Information

As well as collecting and maintaining land information, LINZ is responsible for making it available for use by other agencies, particularly emergency services and the New Zealand Defence Force.

In a knowledge economy, availability of information that can be trusted, understood and aggregated improves decision-making, reduces waste and lowers risk. Government plays a significant role where the market cannot always generate or provide the necessary information, and where a single source of core information is desirable.

Impact:

• the public, and particularly emergency services, are able to use geographic information that is accurate.

Measured by:

• changes in the discoverability and availability of land information, and
• satisfaction levels of those who use and rely on LINZ's land information.

Automating map production

What we set out to achieve

LINZ is responsible for national topographic mapping at 1:50,000 and broader scales. This is important for emergency services, land management, defence planning and recreational use. On 23 September 2009, LINZ launches a new national map series at 1:50,000 scale - Topo50 - using a new datum and projection³ that are globally consistent. The new maps will be compatible with modern GPS units, making them easier to use and improving safety, and will be generated using a fully automated map production process.

What we have achieved

In 2008/09, LINZ completed the software development for the three-year project to automate the production of the Topo50 map series. Now a new map series for all of New Zealand can be launched at one time. Previously, a print cycle took up to 30 years to produce a full New Zealand map series of around 400 maps.

New products can also be created using the automated system, including geo-referenced raster images (GeoTiff) of the new maps, which makes seamless national coverage available to any user for incorporation into GIS applications. They will be released via the LINZ website, and directly into emergency services' databases to coincide with the launch of the new paper maps in September 2009.

The project has provided an overall improvement in our topographic capability. Integration of the data maintenance and map production tasks means that updates and corrections, sourced from a range of authoritative agencies, can be obtained readily and applied quickly. An example is the regular update of data using high-resolution, satellite imagery from the KiwImage ⁴ project. The core topographic data is now being updated directly, improving the currency of the data and the ease of maintaining topographic information. It has resulted in a 70% increase in topographic maintenance and a reduction of 50% in the cost.

The change to the datum and projection used to produce Topo50 maps means the new maps will provide different geographical coordinates for a location to those found in the current map series. Throughout the project, we have worked closely with our primary topographic customers, emergency services and defence forces, who all agreed to operate their emergency systems using electronic versions of the maps from the time the new map series is released.

An important focus is to ensure as much consistency as possible between maps used by the public and the emergency services. A campaign has been prepared to encourage users to replace their old maps with the new series. Information on Topo50 maps, how to read them, and how to navigate using a map is covered in a Topo50 Map Reading Guide. Software has been developed that easily converts coordinates between the existing 260 series maps and the new Topo50 maps. Both are already available on the LINZ website.

The simultaneous introduction of the new map series in paper and electronic versions provides consistency among all users, leading to improved public safety, better land management and coordination of resources, and other significant benefits.

Providing hydrographic products & services in electronic format

What we set out to achieve

In 2006/07, LINZ started developing a modern infrastructure to improve the management of hydrographic data. The new system ensures LINZ, as the government steward of core hydrographic information, can meet current and future responsibilities to produce hydrographic information to international standards. Our approach has changed from a focus on paper charts, to hydrographic data that is used to generate a range of nautical products – including traditional paper charts and new Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs). ENCs are becoming mandatory on various classes of shipping internationally, beginning with high-speed craft, and, from 2012, international trading vessels that carry large numbers of passengers.

ENCs are used on ships with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems that combine ENCs with other data, such as data from Global Positioning Systems, radar and the ship's speed log. Users can then tailor their chart display, interrogate certain objects for more information, and set safety and alarm depths to aid safe navigation. These are also necessary for the operation of the new Royal New Zealand Navy vessels.

What we have achieved

In 2008/09, LINZ completed the implementation of the new hydrographic information system and commenced adding and upgrading existing datasets, while also commissioning the capture of additional datasets to be loaded directly into the system. Metadata is completed as each dataset is added to the system.

Using the new system, we produced, tested and released the first set in a series of ENCs for New Zealand waters, including ENCs for the Auckland Harbour and approach, and the Cook Strait. A full national set of ENCs is expected to be completed in 2010.

LINZ also signed an arrangement with the Australian Regional ENC Coordination Centre. This facilitates the international distribution of ENCs from New Zealand waters and includes a quality assurance programme ensuring all New Zealand ENCs have consistent and quality information.

From 2009/10 onwards, the hydrographic information system's functionality will be developed to provide all paper charts and other hydrographic products and services. The new hydrographic information system allows LINZ to produce more current data in electronic formats required by customers using ENC systems. Rationalisation of data into a single source will also provide efficiencies in our management of hydrographic data.