Customer perspectives

While each of our primary customers has their own requirements for topographic information, the following is a summary of the recurring themes heard during our consultation.

Business

Primary customers would like to reduce the monetary, human and time costs associated with their use of topographic information, primarily in the areas of information updates and delivery.

Delivery

The diversity of technologies, and their application in a wide variety of business and public roles, means it is important to have a variety of channels for the delivery of products and services that are fit for purpose.

Although multiple channels may be provided, the Internet will become the primary mechanism for the delivery of topographic information.

While over time technology will reduce reliance on traditionally printed maps, customers wish to continue using paper products in the foreseeable future.

Usage

Primary customers require topographic information to be more detailed, up to date and accurate.

• topographic data is increasingly used in their business applications, increasing demand for incremental updates and metadata.
• the small scale and Pacific Island data and printed maps need updating.

LINZ should cut over to a New Zealand Transverse Mercator (NZTM) map series based on New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000 (NZGD2000) at a point in the future, supporting users with a comprehensive communication/education plan.

Information gathering arrangements should be improved to 'collect once, use many times', to counter the data maintenance inefficiencies and inconsistencies that have arisen from many agencies holding topographic data of a similar nature.

Consideration should be given to the national provision of:

• consistent geographic name information, including both official and common-use names.
• archiving arrangements for digital topographic data.
• ways to make historical topographic records available for research and other purposes.