Spatial Indicators
URC GIS Laboratory/Services
The emergence of location based technologies coupled with powerful GIS (Geographic Information Systems) has revolutionised the way information is delivered, around the globe. Therefore, the Urban Research Centre currently employs Mr Dimeski, an expert Spatial and GIS Analyst to provide specialised statistical, GIS and remote sensing (image analysis) services to the Urban Research Centre's projects (academic and commercial). The Centre is at the forefront of this newly emerging field (geospatial technology), and aims to be Sydney's leading provider of urban and spatial indicators, suppling the most comprehensive information about the changing conditions of our cities.
Each geographical location inherently has information that can be acquired, stored, managed, analysed and presented with spatial-based technology. The GIS laboratory adopts a creative approach, applying cutting-edge methodological techniques (spatial, statistical and image analysis) to generate innovative and practical policy outcomes across multiple disciplines. The role of the Urban Research Centre is to produce spatially referenced maps illustrating demographic, environmental, urban, community and social issues throughout Australia with a focus on the Sydney greater metropolitan region. The Centre already holds a large collection of spatial software and data to perform this specialised analysis.
The Centre also has the capacity to publish spatial maps via a WMS (Web Mapping Service) stream. The growing popularity of location-based collaboration coupled with the proposed introduction of the National Broadband Network, will see location-based Web 2.0 technologies geared for strong growth. With this in mind, the Urban Research Centre has taken a leading role in promoting its research through effective and user-friendly web mapping services.
Example: Sydney Markets - Where our food is coming from (opens in a new window) or ParraLGA (opens in a new window)
The Urban Research Centre already has a strong track record when it comes to performing spatial and GIS analysis for its wide range of clients. Generally, GIS projects are formed as partnerships for research in areas of mutual interest within the university but also span out to government and semi-government organisations, development corporations, community associations and industry, such as property groups and council associations.
A few projects which have utilised the centres GIS capabilities include:
| Project | Organisation | Work performed |
|---|---|---|
| SDAP (Spatial Data Analysis Project) | Dept. of Premier and Cabinet | Incorporated NSW Ambulance, Fire, Police, Housing and Education data to generate a composite score which was used to locate areas which require assistance |
| Developing a Penrith Valley Economic Corridor | Penrith Business Alliance (PBA) | Establishing the spatial dimensions of an economic corridor in Penrith/establishing industry clusters |
| A Land Use Audit of the Sydney Basin Using Remote Sensing Techniques | Dept. of Planning | Using remote sensing techniques to map the location of the agricultural industry in the Sydney Basin |
| Fresh Fruit and Veg Flows | Sydney Markets Ltd | To use trucking data to show the directional flow and volume of fresh fruit and vegetables coming into the market and to then illustrate where the food is going. |
| North-West and West-Central Sydney Employment Strategies | WSROC | Utilising the centres statistical capabilities to produce a location quotient comparing the different types of industries within the Western Sydney Region |
(please click for enlarged image)
Sample map - Developing a Penrith Valley Economic Corridor
The UWS Urban Research Centre is truly committed to using GIS to contribute and improving the quality of life of individuals and their communities around the world. Our goal is to convert raw data into information, and information into insight for better decision making and a healthier, wiser community. Evidently, our goal has propelled a large amount of interest and as a result, we have established many valuable links with government organisations and industry.
The GIS lab at the Urban Research Centre is highly skilled and can assist the University as a whole in leveraging the maximum possible value from the existing spatial data infrastructure. The Laboratory is recognised as a pooled knowledge reservoir in GIS and has establishing many links within the University of Western Sydney to assist in solving complex problems.
The future
The emergence of social media has accelerated the demand for and application of geospatial technologies in today’s society. Location has become everything. The Urban Research Centre’s expertise and strong mapping background will see it implement an Urban Indicators catalogue for the Sydney metropolitan region in the near future. ABS Census data from 1996, 2001 and 2006 will be used to show key trends in urbanisation, with this information uploaded to a dedicated website named the ‘Urban Observatory’. This website is in the development stages at the moment, and will serve as the direct information source for our rapidly changing city. With the long awaited Census 2011 dataset due to be released mid next year; the URC will become one of the first organisations to provide evidence on key changes in the city of Sydney.
