Helen Thompson, Peter Dahlhaus & Andrew MacLeod Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria In this age of ‘big data’ virtually every field of research and practice is being redefined. Governments are adopting open data policies with the aim of delivering efficiency benefits, increasing evidence based planning, enhancing productivity and innovation. Inescapable discussions around big data and analytics are partly in response to an increased availability of next generation broadband and mobile technologies which have created a society that is spatially enabled and aware. Big business and citizens increasingly expect to be able to access past and current information about any location to find answers to their spatial queries. Opportunities are emerging for regional communities to take initiative and eradicate information silos which may have hindered regional collaboration and innovation. In parallel with assisting regions to embrace big data and foster data sharing a range of research questions arise: 1. What are the best methods to provide access to big and complex data, to assist decision makers? 2. How can digital technologies be used to enhance, rather than repeat, past research? 3. Can qualitative data be used to improve the accuracy of quantitative data or metadata? 4. How can we harness Citizen Science and include crowd-sourced data, while minimising subjective bias and maintaining accuracy? Interoperable spatial knowledge systems with dynamic modelling and visualisation capabilities have been developed in response to these research challenges. Examples are provided of systems developed in a variety of fields including groundwater research, catchment management, and strategic planning for bushfire.

1. Centre for eCommerce and Communications
The hype and the hope: Progressing
towards big data insights for regional
communities
Dr Helen Thompson, Dr Peter Dahlhaus, Mr Andrew Macleod
Federation University Australia
Presentation for Digital Rural Futures Conference
University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba Campus
25-27 June 2014

2. Centre for eCommerce and Communications
Research Questions
• What are the best methods to provide access to big and complex data, to
assist decision makers?
• How can digital technologies be used to enhance, rather than repeat, past
research?
• Can qualitative data be used to improve the accuracy of quantitative data or
metadata?
• How can we harness citizen science and include crowd-sourced data, while
minimising subjective bias and maintaining accuracy?

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What is Big Data?
Definition: big data: Computing data sets that are too large and
complex to manipulate or interrogate with standard methods or tools:
much IT investment is going towards managing and maintaining big
data1.
Examples of big data: sensors gathering weather
information; GPS signals; transactions of online
purchases.
Big data spans three dimensions: Variety;
Velocity and Volume 2

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White House juggles privacy and big data1
What have Big Data, the Internet of Things and Civil Rights
have to do with each other? 2
How 'Big Data' pings you as a spender3
Big data: how predictive analytics is taking over the public sector4
Job hunting is a matter of Big Data, not how you perform at an interview 5
When big data can lead to big profit6
How big data is transforming public services – expert views7
Big Data: What’s the big deal?8 Rural Australia gets big data boost9

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Government and Big Data
Most Australian jurisdictions have introduced
open data policies
Aims of new open data policies include:
• Delivering efficiency benefits
• Evidence based planning
• Enhanced productivity
• Innovation outcomes

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What about Regional Communities?
• Regional Australia has rapidly adopted smart technologies for
communication and information access and sharing.
• New technologies have the potential to reduce traditional ‘information silos’
and enable greater access to decision useful information for regional
communities.
• Opportunity to activate and initiate regional collaborations and innovations.
• Regional universities are uniquely placed to facilitate big data projects
across multiple disciplines.

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Engagement and research
Interoperable
- Linking data sources
Spatial representation of data
- Place-based data
Visualisation
- 2D & 3D imagery and models
spatial.federation.edu.au

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Farm trials research
• Provide improved and enhanced
access to historical and future
farm trials information and data.
• Initial pilot with three grower
groups
1,285 trial projects
841 trial projects have trial data
11,681 individual tests
1,014 variety types
4,320 treatment types
36 unique measurement types

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Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater
• The VVG portal provides
access to groundwater data
from across Victoria.
• It features a unique state-
wide map of over 275,000
bores, providing access to a
user-friendly database
offering the most
comprehensive view of
groundwater data in Victoria
• Web-based 3D Visualisation
tools.

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Soil Health
• Project initiated by the Corangamite
Catchment Management Authority to
construct an online repository of soil
health information and knowledge
• Includes reports, research papers,
maps and descriptions related to:
• current and past soil series
mapping
• land capability and suitability
assessments
• agricultural trials
• soil research and investigations

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Digital Soil Mapping
• OzDSM is a collaborative workspace for
researchers working on digital soil
mapping (DSM) in Australia.
• DSM utilises numerical methods and
information technologies to produce
predictive maps of soil types and their
properties.
• Technologies include Map server, Open
layers with features incorporating
• Features: Spatially enabled database,
Layer querying

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Soil landform map

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Integrated Fire Management Planning
• An interoperable spatial information
system for Barwon South West
stakeholders
• Providing access to the most current
relevant information and fire risk data
• Supporting the community to develop
integrated regional and local fire
management plans.
• Technology
– Open layers, VicMAP API
• Features
– Layer stacking, layer transparency,
interoperable data

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DEPI fire history
and planned burns

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Natural Disaster Research
In response to the landslide
events of January 2011 in the
Grampians National Park,
Federation University Australia
have been engaged by Northern
Grampians Shire to investigate
the social, economic and
environmental impact of the
events

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Regional history
• The Eureka Stockade: An
Interactive History portal
contains historical overlays
and points of interest in the
Ballarat area around the time
of the Eureka Stockade.
• Dynamic map is an
interactive spatial interface to
the underlying information.

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Sport and Recreation
• A national geographic information
system (GIS) for presenting spatial
data.
• Provides the sport and recreation
sector with increased capacity for
research, strategic planning, and
development of participation
programs and facilities.
• Technology
– Map server, Open layers, Spatially
enabled database, Thematic maps, Large
dataset (ERASS 10 year survey),
queryable layers, sortable layers,
transparent layers

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Netball 2012
participation rate by
postcode

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Big Data recommendations and relevance
to regional Australia
International Council for Science : Committee on Data for Science and
Technology
• Respond to the importance of Big Data for international scientific
programmes;
• Exploit the benefits of Big Data for society;
• Improve understanding of Big Data through international collaboration;
• Promote universal access to Big Data through global research infrastructures;
• Explore and address the challenges of Big Data stewardship;
• Encourage capacity building and skills development;
• Foster the development of policies to maximise exploitation of Big Data.

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Contact
Dr Helen Thompson
Director, Centre for eCommerce and Communications
Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation)
Federation University Australia
E: h.thompson@federation.edu.au
Twitter:
federation.edu.au
spatial.federation.edu.au
federation.edu.au/cecc