Premier Campbell Newman inspects Queensland Globe. Photo: Katherine Feeney via the Brisbane Times.
The Queensland government has announced the release of ‘Queensland Globe’ – a KML file, which, when opened in Google Earth, allows users to view and explore spatial data about Queensland from within Google Earth.
The information accessible includes best available imagery, property and electoral boundaries, property addresses, instant access to SmartMaps, areas affected by floods, and more.
A test-run of the program at the official launch last Wednesday morning demonstrated the ways in which the data can be applied.
Steve Jacoby, the general manager for information policy in the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, was able to show Queensland Premier Campbell Newman a detailed view of the house belonging to Mining Minister Andrew Cripps, complemented by information about the land status, nearby transport and climate conditions.
Mr Jacoby said that the more sophisticated imagery included in Queensland Globe was drawn from the state’s archives, mostly coming from programs in the departments of Transport and Main Roads and Community Safety.
“We’ve got 100-odd towns across Queensland mapped in the last couple of years [with] very, very detailed, high-quality content which was just sitting there,” he said.
“But now, throughout the day, we’re making it available, connecting through to a range of other information assets for property reporters.
“Down the track we hope to go to titles and property valuations as part of the journey.”
Privacy was, as always, raised as an issue, with Premier Newman stating that “No private information will be released.”
“We’ll be working with the Privacy Commissioner to ensure that the use of multiple data sources doesn’t inadvertently pinpoint one individual.”
Adding to this, Premier Newman said “[Information] is indeed the new currency. Open data can equip private business and enterprise with the information and resources it needs to develop commercial applications.
“We’re not against private companies turning profit from this data … we want people to make money out of this information that the taxpayers have already paid for.”
To that end, the Premier announced a competition to reward developers who create useful applications from the newly available data sets.
Queensland Globe is an initiative of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines and is released as part of the Queensland Government’s Open Data Strategy.
By the end of April, each core departmental government agency will publish an open data strategy, including roadmaps for release dates, with statutory bodies to follow suit by October. The project is to be reviewed in December.
For more information, and to install the free plugin, visit the NRM Website.
