Current Initiatives
Innovation in Support of ADF Operations
DIGO is a contributor to Defence's objective of superior combat effectiveness through enhanced situational awareness and decision making. Key to this is the timely and relevant distribution of information across Defence's information networks. DIGO is committed to a high level of investment in the deployment of web-based geospatial dissemination services to improve ADF's combat effectiveness.
Coordinating Capability Manager for Geospatial Information
On 04 September 2007, Deputy Secretary Intelligence, Security and International Policy (DepSec IS&IP) formally accepted the responsibility of Coordinating Capability Manager for Geospatial Information (GI) within the Department of Defence. For full details, see Defgram 13/2008 (pdf 40 kb)
Multinational Geospatial Co-production Program
Australia is a member of the Multinational Geospatial Co-production Program (MGCP) which currently involves 28 nations and is aimed at (eventually) producing geospatial data at 1:50,000/1:100,00 scale of the entire world. MGCP member nations will contribute data to a central data warehouse and may, in turn, withdraw data proportional to their contribution. MGCP is designed to reduce duplication of effort while increasing availability of geospatial data.
Cooperative Mapping Projects
As an Australian Government regional development initiative, the Department of Defence, represented by DIGO, has undertaken to remap regional nations under Memorandums of Understanding. Timor-Leste has recently accepted mapping of their entire country at 1:50,000 scale while similar mapping of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands will be completed in 2008. Additionally, DIGO has commenced the data acquisition phase to eventually remap Papua New Guinea at 1:100,000 scale in a 5-year plus project. Mapping data will be available from the applicable mapping organisation within each country.
Hand Held Imagery Custodians
DIGO is establishing a Defence wide system which allows ADF personnel to lodge and retrieve hand held imagery.
Geoscience Australia
DIGO has a close working relationship with Geoscience Australia (GA) as the Australian Government onshore mapping agency. GA and DIGO cooperate under service level agreements for the provision of mapping support in and of Australia for the Australian Defence Force. Visit GA
New Facility for DIGO in Bendigo
After reviewing the operations of DIGO at Fortuna in 2004, the former Minister for Defence announced that the operation would stay in Bendigo, but would move to a new facility. DIGO celebrated the opening of the new facility, 7 Nov 2008, at Junorton, in the Longlea area. The facility houses DIGO staff and a new state of the art specialized IT system.
The Department of Defence has vacated the site it previously occupied in Chum Street Bendigo, but its future is not yet determined. The Defence Disposals Task Force is currently undertaking reviews relating to the site’s heritage and other values, and there will be extensive consultation before any decision is taken on its future use. For information please contact Mr David French.
CSIRO Sentinel
Sentinel is a national bushfire monitoring system that provides timely information about hotspots to emergency service managers across Australia. The mapping system allows users to identify fire locations with a potential risk to communities and property. Visit CSIRO Sentinel
