Defence

Intelligence and Security

Mapping out their future

By Justine O'Brien

Mr Pedro De Sousa Xavier, Director National Directorate of Land and Property, Timor-Leste, inspects the new maps of his country (above) and officially receives the maps from Mr Brian McLachlan, Director of the Geospatial Analysis Centre at Bendigo (below).

The Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO) provides imagery and geospatial products for a range of government and military purposes.

In fact, DIGO's products also contribute to Defence's commitment to assist nation building among developing nations within our region.

One such example has been a comprehensive program of aerial photography and mapping of Timor- Leste, which began in 2001 following Defence signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).

The maps, expected to assist the Timorese in infrastructure planning and development, have been produced through an extensive process over a period of time. Over the last four years a contractor has taken thousands of aerial photographs of Timor-Leste, which were transferred to DIGO's Geospatial Analysis Centre in Bendigo.

The Geospatial Analysis Centre used specialist digital equipment to transform the aerial photographs into maps, which pinpoint both natural and man-made features.

The mapping data produced to date has already been helpful in assisting Timor-Leste and UNTAET in conducting the nation's first census. The project is due to be completed by the end of 2005.

During a visit to Victoria earlier this year, officials from Timor-Leste's National Directorate of Land and Property requested a visit to DIGO's Geospatial Analysis Centre (GAC) in Bendigo to thank staff for their work in producing the first ever comprehensive aerial photography and mapping of Timor-Leste.

The Director of the Geospatial Analysis Centre (GAC), Brian McLachlan, predicts that the Government and people of Timor-Leste will reap the benefits of DIGO's assistance for years to come.

"The mapping project is just one way that Defence is providing practical assistance, as Timor-Leste matures as a nation," Mr McLachlan said.

"Our people at GAC, Bendigo, are proud of what they've achieved. GAC's products are world class."

When the mapping project is complete, an Intellectual Property Deed between the Department of Defence of Australia and the Government of Timor, signed in conjunction with the existing MOU, will pass all intellectual property rights for the mapping data to Timor-Leste.

DIGO also works with the Governments of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to produce basic mapping covering all of the respective countries and orthophotomaps over the main towns of the island nations.

These projects allow DIGO to innovate several production processes and systems in geospatial imaging, which in turn allows DIGO to maintain its position as a leader in the field.

For further information go to the DIGO website: www.defence.gov.au/digo.

[ top of page ]