The survey mark infrastructure: is it doing the job?

Abstract

[Abstract]: For many years the coordination of surveys in Australia has been encouraged through the placement and connection to the growing network of survey marks (SMs) in each state. The connection of cadastral surveys to the survey mark infrastructure has facilitated the improvement and maintenance of other spatial databases such as the Digital Cadastral Data Bases (DCDB's). These networks of survey marks are usually managed and maintained by the state surveying and mapping agencies on behalf of the spatial information community. With the downsizing of the government agencies, their ability to coordinate and maintain these marks has come under increasing pressure. Although advances have been made in the connection of the survey mark infrastructure to the cadastre, the actual coordination of survey marks appears to have declined in some states. This paper will investigate the current status of this survey mark infrastructure across Australia and its impact on the spatial information industry. The changing role of the private sector in the placement, maintenance and coordination of marks will also be examined. The results of a case study in Queensland that investigated the use, access and maintenance of the permanent survey mark infrastructure by the surveying industry will be discussed. The study found that the permanent survey mark infrastructure in the state is potentially valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, although this cost does not appear to be fully appreciated by the spatial information community or government. In addition, the effectiveness of the infrastructure appears to be declining due to a range of reasons including the quality of marks, lack of ongoing maintenance, poor access to information and funding. Some possible solutions to these issues are put forward and some examples of recent initiatives across Australia to improve the survey mark infrastructure are examined. The future need for this infrastructure in the context of new positioning technologies will be discussed.