A Local-State Government Spatial Data Sharing Partnership

A Local-State Spatial Data Sharing Partnership Model to Facilitate SDI Development
The third stage of the methodology involves the use of an online questionnaire to over 100
local governments. The purpose of the questionnaire is to assess the factors that influence
the success or otherwise of the data sharing partnerships from a local government
perspective. The questionnaire uses a SDI framework to investigate the organisation’s
capacity in regard to spatial information policies, data holdings, skills, access
arrangements and standards/technology. In addition to the SDI framework, the
questionnaire also examines the organisational setting, preferences for collaborating and
perspectives on the existing partnership arrangements. The results of the questionnaire are
then analysed to identify key success factors that may influence the participation of local
governments in data sharing partnerships.
In the final stage, the results of the case studies and the questionnaire analysis are
integrated to develop a generic spatial data sharing partnership model. The mixed
methods approach facilitates the blending of the case study and questionnaire results to
establish the framework of the final partnership model. The model is then evaluated and
its wider application and contribution to SDI development is discussed.
1.5 Structure of the Thesis
The thesis is structured in four main parts. Part one is the introduction and consists of the
statement of the research problem, research aim and objectives. The research problem is
justified and an overview of the research approach is presented. Part 2 contains the
background chapters that review theory and practice. Part 3 consists of the research
methodology, case studies analysis and the results of the questionnaires. Part 4 is the
synthesis which includes the model development, evaluation, discussion and conclusions.
Figure 1.2 illustrates the structure of the thesis and its relationship to the research
objectives.
In Chapter 1, the background to the research problem is presented. The importance of
spatial data sharing to the process of building sub-national SDIs is identified. The overall
aim of the research is stated and the objectives to achieve this aim are presented. An
overview of the research approach is provided and the scope and delimitations are
discussed.
Chapter 2 examines the historical developments of land and spatial information in
Australia with particular reference to the developments at a local and state government
level. The emergence of state and national data access and pricing policies are described
in the context of the gradual development of spatial data infrastructures. Existing research
and approaches to spatial data sharing are reviewed to understand some of the
10