Natural Resource Knowledge and Information Management via the Victorian Resources Online Website

Mark Imhof, Matthew Cox, Angela Fadersen, Wayne Harvey, Sonia Thompson, David Rees and Christopher Pettit
Additional contact information
Mark Imhof: Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, 1301 Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank 3821, Victoria, Australia
Matthew Cox: Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, 32 Lincoln Square North, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia
Angela Fadersen: Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, Cnr Midland Highway and Taylor Street, Epsom 3551, Victoria, Australia
Wayne Harvey: Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, Cnr Midland Highway and Taylor Street, Epsom 3551, Victoria, Australia
Sonia Thompson: Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, 32 Lincoln Square North, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia
David Rees: Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, 32 Lincoln Square North, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia
Christopher Pettit: Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Building, The University of Melbourne, Level 5, Architecture Building, Victoria 3010, Australia

Future Internet, 2011, vol. 3, issue 4, 1-33

Abstract: Since 1997, the Victorian Resources Online (VRO) website (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/vro) has been a key means for the dissemination of landscape-based natural resources information via the internet in Victoria, Australia. The website currently consists of approximately 11,000 web pages, including 1900 maps and 1000 downloadable documents. Information is provided at a range of scales—from statewide and regional overviews to more detailed catchment and sub-catchment levels. At all these levels of generalisation, information is arranged in an organisationally agnostic way around key knowledge “domains” (e.g., soil, landform, water). VRO represents a useful model for the effective dissemination of a wide range of natural resources information; relying on partnerships with key subject matter experts and data custodians, including a “knowledge network” of retired land resource assessment specialists. In this paper, case studies are presented that illustrate various approaches to information and knowledge management with a focus on presentation of spatially contexted soil and landscape information at different levels of generalisation. Examples are provided of adapting site-based information into clickable maps that reveal site-specific details, as well as “spatialising” data from specialist internal databases to improve accessibility to a wider audience. Legacy information sources have also been consolidated and spatially referenced. More recent incorporation of interactive visualisation products (such as landscape panoramas, videos and animations) is providing interactive rich media content. Currently the site attracts an average of 1190 user visits per day and user evaluation has indicated a wide range of users, including students, teachers, consultants, researchers and extension staff. The wide range of uses for information and, in particular, the benefits for natural resource education, research and extension has also been identified.

Keywords: WWW; internet; spatial information; natural resources; soil; landscape; knowledge and information management; visualisation; animation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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