Mesh Blocks (MBs) are the smallest geographical area defined by the ABS. They are designed as geographic building blocks rather than as areas for the release of statistics themselves. All statistical areas in the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS), both ABS and Non ABS Structures, are built up from one or more MBs.　

As a result, the design of MBs takes into account many factors including administrative boundaries such as Cadastre (property boundaries), Suburbs and Localities and Local Government Areas (LGAs), as well as land uses and dwelling distribution. Most MBs contain 30 to 60 dwellings although some are specifically designed to have zero. This provides an additional level of confidentiality for data released on the ASGS as the difference in data released on multiple statistical areas is always at least one MB. 　

Mesh Blocks, like other ABS structures in the ASGS, are stable for 5 years and are updated to reflect changes such as new housing developments every 5 years. The MB table includes a Mesh Block Category field that broadly defines primary land uses such as Residential and Commercial.　

MB boundaries are contiguous and, in aggregate, cover the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps.

Further information can be found at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1270.0.55.001

Use Requirement

Alignment between Administrative Boundaries

Summary

A significant amount of users are seeking the national spatial alignment between the datasets contained within the Administrative Boundaries Theme. This miss-alignment results in inconsistent analysis of data when undertaken at differing scales, whilst also producing miss aligned or duplicated lines when using the boundaries for map visualisation purposes.

Date

Friday, 16 June, 2017

Agency/Working Group or Committee

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Benefit Realised

When the datasets within the Administration Boundaries theme are aligned, there is a significant amount of benefit realised to the end user of this data through the production of maps and the consistant analysis of associated data.

Use Case

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Summary

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's official statistical organisation. We assist and encourage informed decision-making, research and discussion within governments and the community, by leading a high quality, objective and responsive national statistical service.

The principal legislation determining the functions and responsibilities of the Australian Bureau of Statistics are the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 and the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

Date

Thursday, 16 February, 2017

Agency/Working Group or Committee

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Activity Diagram

ASGS_2016_Simplified_Structure_and_Summary.pdf

Benefit Realised

The ABS recognises that it is operating in a dynamic environment and will undergo major transformation to strategically improve the national statistical infrastructure. Locational data will be an important component of future processes and systems that integrate administrative, transactional and traditional Census and Survey data to fulfil the future statistical requirements of the Australian Community. For example an accurately geocoded Address and Business Register will be required for the design and creation of future ABS Census and Survey frames. A nationally accurate, consistent and maintained cadastral database is required for the design of statistical area classifications such as the Australian Statistical Geography Standard requires. The geocoding to the ASGS of the Census of Population and Housing requires the accurate location of every Australian dwelling to create statistics for local areas. Statistical data linkage of administrative data sets will be an important component of a future statistical infrastructure. Locational data is commonly employed as a linkage variable.
Australian Electoral Commission

Summary

The role of the Australian Electoral Commission is to deliver the franchise: that is, an Australian citizen's right to vote, as established by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The AEC is responsible for conducting federal elections and referendums and maintaining the Commonwealth electoral roll.

AEC Key Outcome: Maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services and targeted education and public awareness programs.

Date

Thursday, 16 February, 2017

Agency/Working Group or Committee

Australian Electorial Commission

Activity Diagram

Federal Electoral Boundaries use case v1.0.pdf

Benefit Realised

The IT Strategic Plan’s objectives are derived from the AEC’s five agency directions. The objectives are: 1. improve election logistics 2. improve election transparency 3. improve stakeholder experience 4. be ready 5. reduce risk 6. improve election staff effectiveness, and maintain capability. Location information provides a transparent, efficient and evidence base underpinning the IT strategic plans objectives.
Emergency Management Australia

Summary

The Crisis Coordination Centre (EMA) is responsible for providing whole-of-government situational awareness to inform national decision-making during a crisis. The centre:

Centralises and coordinates information across the Australian Government, states and territories during a crisis in Australia

Coordinates Australian Government physical and financial assistance for disaster relief - it is responsible for managing national disaster recovery payments and ensuring states and territory governments, individuals, businesses and primary producers impacted by disasters are well supported through the Commonwealths relief and recovery programs

Supports the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade during major emergencies and events overseas

Maintains Australian Government response plans and arrangements for responding to domestic and international incidents

Date

Thursday, 16 February, 2017

Agency/Working Group or Committee

Emergency Management Australia

Associated Stakeholder or System

Attorney-General's Department

Benefit Realised

Baseline data - geographic datasets to support situational awareness and analysis for response and recovery.

NEXIS data - for an EMA Exposure Report Product – This is a profile of what is in the footprint of an event (footprint could be hazard or LGA) which calls upon useful "baseline data" as social and economic indicators. This product would be fed into EMA's "National Impact Assessment Model (NIAM)" that needs baseline data to make an assessment of an event’s severity.

"Footprints" of a disaster event (observed for flood and bushfire or modelled if observed isn't available) - from states/territories or satellite, or modelled. This would be used to refine the application of the NIAM (benefits in constraining assistance to area impacted than LGA impacted).

They need to make an impact and damage assessment for NDRRA – to estimate the impact of an event’s overall initial cost and then assess the level of govt financial assistance (based on infrastructure damage and community impact, or benchmark cost)

To know that mitigation efforts and spending are infact reducing the recovery costs (narrow the nexus between mitigation and recovery). Need to determine the cost benefit analysis of mitigation measures and hotspots for mitigation efforts.
The National Exposure Information System (NEXIS)

Summary

The National Exposure Information System is a unique capability developed by Geoscience Australia to estimate the number, cost and characteristics of the people, buildings and infrastructure potentially impacted by a man-made or natural event.
http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/hazards/risk-impact/nexis

Date

Thursday, 16 February, 2017

Version

1.00

Associated Stakeholder or System

Geoscience Australia

Benefit Realised

NEXIS services a number of clients including the insurance sector. This benefit is focusing on the Crisis Coordination Centre.

Since 2012, GA has been providing spatial support and advice to the Crisis Coordination Centre (CCC) within Emergency Management Australia (EMA) as part of our collaboration with the Attorney-General’s Department.

A key information requirement identified by EMA was the need to quickly understand what is in an event area. To address this requirement GA designed the Exposure Report which greatly simplifies the interpretation of exposure information for timely emergency response and recovery decision-making.

The Exposure Report is generated by extracting the relevant attributes from NEXIS such as population and building estimates, agricultural commodities and building costs, and infrastructure counts in the potentially threatened area. This automated process quickly presents the required information in a clear and easily accessible report detailing estimates of what exists in the event area.

By improving the timeliness and accuracy of information used by the CCC, GA has enhanced the government’s ability to respond to disaster and activate appropriate financial assistance for recovery.

Output Products

Administrative Boundaries

Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)

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Input datasets

National Dataset

Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Mesh Block

Use Requirement

Use Case

Output Products