The Department of Lands for the state of New South Wales, Australia (home to Sydney) has recently launched the Spatial Information eXchange (SIX). The SIX Viewer is a component of this site that is described as “Google on Steroids” by the department’s director-general, Warwick Watkins.
SIX Viewer allows users to integrate and view a number of NSW spatial datasets, including property, cadastral and topographic information, satellite data and aerial photography. The portal also includes e-connect (for customers to download spatial datasets), MetaExchange (for search, access and view of metadata), Searches (for land title and valuation services), and Spatial Community (a resource for geospatial professionals).
One compelling feature is the inclusion of both current and historic imagery and topographic maps. With these features users can go back in time to view how development has changed an area.
State-run portals such as this are a great improvement on commercial geoexploration sites because they’re developed and maintained by the most authoritative data creators and are maintained and updated constantly. This site integrates a number of government services and delivers services that are aligned with customer needs.
