2104 4th Annual National Higher Education Communication Officers' Conference 2014

Centre for eCommerce and Communications

Better, faster, more: Strategies for the next generation of broadband

Dr Helen ThompsonCeCC DirectorOffice of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

17 June 2014


Background• Federation University Australia was established on 1 January 2014 • The Centre for eCommerce and Communications (CeCC) is located

within the Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation).

• Key areas of applied research, commercial activities and community engagement include eResearch, digital futures and spatial research.

• CeCC is also responsible for the corporate web team and www.federation.edu.au

• This presentation explores strategies for next generation broadband in a higher education context outside the normal focus on learning and teaching


Major trends• Ubiquitous high-speed broadband being rolled out. • The Petabyte Age… >50% of the world’s data is being collected

each year – how do we utilise it? • Open data policies… raw data is more accessible, but how to

interpret it?• Mobile technologies… everyone is spatially enabled and spatially

aware – we want to know about here and now.• 3d visualisation technology is more commonplace than ever

before - television, cinema, printers…


Significance of trends in HE context• Ubiquitous high-speed broadband… Universities have the connectivity

that the rest of Australia is waiting for• The Petabyte Age… >50% of the world’s data is being collected each

year – how will this change current research practices? What do we need to access, publish and share?

• Open data policies… Opportunities for Universities and particularly regional universities to play a significant role in generating insight from data

• Mobile technologies… app development and responsive design – for student and staff recruitment, engagement, knowledge transfer.

• 3d and visualisation technologies - massive innovation and research opportunities



Digital engagement in HE context• Introduced social media policy • With permission of Department of Justice produced FedUni

Social media video based on justice.vic.gov.au/socialmedia• Created dedicated social media officer role• Working toward development of Social media champions• Opportunities to leverage learning from Central Highlands

Digital Enterprise Program• Goal to build organisational capacity in social media so

diversity of University learning and teaching, research, engagement and knowledge transfer activities reflected



Producing FedUni news and events content

• FedNews rolled out in 2013• Enhanced workflow processes for Media Manager for corporate

news• Distributed publishing and approval process for internal news• Daily email digest to all staff• Pull in content from other sources: careers; training

opportunities etc• Enhancements in 2015 – Faculty and Portfolio news and digests• Image gallery enhancements


Research engagement in HE contextInteroperability- Linking data sources

Spatial representation of data- Place-based data

Visualisation- 2D & 3D imagery and models

spatial.federation.edu.au


Sport and Recreation Spatial• A national geographic information

system (GIS) for presenting spatial data.

• Provides the sport and recreation sector with increased capacity for research, strategic planning, and development of participation programs and facilities.

• Technology– Map server, Open layers, Spatially

enabled database, Thematic maps, Large dataset (ERASS 10 year survey), queryable layers, sortable layers, transparent layers


Netball 2012 participation rate by postcode


Integrated Fire Management Planning

• An interoperable spatial information system for Barwon South West stakeholders

• Providing access to the most current relevant information and fire risk data

• Supporting the community to develop integrated regional and local fire management plans.

• Technology– Open layers, VicMAP API

• Features– Layer stacking, layer transparency,

interoperable data


DEPI fire history and planned burns


GRDC online farm trials research

• The Online Farm Trials Research project is funded by the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC)

• Aims to provide improved and enhanced access to historical and future farm trials information and data using online systems.

• Interactive digital library and farm trial information database



Corangamite Soil Health Knowledge Base• A project has been initiated by the

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, to construct an online repository of soil health information and knowledge

• Includes reports, research papers, maps and descriptions related to:

• current and past soil series mapping

• land capability and suitability assessments

• agricultural trials• soil research and investigations



Historical maps

• The Eureka Stockade: An Interactive History portal contains historical overlays and points of interest in the Ballarat area around the time of the Eureka Stockade.

• Dynamic map is an interactive spatial interface to the underlying information.



Natural Disaster Research

In response to the landslide events of January 2011 in the Grampians National Park, Federation University Australia have been engaged by Northern Grampians Shire to investigate the social, economic and environmental impact of the events



FedUni Commute

• A visualisation containing over 1250 FedUni staff members will soon be released to illustrate the benefits of telecommuting, and the university's environmental impact from staff commuting.With the 2014 addition of the Gippsland campus, this will show more commute patterns than the original UB Commute visualisation (2012)



Regional ICT studiesExtensive experience in coordinating regional and local ICT planning projects:

• Great South Coast Regional Communications Strategy• Yarra Ranges Opportunity Assessment for Economic and

Community Growth through the Broadband Economy• Wimmera Southern Mallee and Central Highlands ICT

studies• Moorabool Community Broadband and

Telecommunications Strategy• Ballarat ICT 2030 strategy

Research results presented using innovative approaches:• Live geographical analysis of business and community

survey data • Technologies : Customised Lime Survey package, Google

Maps API



Australian Digital Soil Mapping• OzDSM is a collaborative workspace for

researchers working on digital soil mapping (DSM) in Australia.

• DSM utilises numerical methods and information technologies to produce predictive maps of soil types and their properties.

• Technologies include Map server, Open layers with features incorporating

• Features: Spatially enabled database, Layer querying


Soil landform map


Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater• The VVG portal provides

access to groundwater data from across Victoria.

• It features a unique state-wide map of over 275,000 bores, providing access to a user-friendly database offering the most comprehensive view of groundwater data in Victoria

• Web-based 3D Visualisation tools.




Visualising Victoria’s Groundwater

• Documentary produced to demonstrate value of eResearch, knowledge management and spatial research

• Target audience internal stakeholders, current partners and future investors

• Strategies for next generation broadband practically demonstrate relevance of better, faster, more broadband in a HE context

• Visual story telling has been very effective in communicating the opportunities but lots of traditional communication still utilised


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5mUYGPK1TI


More info

• FedUni www.federation.edu.au• CeCC www.federation.edu.au/cecc• FedUni Spatial spatial.federation.edu.au• Social media video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpyFarLoVAk&feature= youtu.be

• VVG video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5mUYGPK1TI