Australia Introduces Digital Mapping System (Apr. 13)
A new digital topographic mapping system commissioned by the Defence Acquisition Organisation today (13/4) will give military planners and commanders the edge in strategic planning and tactical execution of field operations.
The Director-General of Command and Support Systems Branch, Air Commodore David Schubert, said the new system installed in Bendigo will allow for the storage and tailored reproduction of topographic information for the Australian Defence Force.
Digital map products are beginning to replace traditional paper maps and the digital products - on storage devices such as CD ROMs - will be essential to the command and support systems used by Australian military field commanders.
The commissioning ceremony marked the end of a 19 month acquisition phase in which the Melbourne-based prime contractor, RLM Systems, teamed with suppliers including ESRI Australia Defence, Leica Geosystems, Hewlett Packard, Bogong Technologies and Barco, to develop the Digital Topographic Production System.
"Throughout the acquisition phase all parties worked through often difficult issues with a strong cooperative spirit and it was this that kept the project on schedule," AIRCDRE Schubert said.
"I need to acknowledge the contribution of RLM Systems in the successful delivery of PARARE. And just as importantly, I also recognise the commitment by the General Manager of the Defence Topographic Agency (DTA) to providing the technical support to RLM whenever it was required.
"That commitment resulted in the DTA receiving a system that is closely aligned with the Agency's specific needs. In fact, the users really had a vital hand in shaping and refining the system resulting in maximum efficiency and user-friendliness."
AIRCDRE Schubert said some 50 per cent of the initial contract value had been spent in Australia. "This is a sizeable proportion for an IT contract," he said. He added that the overall project cost of about $20 million included a contract with RLM Systems for maintenance of the system for 4_ years from the commissioning.
-ends-
Defence Acquisition Organisation Commissions New Parare Digital Topographic Mapping System
