The Australian Defence Force now has a world class Military Geographic Information capability through its JP42 map conversion program. Joint Project 42 is a current project for the conversion of Australia's topographic maps from paper to digital format. This project has been hailed by overseas agencies as providing products which are consistent with the world's best.
The key to the success of this project has been the formation of a dedicated quality assurance cell at the Defence Topographic Agency in Bendigo Victoria. Codarra Advanced Systems' project management and geospatial specialists man this cell and validate the digital maps using an advanced quality assurance tool. This highly specialised quality assurance cell provides Defence with independent verification that the digital products produced are in accordance with the strict international military standards adopted by the Australian Defence Force. This independent verification significantly aids the achievement of international interoperability.
The quality assurance tool was the brain-child of the Department of Defence's Major Frank Franceschini and developed as a collaborative effort by Codarra, ESRI Australia, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the JP 42 Project Office. The tools are based on ESRI's ArcView software suite. Codarra's geospatial team, along with Defence, spent over 6 months finely tuning the data production platforms of each of the JP42 contractors to ensure compliance with the military standards. Data production is now underway in earnest and long awaited digital maps are being supplied to operational units.
The data that is being produced by the JP42 Panel is urgently required to make Defence's "high tech" weapons and command platforms completely operable. During the East Timor crisis the Australian Defence Force was supported by digital maps produced by the JP42 Panel and quality checked by the JP42 quality assurance cell. The response to the East Timor crisis was immediate and without any compromise of the strict data quality required by the military. Not surprisingly, this only came about by the independent quality assurance effort of Codarra staff in the JP42 quality assurance cell.
Codarra Advanced Systems is a Canberra based company that specialises in the management of complex technical projects. The success of JP42 is testimony to not only Codarra's expertise but to the strong partnering relationship that was established between Codarra and the Department of Defence for this project.
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Australia Develops World ClassMilitary Geographical Information Capability
