The impact of varying statutory arrangements on spatial data sharing and access in regional NRM bodies

Spatial information plays an important role in many social, environmental and economic decisions and increasingly acknowledged as a national resource essential for wider societal and environmental benefits. Natural Resource Management is one area where spatial information can be used for improved planning and decision making processes. In Australia, state government organisations are the custodians of spatial information necessary for natural resource management and regional NRM bodies are responsible to regional delivery of NRM activities. The access and sharing of spatial information between government agencies and regional NRM bodies is therefore as an important issue for improving natural resource management outcomes. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the current status of spatial information access, sharing and use with varying statutory arrangements and its impacts on spatial data infrastructure (SDI) development in catchment management sector in Australia. Further, it critically examined whether any trends and significant variations exist due to different institutional arrangements (statutory versus non-statutory) or not. A survey method was used to collect primary data from 56 regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies responsible for catchment management in Australia. Descriptive statistics method was used to show the similarities and differences between statutory and non-statutory arrangements. The key factors which influence sharing and access to spatial information are also explored. The results show the current statutory and administrative arrangements and regional focus for natural resource management is reasonable from a spatial information management perspective and provides an opportunity for building SDI at the catchment scale. However, effective institutional arrangements should align catchment SDI development activities with sub-national and national SDI development activities to address catchment management issues. We found minor differences in spatial information access, use and sharing due to varying institutional environment (statutory versus non-statutory). The non-statutory group appears to be more flexible and self-sufficient whilst statutory regional NRM bodies may lack flexibility in their spatial information management practices. We found spatial information access, use and sharing has significant impacts on spatial data infrastructure development in catchment management sector in Australia

Temperature dependent carrier lifetime studies on Ti-doped multicrystalline silicon

Carrier lifetimemeasurements were performed on deliberately Ti-doped multicrystalline silicon wafers using a temperature controlled photoconductance device. The dominant recombination center was found to be the double-donor level associated with interstitial titanium. The interstitial Ti concentrations in multicrystalline silicon wafers were determined by measuring the Shockley–Read–Hall time constant for holes and using the known values of the thermal velocity and capture cross section for holes of the double-donor level at different temperatures. The measured values of the Ti concentration were then used to determine the electron capture cross section of the double-donor level over the temperature range of 140–270 °C via the measured values of the Shockley–Read–Hall time constant for electrons and the known thermal velocity. Multiphonon emission was found to be the most likely capture mechanism for this temperature range for electron capture into the double-donor level of Ti in silicon. The effective segregation coefficient for Ti was estimated by fitting Scheil’s equation to the measured values of the Ti concentrations and their respective vertical positions in the ingot. If all Ti were present as the interstitial double-donor, a lower limit of 1.8×10⁻⁶ can be ascribed to the segregation coefficient, which is very close to the equilibrium value.This work was funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant between the Australian National University, SierraTherm Production Furnaces, and SunPower Corporation. D.H.M. is supported by an Australian Research Council fellowship

Assessing Quality of CORnet-NSW Infrastructure for Use in Regional New South Wales, Australia

CORSnet-NSW is a network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) covering the state of NSW and providing centimetre-level real-time positioning. This research paper aims to determine the level of accuracy and precision of CORSnet-NSW in regional parts of the network and compare them to that of traditional RTK under identical conditions. It investigates what effects satellite geometry and proximity to a CORS station have on NRTK measurements. It also verifies the CORSnet-NSW claim of network wide 2cm accuracy. The claim was found to be true at the 68% Confidence Interval. Changes in satellite geometry were not found to affect the results for the most part. It was also found that CORSnet-NSW precision was affected by the proximity of the rover to the base/calibration points more than its proximity to a CORSnet-NSW station. However, even though the CORSnet-NSW results were better than expected, traditional RTK remains the most precise and consistent method. This research paper provides GNSS users in regional NSW with the evidence they need to make informed decisions regarding which type of RTK method is fit for their purposes

Assessing Cadastre 2034 to Develop a Federated Cadastral System in New South Wales Australia: Mixed Methods Research Approach

Cadastre 2034 is a National Strategy developed by the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) for cadastral reform and innovation for Australia and one of the goals is to develop a federated cadastral system. It states to define governance and administration on a federal level by unifying the existing systems with uniform standards, policies, guidelines and legislation and to allow further work towards a global cadastre. The aim of this research paper is to explore the behaviours and attitudes of New South Wales (NSW) cadastre towards a federated cadastral system assessing the best practice of federated cadastre global cases that may be applied locally in Australia. Mixed Methods Research (MMR) methodology was used, involving both quantitative and qualitative research to understand, identify and frame the cadastral data to determine and analyse the key issues and factors in implementing a federated cadastral system in New South Wales (NSW). A literature review, a questionnaire survey and interviews were used to collect the quantitative and qualitative data. A sequential MMR design framework was used a questionnaire survey followed by interviews. The questionnaire was sent out to 215 industry and government participants and resulted 71 completed surveys. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 participants. The linking of quantitative and qualitative data occurred at the design-level, where results from the first phase were used to build the second phase of research design. It was explored that strong historical foundations, regressive reaction of governments and institutions, and a lack of understanding of the significance of cadastral reform were the key hindering factors to develop a federated cadastral system in NSW. The resulting analysis could be contributed to a better implementation of a federated cadastral system in NSW benefitting private, and public institutions

Complex magnetism of lanthanide intermetallics unravelled

We explain a profound complexity of magnetic interactions of some technologically relevant gadolinium intermetallics using an ab-initio electronic structure theory which includes disordered local moments and strong $f$-electron correlations. The theory correctly finds GdZn and GdCd to be simple ferromagnets and predicts a remarkably large increase of Curie temperature with pressure of +1.5 K kbar$^{-1}$ for GdCd confirmed by our experimental measurements of +1.6 K kbar$^{-1}$. Moreover we find the origin of a ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic competition in GdMg manifested by non-collinear, canted magnetic order at low temperatures. Replacing 35\% of the Mg atoms with Zn removes this transition in excellent agreement with longstanding experimental data.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

A cohort study of influences, health outcomes and costs of patients' health-seeking behaviour for minor ailments from primary and emergency care settings

To compare health-related and cost-related outcomes of consultations for symptoms suggestive of minor ailments in emergency departments (EDs), general practices and community pharmacies

Participatory research approaches rapidly improve household food security in Nepal and identify policy changes required for institutionalisation

The introduction, testing, promotion and release of a rice variety, BG 1442, in Nepal were examined in relation to existing policies governing these procedures and to how more participatory approaches could benefit food security. From 1998 to 2006, participatory varietal selection (PVS) was used to test BG 1442 and other candidate rice varieties in the spring (Chaite) rice-growing season (February to June) and in the main season (June to November). The testing of BG 1442 commenced 11 years after it was first introduced into Nepal in 1987 by the national rice research programme (NRRP). Following its initial acceptance by farmers, it was widely disseminated from 1998 by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the low altitude region of Nepal called the terai in projects funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. This dissemination was done using a method termed informal research and development (IRD) where many small packets of seed were distributed without fertiliser or pesticides, the only additional input being a description of varietal characteristics on an enclosed leaflet. From 2001 to 2008, various assessments were made of its extent of adoption and its impact on livelihoods. In a randomised survey of households in 10 districts, BG 1442 increased from not being used at all in 1997 to being grown by about 20% of the surveyed rice farmers by 2008. It was grown both in the Chaite and the main season and was well adapted to the rainfed-upland and medium-land rice ecosystems. The variety was grown from the far west to the far east of low-altitude Nepal by resource-poor farmers. IRD was important in accelerating adoption and improving food security as it was by far the most important external source of seed for farmers. Prior to the adoption of BG 1442, farmers who did not harvest sufficient rice to last their households for 12 months increased rice self sufficiency by over 2 months (25% more). Those households that sold surplus grain and who grew BG 1442 increased grain sales by 600 kg (25% more) in the Chaite season and by 370 kg (24% more) from main season cultivation