Open location data gets thumbs up

Releasing the Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) dataset as open data has significantly increased adoption, and nearly all (97%) users rate the data as “good” to “very high” quality.

A survey on the use of the data, released by Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor, found that G-NAF has become one of the most requested datasets in Australia.

G-NAF, the geocoded database of more than 13 million physical addresses produced for Australian businesses and governments, has been downloaded 3600 times since it was made publicly available, the survey shows. This compares to merely 180 downloads during the preceding 18 months when it was under restricted licence.

Taylor said the G-NAF is being used by insurers in digital mapping so customers can work out the risk of water leaks, theft and bush fires, based on the location of their property.

“A tech team in a recent Hackathon has used the G-NAF to map new housing and city growth. And there are some outstanding ways of using the National Map, which incorporates G-NAF datasets. We use the National Map in my office to help with telecommunications inquiries,” he said.

ISP Aussie Broadband has meanwhile been able to use the data to help customers quickly check if nbn is available at their address.

The survey found that 73% of respondents have achieved efficiencies, productivity growth or both by accessing the data. Nearly half (47%) have introduced new operational processes using the data, and nearly as many (41%) have developed new goods and services using the information.

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