The Director of the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO) was appointed in September 2007 as the day to day capability coordinator of Geospatial Information on behalf of the Deputy Secretary Intelligence, Security and International Policy.

Defence is on the threshold of a significant change in the way it handles geospatial data, as this type of information is becoming more common place in many of the systems that are utilised on a daily basis. The reality is that almost everything in the Defence inventory that flies; drives; floats or walks produces and or consumes geospatial information.

To support this change Defence has to change the way this data is gathered, manipulated, utilised and maintained. There is a need for an Enterprise Level Geospatial Service (architecture) within defence and that service will be co-ordinated by DIGO.

Given the synergies between defence and other government departments there would clearly be benefit in applying similar constructs across government. This will enable data to be used more efficiently and effectively at Commonwealth and State level for the planning and execution of critical events.

As an example, during the recent bushfires in Victoria, Defence was tasked to support agencies within the Victorian State Government. As part of this support DIGO provided imagery, maps and vector data to the Department of Sustainability and Environment; Victoria Police; Country Fire Authority and local government and received data from DSE. Purchase of commercial imagery associated with the bushfire effort was also coordinated across the community.