This unit of competency supports the application of self-management skills, planning and organising within data management and data manipulation, and the use of technology. The skills and knowledge acquired upon completion of this unit would support the needs of employees in surveying, cartography, town planning, mapping or geographic information systems.

While no licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply holistically to this unit at the time of publication, relevant federal, and state or territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice impact upon this unit (see unit performance criteria and range statement).

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Confirm task.

1.1 Client specifications are analysed to determine specific needs and required outcomes.

1.2 Requirements for spatial data and constraints are identified through further consultation with client or relevant personnel and outcomes are recorded according to organisational guidelines.

2Obtain spatial and attribute data.

2.1 Sources are determined consistent with specifications using relevant metadata.

2.2 Data is obtained according to organisational guidelines.

2.3 Data is checked for integrity and quality.

2.4 Geographic coverage is assessed for completeness.

2.5 A metadata set is compiled based on sourced spatial data.

2.6 Exception reports are referred to relevant personnel.

2.7 Skills and knowledge are updated to accommodate changes in spatial dataset requirements.

2.8 OHS requirements are planned for and adhered to.

3Create resultant spatial dataset.

3.1 Filtering parameters are established in line with scientific accuracy, redundancy, and client and organisational requirements.

3.2 Spatial and aspatial data is translated into a format which satisfies specifications.

3.3 Spatial datasets are populated with edited spatial data according to organisational spatial requirements.

3.4 Spatial and attribute data are linked according to specifications and industry standards.

4Link spatial and attribute data.

4.1 Method required for referencing the location of the attribute data is identified.

4.2 Linking of the spatial and attribute data is completed according to the specifications.

4.3 Spatial queries are carried out via the spatial data to access the attribute data.

5Test and validate spatial datasets.

5.1 Test queries are determined and implemented to ensure spatial datasets meet specifications.

5.2 Spatial data is checked to ensure correctness of links.

5.3 An exception report is developed according to organisational guidelines and reported back to relevant personnel.

5.4 All relevant documentation is completed according to organisational guidelines.

5.5 Quality and useability of datasets are ensured according to organisational guidelines.

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills:

ability to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

ability to translate requirements into design

analytical skills, including systems analysis

communication skills to:

consult effectively with clients and colleagues

impart knowledge and ideas through oral, written and visual means

computer skills (high technical user level) to complete business documentation and apply software and hardware

information management

literacy skills to:

assess and use workplace information

locate and interpret legislation and other written documentation

prepare and manage documentation

read and write technical reports

research and evaluate in order to assess sources of spatial data

negotiation skills

numeracy skills to:

analyse errors

conduct image analysis

perform mental calculations

interpret and analyse statistics

record with accuracy and precision

undertake computations

organisational skills to:

coordinate technical and human resource inputs to research activities

prioritise activities to meet contractual requirements

spatial skills to:

exercise precision and accuracy in relation to spatial and aspatial data integration

perform spatial data archival and retrieval and train others in this task

perform spatial data management and manipulation and train others in this task

perform file management and train others in this task

solve problems relating to height, depth, breadth, dimension, direction and position in actual operational activity and virtual representation

understand implications of height, depth, breadth, dimension and position to actual operational activity and virtual representation.

Required knowledge and understanding:

classification systems, processes and products

coordinating reference systems

high-level computer knowledge

industry standards

organisational policies and guidelines, such as OHS guidelines

precision and accuracy in relation to spatial information

principles of data acquisition (e.g. photogrammetry, remote sensing, terrestrial survey and hydrography)

quality guidelines

reference systems and their relationship to each other

relevant spatial database design tools

risk management

security management guidelines

spatial and aspatial data

spatial and attribute dataset structure

spatial database operation

spatial database structure requirements

spatial data handling

spatial data management practices

spatial dataset integration, including the role of scale in dataset integration

spatial data storage technology

spatial data structure requirements.

Overview of assessment

This unit of competency could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function, for example units CPPSIS5001A Plan spatial data collection and validation, CPPSIS5002A Capture new spatial data, CPPSIS5005A Obtain and validate existing spatial data, CPPSIS5007A Maintain complex spatial data systems, CPPSIS5008A Develop a complex spatial and aspatial database, and CPPSIS5029A Determine suitable information sources to create new spatial datasets.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of:

accurate record keeping

applying solutions to a range of problems

devising and implementing a cost-effective, functional solution

examining suitability of existing arrangements

measuring outcomes against specifications

operational knowledge in a broad range of areas relating to linking datasets and knowledge management

organising and prioritising activity

performing a range of tasks where choice between a substantial range of options is required

taking responsibility for own outputs in work and learning.

Specific resources for assessment

Resource implications for assessment include access to:

assessment instruments, including personal planner and assessment record book

assignment instructions, work plans and schedules, policy documents and duty statements

registered training provider of assessment services

relevant guidelines, regulations and codes of practice

suitable venue and equipment.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Context of assessment

Holistic: based on the performance criteria, evidence guide, range statement, and required skills and knowledge.

Method of assessment

Demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment).

Demonstrated competency in a range of situations, that may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

Obtained by observing activities in the field and reviewing induction information. If this is not practicable, observation in realistic simulated environments may be substituted.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment requires that the clients' objectives and industry expectations are met. If the clients' objectives are narrowly defined or not representative of industry needs, it may be necessary to refer to portfolio case studies of a variety of spatial information services requirements to assess competency.

Oral questioning or written assessment and hypothetical situations (scenarios) may be used to assess underpinning knowledge (in assessment situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral questioning or written assessment, questions are to be identical).

Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence from existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

All practical demonstration must adhere to the safety and environmental regulations relevant to each State or Territory.

Where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (recognition of current competencies [RCC] or recognition of prior learning [RPL]), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge.

Assessment processes will be appropriate to the language and literacy levels of the candidate and any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and will reflect the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.

Client specifications refer to description of outputs and may be contained in:

contracts

memos

tender briefs

verbal instructions

written instructions.

Constraints may include:

coverage

datum

environmental factors

industry requirements

legal and statutory

financial

resource availability

time.

Client may include:

customers with routine or special request

external to organisation

internal to organisation

regular and new customers, including:

business enterprises

government agencies

members of the public

suppliers.

Relevant personnel may include:

colleagues

staff or employee representatives

supervisors or line managers

suppliers

users.

Organisational guidelines may include:

code of ethics

company policy

legislation relevant to the work or service function, including equal employment opportunity (EEO)

manuals

OHS policies and procedures

personnel practices and guidelines outlining work roles and responsibilities.

Metadata may include:

summarised information about a spatial dataset that describes the characteristics of the dataset, including:

availability

conditions of use

coordinate system

currency

date of acquisition

quality

source

spatial data acquisition methodologies

version control.

Exception reports may include:

information on non-conforming items that require attention by other functions.

OHS may include:

Australian standards

development of site safety plan

identification of potential hazards

inspection of work sites

training staff in OHS requirements

use of personal protective clothing

use of safety equipment and signage.

Filtering parameters may include:

attribute range accuracy

geographic location.

Aspatial data refers to:

data without a spatial component.

Spatial datasets may include:

digital

hard copy

image

propriety standards

text or vector.

Organisational spatial requirements may include:

administration (e.g. postcodes, suburbs, and federal and state electoral counties)

analysis of environmental, land and geographic information

asset management

cartographic services

civil engineering

digital imagery

electricity

emergency services management

environmental datasets

geographic information systems

hydrography

integrated services - environmental, land and geographic related datasets

land ownership tenure system

local government

location-based services

global positioning

mapping facilities

photogrammetry

remote sensing

site analysis

survey marks

sewerage

telecommunications

terrestrial survey

town planning

utility services such as water

water catchment.

Attributes are properties associated with an entity and may include:

colour

layer

level

line type and width

text.

Test queries refer to:

model set of questions with known answers.

Relevant documentation may include:

electronic or paper-based correspondence with client

final report

records of conversation

organisational work activity sheets.

Unit sector

Spatial information services

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of employability skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged, will assist in identifying employability skills requirements.