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 CPPSIS5007A Maintain complex spatial data systems, and CPPSIS5008A Develop a complex spatial and aspatial database.

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:

taking responsibility for own outputs in work and learning

using relevant data by manipulating and analysing it to meet the client's requirements, including:

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

applying organisational skills and prioritising activity

applying solutions to a range of problems

devising and implementing a cost-effective functional solution

examining suitability of existing arrangements

keeping records accurately

measuring outcomes against specifications

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

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.

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

business presentations

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

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

interpret and analyse statistics

perform mental calculations

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:

display proficiency in the operation of spatial data capture equipment

exercise precision and accuracy in relation to spatial and aspatial design

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

computation methods

coordinating reference systems

design methods

industry standards

OHS guidelines

operation of relevant software packages

organisational policies and guidelines

precision and accuracy in relation to spatial information

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

business presentation methods

quality guidelines

reference systems and their relationship to each other

risk management

security management guidelines

spatial and attribute dataset structure and requirements

spatial database operation

spatial database structure requirements

spatial data handling

spatial data management practices

spatial data storage technology.

Spatial dataset may include:

digital

hard copy

image

text

raster

vector.

Format may include:

electronic information and data management systems (where system refers to computer software).

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 requests

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.

Interpreted according to:

equipment available

software packages

task required.

Descriptive and analytical techniques may include:

statistical tests and methods such as:

broad analytical studies to determine estimates of risk

making comparisons using basic tests of significance

mean, standard deviation, regression analysis and percentage change.

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.

Aspatial refers to:

data without a spatial component.

Organisational needs 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.

Ethical requirements may include:

confidentiality

privacy.

Tools may include:

model of questions with known answers

pilot program

prototype dataset

survey (staff in client organisation).

Validity means reflecting the true state of a test result, including tests for systematic distortions such as:

confounding bias

information/data bias

observational bias

recall bias

selection bias.

Other functional areas and management systems may include:

engineering and maintenance

environmental management

finance and auditing

information, data and records management

human resource, industrial relations and personnel management, including payroll

logistics

purchasing, procuring and contracting

quality management

strategic planning.