Abstract for presentation at Combined 5th Trans Tasman Survey Conference and 2nd Queensland Spatial Industry Conference 2006

Resource mapping, particularly of extractive industries, is a major component of the spatial industry, as evidenced by the numerous oil, coal, gas resource maps that have been published. These resource maps and assessments of associated energy transformation technologies are utilised by governments to make decisions regarding energy supply in Australia, as well as by the related mining and manufacturing industries in general business development decisions.
But what about the utilisation of spatial science for sustainable development? What role can spatial science play in providing reliable, affordable, pre-competitive sustainable energy resource assessments?
The Queensland Sustainable Energy Industry Development Group, in 2004, began the process of integrating renewable energy specific information and technology with a wide range of GIS data sets to assist Queensland in realizing the potential of its wind energy resources for electricity generation, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector.
The resultant Queensland Medium Resolution Wind Resource Map provides both state and local government with credible data on which to base regulation and policy development; provides the renewable energy industry with medium resolution wind resource assessment data that can be utilized to make decisions regarding the viability of the installation of small, medium and large scale wind energy conversion systems (WECS); and provides a means to educate all sectors about Queensland’s wind energy resource and its potential to meet our energy needs.
This paper will cover the process involved in producing this Wind Resource Map, and other opportunities for the integration of spatial sciences in the development of resource assessments for solar water heating, photovoltaic power systems and solar thermal electric technologies.