Abstract

Australia has a long history of using geospatial information in official statistics. It has a well-developed Statistical Spatial Framework (SSF) which enables the efficient integration of geospatial and statistical information within the statistical production process. For example, a well-defined geographical classification for statistical outputs allows for integrated social, economic and environmental data. This presentation will showcase some of the interaction between a fully functioning geospatial framework and the System of Environmental Economic Accounts.
Recently Australia has improved both geospatial and analytical data assets on Land and Oceans. Geospatial processing and compilation are critical for converting these data assets into SEEA accounts. Land and Oceans data present particular challenges to a geospatial framework:
 Land challenges the computing infrastructure needed to compile these data, rapidly placing demand on big data and cloud computing skills.
 Oceans challenge the traditional boundaries for geospatial classifications requiring a need to develop methods to compile statistics for non-standard geographic areas.
Whilst the current state has still allowed us to process land and ocean data, innovating to solve these challenges will provide huge dividends for running analytical processes in the future. Australia produced two land accounting products: a land cover account and an integrated land account with land cover, land use and land ownership layers. Australia also produced its first ocean accounting product, focusing on blue carbon ecosystems, namely mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass. This presentation will demonstrate the links to geographic frameworks, discuss challenges and solutions and give a view on the future of using geography in environmental-economic accounts.