A-SPEC: An initiative for asset owners to develop a standardised approach for the recording of asset information in collaboration with industry.

The A-SPEC standardised approach was developed to streamline the processes undertaken to display all new assets within Authorities' GIS and Asset Management Systems.

A common specification for the supply of digital data was identified as a major opportunity for the consortia members to achieve efficiency and cost savings in the process of maintaining their corporate geographic information systems (GIS) and asset management systems (AMS).

A-SPEC data plays an important infrastructure role by:

• functioning as reference data - which means that other kinds of information can and will be linked to the core data


• being of interest for many different kinds of applications (and being a common denominator and integrator between different data suppliers and product and service providers)


• containing information of specific interest for the public sector in its role to support asset management, efficient transportation, traffic safety, to handle environmental and social planning, etc


• having a structure that is stable over time (even if parts of the data content changes due to user input)


• having specific interest for cross boarder (across State boundaries) applications.

However there is more to adopting a standard than just imposing it on all. A-SPEC starts it's processing by looking at both sides of the data collection aspects of digital lodgement. A-SPEC has talked to the surveyors, the developers and consultants, the software developers and to the Local Authorities.

A-SPEC starts with a balanced approach to what can be achieved.

The ongoing growth of this program sees continued industry involvement by supporting the initiative through a change in their business practices, services and solutions available.
The Data Schema is open and is not tied to any one specific system, it is focused more on getting the right Data with the best accuracy and suitable to assist with Asset Management Decisions and provide an easy approach to integrate Designs / As Constructed Drawings into any Council's GIS and Asset Management Systems.

A-SPEC makes the whole thing an integral part of the planning and development process and ensures the data that goes into the council system shows accurately what assets exist and where they are (especially underground).