Free G-NAF data brings community benefit

High-value location data has become one of the most requested datasets in Australia.

Free access to this type of data can help businesses and the public sector improve their services for their community.

Survey results on the use of G-NAF (Geocoded National Address File), showing how useful free access to the data can be, have been released by the government.

Produced by PSMA Australia in collaboration with government agencies, the G-NAF contains more than 13 million geocoded physical addresses from across Australia. It was released as an initiative under the National Innovation and Science Agenda.

“The G-NAF is one of the most requested datasets in Australia,” said Assistant Minister for Digital Transformation Angus Taylor.

“It’s being used by insurers in digital mapping so customers can work out the risk of water leaks, theft and bushfires, based on the location of their property.

“A tech team in a recent Hackathon has used the G-NAF to map new housing and city growth. And there are some outstanding ways of using the National Map, which incorporates G-NAF datasets. We use the National Map in my office to help with telecommunications inquiries.”

Since the G-NAF was made publicly available (from February 2016), it has been downloaded 3600 times, compared to only 180 downloads over the 18 months when it was under restricted licence.

Responses from the recent survey indicate that:

• 97% of end users rated G-NAF data as ‘good’ to ‘very high’ quality;
• 73% have achieved efficiencies and/or productivity growth due to accessing the data;
• 47% have introduced new operational processes using the data;
• 41% have developed new goods or services using the data.

“Aussie Broadband has been able to use the open G-NAF data to help customers quickly and accurately check if nbn is available at their address. It’s been incredibly useful,” said John Reisinger, acting managing director at Aussie Broadband.

Image credit: ©peshkova/Dollar Photo Club

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