Customer Service

Type:
Department of Customer Service Circular
Identifier:
DCS-2025-02
Status:
Active

DCS-2025-02 NSW Spatial Digital Twin Policy Framework

Description

The purpose of this circular is to implement mandatory spatial information requirements for all NSW government departments and public service agencies when contributing to and using spatial information in the NSW Spatial Digital Twin (SDT).

Agencies who decide to share their data in the NSW SDT must adhere to the following documents (hereafter referred to as the Policy Framework):

  • The NSW SDT Policy. This document contains a series of best practice technical requirements which provide guidance on obligations regarding the use of the NSW SDT.

  • The NSW SDT Integration Guideline for 3D Infrastructure Models. This document outlines the level of detail and minimum requirements of building information models (BIMs) and other 3D infrastructure models that are ingested into the NSW SDT.

  • The NSW SDT Contributor Guideline. This document provides easy to understand advice to data custodians who are contributing information to the NSW SDT.

  • The NSW SDT Open Data Guideline. This document provides a decision tree to evaluate any data made available in the NSW SDT as ‘open’ or ‘shared’.

  • The NSW Guideline for Spatially Enabling Information. This document outlines current approaches across NSW Government to ensure the quality and consistency of spatially enabled data and information.

Compliance is mandatory for all agencies who share their data in the NSW SDT to ensure consistency and data quality. The Policy Framework applies to the Government sector agencies, as defined by section 4 of the Data Sharing (Government Sector) Act 2015 No 60.

Detailed Outline

Detailed Outline

The NSW SDT is a data environment provided by DCS Spatial Services which aims to share NSW Government spatial data and create a single platform where anyone can find accurate and certified information. The NSW SDT is a powerful cross-sector collaboration tool which allows the NSW Government to make data-driven decisions to create better, smarter cities, and plan for our future. The Policy Framework ensures the efficient exchange of information, improved data quality and increased usability of the NSW SDT.

The Policy Framework provides data governance on how spatial information should be integrated into the NSW SDT using a series of guidelines and technical requirements, which ensures data custodians know what is required of them when contributing to the NSW SDT.

The following terms are used in NSW SDT policy documents to indicate varying levels of compliance:

  • Shall indicates mandatory provisions to ensure full compliance with the NSW SDT Policy.

  • Should indicates recommended provisions which do not necessarily require compliance.

  • May indicates optional provisions that leave compliance to the discretion of the data contributor.

Government agencies which share their data in the NSW SDT must ensure they comply with the mandatory provisions contained in the Policy Framework. These provisions are consistent with section 2A of the Surveying and Spatial Information Act 2002 No 83.

Overview

Who needs to know and/or comply with this?

Advisory Entities (including Boards and Committees)
Councils under the Local Government Act
Departments
Executive agencies related to Departments
General Government Sector
Public Financial Corporation
Public Non-financial Corporation
Separate agencies
State Owned Corporations
Statutory Authorities/Bodies
Subsidiaries of the NSW Government established under the Corporations Act
‘GSF Agencies’ as defined under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018

Compliance

Mandatory

AR Details

Date Issued
May 21, 2025
Review Date
May 21, 2027
Replaces
Replaced By

Contacts

Contact
https://www.spatial.nsw.gov.au/contact_us
Phone
1300 789 866
Publishing Entity
Department of Customer Service
Issuing Entity
Department of Customer Service