The launch of Victoria’s new, streamlined Land and Survey Spatial Information (LASSI) free mapping platform is getting closer.
The updated platform will consolidate four current mapping services into one: the current LASSI, the Survey Marks Enquiry Service (SMES), the VICNAMES register of official place names, and the LASSI-SPEAR mapping application.
LASSI will be used by surveyors, the construction industry and governments to plan housing and industrial developments, prepare land surveys, and to update or add place names, survey marks and historical information associated with particular locations.
Introduction of the new platform is expected to take place next month. While retaining a lot of familiar functionality, it will also feature a new interface, new tools and a better search system.
For instance, the new platform will be mobile friendly, meaning that registered SMES users will be able to update survey marks or make new submissions while out in the field.
For VICNAME users, the ability to upload documents and images to support submissions is expected to boost the amount of historical information connected with place names.
The design of the new LASSI began in late 2024, with development taking place through to late last year and with user acceptance testing currently underway. Soon there will be a short data-freeze period before the platform goes live.
To prepare for it going live, users are being encouraged to take a number of steps.
Active users will have their account profiles transferred to the new platform, but they will have to ensure that their email addresses and other details are correct in order for it to work. In this case, an active user is anyone who has submitted or updated a survey mark within SMES within the last five years, or submitted historical information to VICNAMES within the last five years.
Two-factor authentication will be implemented for the new platform, which could be an issue for large teams that have previously shared SMES logins. In this case, individual SMES accounts need to be created prior to the new platform going live. Help can be obtained by emailing smes.support@transport.vic.gov.au.
It has been advised that work currently in draft form within the current LASSI, will not be transferred to the new LASSI. This means that draft work must be completed by the end of January in order for it to be shifted to the new platform.
Those who use LASSI and/or SMES APIs should contact lassi.info@transport.vic.gov.au to receive updated API details.
Finally, new training and support documentation will be made available before the end of February.
