High-resolution aerial imagery with property and location insights will help researchers, government, and industry better understand how Australia’s cities, regions and infrastructure are changing.
A new partnership between the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) and Nearmap will give Australian researchers access to high-resolution aerial imagery, 3D data and AI-derived insights to support research with real-world impact.
The partnership creates new opportunities for researchers to work with government, industry and communities on some of Australia’s most pressing urban and regional challenges, from infrastructure planning and housing affordability to climate resilience, transport, land use and the future of cities.
Nearmap is known for providing aerial imagery and rich property intelligence that helps organisations see, measure and understand change in the built environment. Through AURIN, approved researchers will be able to use selected Nearmap data products to explore real-world conditions, test ideas, support evidence-based planning and develop outputs that can inform better decisions.
The collaboration comes at a time when decision-makers are under growing pressure to understand change on the ground with greater accuracy and confidence. Cities are growing, infrastructure demands are shifting, climate risks are intensifying, and communities need more timely evidence to guide investment and action.
AURIN Director, Professor Pascal Perez, said the partnership strengthens the connection between high-quality spatial data and research translation.
“Researchers need access to trusted, real-world data if their work is to help shape better decisions. This partnership with Nearmap gives Australian researchers a powerful new way to observe change, generate evidence and work with partners across government and industry to turn research into impact.”
AURIN Director, Professor Pascal Perez
Nearmap’s aerial imagery and data insights can support a wide range of research activities, including urban and regional planning, infrastructure assessment, built-environment change, environmental monitoring, scenario modelling, and three-dimensional visualisation.
The partnership also provides a practical pathway for government and industry organisations to engage with researchers around shared challenges. Rather than treating data access as an endpoint, AURIN focuses on enabling research partnerships that can produce useful outputs, critical insights, and innovative proof-of-concepts that support decision-making.
Nearmap Chief Product Officer, David Tobias, said the partnership reflects the growing importance of geospatial intelligence in shaping better outcomes for the built environment.
“Nearmap helps organisations move from uncertainty to evidence by providing a clearer, more current view of the world on the ground. Through this partnership with AURIN, researchers can apply that intelligence to questions that matter for Australia’s cities, regions and communities.”
Nearmap Chief Product Officer, David Tobias
The first phase of access will support exploration and feasibility assessment, with more in-depth access available through a staged application process. AURIN will work with researchers to understand their project needs and support appropriate, responsible use of the data.
For government agencies, councils, infrastructure organisations, planners, consultants, and industry partners, the partnership creates an opportunity to connect with Australia’s urban research community and explore how high-resolution geospatial intelligence can support practical outcomes.
AURIN Head of Product, Josh Clough, said the value of the partnership lies not only in access to data, but in what researchers and partners can build from it.
“The real opportunity is to bring the right people, data and questions together. When researchers can work with current, high-quality geospatial information and engage with partners who have real-world problems to solve, the pathway from research to impact becomes much clearer.”
AURIN , Josh Clough
Researchers and organisations interested in exploring Nearmap-enabled research opportunities are encouraged to contact AURIN to discuss project ideas, access eligibility and potential pathways for collaboration.
About AURIN
AURIN is a national research infrastructure supporting researchers, government, not-for-profits, and industry. AURIN provides access to high-value, hard-to-get datasets and expert support, enabling innovative research and development in response to critical challenges facing Australia’s cities, infrastructure systems, and local communities.
About Nearmap
Nearmap is a global property intelligence company that helps organisations understand and act on the built environment. Nearmap combines high-resolution aerial imagery, AI-derived analytics, and geospatial intelligence to support faster, more confident decisions across sectors.