A new two-part interview series published by Spatial Source features our AURIN Director Professor Pascal Perez discussing the future of urban digital research infrastructure, data access, AI, and Australia’s major urban challenges.
Across the interviews, Perez outlines how AURIN is evolving to support researchers, governments, and industry with access to complex datasets and advanced analytical capabilities. He also reflects on the broader role of national digital research infrastructure in helping Australia respond to climate change, energy transition, housing pressures, and demographic transformation.
In Part 1, Perez discusses AURIN’s purpose as Australia’s national urban digital research infrastructure and explains why access to “hard-to-get” data has become increasingly important for researchers working across cities, infrastructure systems, and communities. He also explores the limitations of current AI systems in geospatial analysis and the need for stronger spatial reasoning capabilities.
The interview also highlights the difference between data, information, and knowledge, arguing that access to data alone is not enough without the infrastructure and expertise needed to turn it into meaningful evidence.
Part 2 focuses on AURIN’s evolving operating model and its growing emphasis on commercially controlled and sensitive datasets. Perez explains how AURIN negotiates access to datasets that are often difficult for researchers to obtain independently, including telecommunications, mobility, and property data.
Perez also explores AURIN’s collaborative approach to research infrastructure, including partnerships with industry, government, and local councils. He provides a candid assessment of current urban digital twin initiatives in Australia and argues for more advanced modelling approaches that move beyond visualisation alone.
Together, the interviews provide a detailed overview of the opportunities and challenges shaping Australia’s urban digital research landscape and AURIN’s role within it.
Read the full articles here:
Part 1: AURIN purpose and data strategy
Part 2: AURIN data access and initiatives
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