What is MAPS?

MAPS (Middleware Action Plan and Strategy) is a project funded under Australia's Systemic Infrastructure Initiative to develop a strategic roadmap for middleware activities that will support research and higher education in Australia. Middleware is a set of common software and services designed to connect people to a range of resources in distributed environments. These resources include major research facilities, information and communications technology infrastructure, data repositories, and other resources that support e-research, scholarly communication, and e-learning.

MAPS fits into a programme of related projects coordinated by the Australian Research Information Infrastructure Committee (ARIIC).

MAPS partners are The University of Queensland (lead institution), Macquarie University, Monash University, Australian National University, Council of Australian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT), Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL), and AARNet Pty Ltd.

Key project activities

The main activities of the MAPS project are as follows:

• To identify middleware activity that has so far been undertaken within the Australian research and higher education sector
• To identify international middleware activity and best practices that could benefit Australia
• To develop a draft roadmap for middleware activities to support research and higher education in Australia
• To disseminate the draft roadmap widely and seek feedback from the sector
• To produce a completed roadmap and action plan

Steering committee members

MAPS is governed by a steering committee comprising the following members:

• Nick Tate, Chair (The University of Queensland)
• James Dalziel (Macquarie University)
• Paul Davis (VeRSI)
• Geoff Dengate (Griffith University)
• Rhys Francis (National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS))
• Jeff Murray (Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL))
• Richard Northam (Council of Australian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT))
• Alex Reid (Australia's Academic and Research Network (AARNet))
• Alan Smith (Australasian Council for Open Distance and e-Learning (ACODE))
• Robin Stanton (Australian National University)

Reference group

MAPS is also informed by a wider reference group including representatives from the following:

• The Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee (AVCC)
• DVC (Research) and DVC (Academic/Teaching and Learning) groups
• Other projects coordinated by the Australian Research Information Infrastructure Committee (ARIIC)
• Lead researchers from research groups in middleware in Australia
• Internet2 Middleware Committee (MACE)
• IMS Global Learning Consortium
• AusCERT
• CSIRO
• National Health and Medical Research Council