Australia Geographic Data Processing
Budget: $15 – $25 AUD
Freelancer Wanted: Australian Geographic Data & Mapping Web App
We're looking for an experienced full-stack developer to build a sophisticated geographic data visualisation platform focused on Australia. This is a substantial project with multiple stages, and we're looking for someone who can commit to seeing it through end to end.
What you'll be building
A web-based mapping and data tool that lets users explore census and other datasets across Australian geographic areas — from the national level right down to individual mesh blocks. Think of it as a customisable, interactive community insights platform.
Stage 1 – Geography layer
Build on a Google Maps base and load in the full suite of 2021 ABS geographic boundaries, including mesh blocks, SA1s, SA2s, SA3s, states, LGAs, state and commonwealth electoral divisions, suburbs, and postal areas. Mesh blocks are the building blocks — all other boundaries should be independently defined and allocated to their parent geographies. Future support for 2026 mesh blocks and backwards compatibility to 2016/2011 will be required.
Stage 2 – Data ingestion
Create a data upload mechanism supporting mesh block, SA1, SA2, SA3, suburb, postcode and LGA-level inputs. Start with 2021 ABS census data (population/dwellings by mesh block; SA1 datapacks). We'd also like you to explore API integration possibilities. The upload interface needs to capture metadata including names, descriptions, source, update frequency, legend text, number formatting, and aggregation method (sum or average).
Stage 3 – Maps & visualisation
Render an interactive heatmap with quintile-based colour banding. Users should be able to zoom between geographic levels (SA3 → LGA → SA2 → SA1), with a lockable zoom mode to hold the current geographic level. Include a “hotspot” mode that highlights only the top 20% of areas using five graduated bands (top 1%, 1–5%, 5–10%, 10–15%, 15–20%), leaving everything else unshaded. Add an info box panel (top right) showing dataset details.
Stage 4 – User-defined areas
Two ways for users to define custom areas: a dropdown selector (choose area type, filter by state, search and multi-select) and a polygon drawing tool on a map. Polygon-selected areas should calculate proportional data based on the share of each mesh block’s geography that falls inside the polygon. Users can name and save their areas to a “My Areas” page.
Stage 5 – Dashboards & reports
Let users create and save named dashboards combining their custom areas with chosen indicators, with a traffic-light style colour system (high/medium/low) based on the data range. Also build a report generation feature that compiles key indicators and time series for a user-defined area — ideally exported to Word, though other formats are open for discussion.
What we’re looking for
• Strong experience with geospatial data and mapping libraries (Google Maps API or similar)
• Comfortable working with large shapefiles and the ABS ASGS geography framework
• Full-stack capability — frontend mapping UI and backend data processing
• Familiarity with Australian census data and ABS data formats is a big plus
• Ability to work iteratively through stages, with clear communication at each step
Please include in your application
• Your approach to handling large geospatial datasets
• An estimate of time and cost per stage
• Any questions you have about the scope
We're looking for an experienced full-stack developer to build a sophisticated geographic data visualisation platform focused on Australia. This is a substantial project with multiple stages, and we're looking for someone who can commit to seeing it through end to end.
What you'll be building
A web-based mapping and data tool that lets users explore census and other datasets across Australian geographic areas — from the national level right down to individual mesh blocks. Think of it as a customisable, interactive community insights platform.
Stage 1 – Geography layer
Build on a Google Maps base and load in the full suite of 2021 ABS geographic boundaries, including mesh blocks, SA1s, SA2s, SA3s, states, LGAs, state and commonwealth electoral divisions, suburbs, and postal areas. Mesh blocks are the building blocks — all other boundaries should be independently defined and allocated to their parent geographies. Future support for 2026 mesh blocks and backwards compatibility to 2016/2011 will be required.
Stage 2 – Data ingestion
Create a data upload mechanism supporting mesh block, SA1, SA2, SA3, suburb, postcode and LGA-level inputs. Start with 2021 ABS census data (population/dwellings by mesh block; SA1 datapacks). We'd also like you to explore API integration possibilities. The upload interface needs to capture metadata including names, descriptions, source, update frequency, legend text, number formatting, and aggregation method (sum or average).
Stage 3 – Maps & visualisation
Render an interactive heatmap with quintile-based colour banding. Users should be able to zoom between geographic levels (SA3 → LGA → SA2 → SA1), with a lockable zoom mode to hold the current geographic level. Include a “hotspot” mode that highlights only the top 20% of areas using five graduated bands (top 1%, 1–5%, 5–10%, 10–15%, 15–20%), leaving everything else unshaded. Add an info box panel (top right) showing dataset details.
Stage 4 – User-defined areas
Two ways for users to define custom areas: a dropdown selector (choose area type, filter by state, search and multi-select) and a polygon drawing tool on a map. Polygon-selected areas should calculate proportional data based on the share of each mesh block’s geography that falls inside the polygon. Users can name and save their areas to a “My Areas” page.
Stage 5 – Dashboards & reports
Let users create and save named dashboards combining their custom areas with chosen indicators, with a traffic-light style colour system (high/medium/low) based on the data range. Also build a report generation feature that compiles key indicators and time series for a user-defined area — ideally exported to Word, though other formats are open for discussion.
What we’re looking for
• Strong experience with geospatial data and mapping libraries (Google Maps API or similar)
• Comfortable working with large shapefiles and the ABS ASGS geography framework
• Full-stack capability — frontend mapping UI and backend data processing
• Familiarity with Australian census data and ABS data formats is a big plus
• Ability to work iteratively through stages, with clear communication at each step
Please include in your application
• Your approach to handling large geospatial datasets
• An estimate of time and cost per stage
• Any questions you have about the scope