Project Overview

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development (NRMMRRD) needed to replace ageing, unsupported integration technologies as part of the modernisation of Queensland’s spatial cadastral systems.

The opportunity, however, extended beyond replacing legacy technology.

Rather than recreate existing point-to-point integrations on a newer platform, the department set out to establish a modern enterprise integration capability — one that could meet the immediate needs of the program while providing a reusable foundation for future initiatives.

Intelligent Pathways partnered with the Department to design and implement a modern integration platform on Microsoft Azure, creating a more secure, governed and scalable way to connect systems and data across the organisation.

Supporting Queensland’s Foundational Spatial Data

The project supported the systems responsible for managing Queensland’s authoritative spatial and cadastral information — the land boundary, property and addressing data that underpins planning, land administration, emergency services, infrastructure, environmental management and many other government functions.

As part of the department’s Cadastre and Address Modernisation (CAM) Program, the transition to the Queensland Spatial Cadastral Fabric (QSCF) required a modern integration capability that could connect critical business systems while maintaining continuity throughout the change.

The Challenge

The Department’s integration environment had evolved over many years. Point-to-point connections, direct database dependencies and ageing technologies had created a complex landscape that was becoming increasingly difficult and costly to support.

The project needed to move away from unsupported technologies without disrupting critical interconnected systems, while establishing an integration capability that could serve the department well beyond the immediate program.

Further complexity emerged during delivery. Previously undocumented integrations and dependencies were uncovered as work progressed, expanding the scope while the delivery timeframe remained fixed.

This required the team to balance immediate delivery pressures with the longer-term architectural direction — ensuring the solution addressed the challenges of today without creating another legacy problem for the future.

“The delivery changed shape several times and you guys just flexed and morphed with it and worked with us rather than being prescriptive to the contract.”

Crystal Dring

Our Approach

Intelligent Pathways worked closely with the Department to look beyond the immediate migration requirement and establish a reusable enterprise integration capability.

Built on Microsoft Azure Integration Services, the new platform introduced common integration patterns and enterprise governance, replacing fragmented point-to-point connections with a more consistent and supportable approach.

The project was delivered within an exceptionally compressed timeframe, while requirements continued to evolve and additional integration dependencies emerged. Intelligent Pathways adapted alongside the Department, maintaining delivery momentum without compromising the long-term architectural direction.

The result was a modern enterprise integration capability designed not only to support this program of work, but also to enable future modernisation initiatives across the department.

“You integrated yourselves into our project team as one and then we all sort of figured it out together.”

Crystal Dring

“The IP team came in very calm. They listened. They asked really good questions. It wasn’t about them. It was about what the project needed to do.”

Trent Venables

Business Outcomes

While the platform has only recently been deployed, it is already delivering measurable operational benefits. The Department now has an enterprise-grade integration platform that addresses an immediate legacy challenge while creating a foundation for what comes next.

Moving away from ageing integration technologies has reduced supportability risk and delivered significant savings in ongoing licensing costs. Standardised integration patterns have also improved visibility across the environment and made integrations easier to manage and troubleshoot.

Importantly, the capability is reusable. As further systems are modernised, teams can build on established patterns and infrastructure rather than creating new integrations from the ground up.

“It’s a significant cost saving to a point where we can actually repurpose what would have typically been used for that licensing agreement into new initiatives that will actually improve the Department.”

Crystal Dring

Key Outcomes

• Delivered within the required timeframe and budget
• Established a modern enterprise integration platform on Microsoft Azure
• Replaced unsupported legacy integration technologies
• Reduced ongoing licensing costs
• Improved visibility across enterprise integrations
• Simplified troubleshooting through standardised integration patterns
• Established a reusable integration capability to support future initiatives
• Created a scalable foundation for continued modernisation across the department

“Exceeded expectations… one hundred percent!”

Crystal Dring

Technology

• Azure API Management (APIM) — API security and policy enforcement
• Apache Kafka — event streaming
• Azure Functions — scalable serverless API implementations, event processing (with Apache Kafka) and scheduled tasks
• Azure Key Vault — secure credential management
• Azure Entra ID — API authentication and authorization
• Azure Monitor — operational monitoring and automated alerts