Geoscience Australia (GA) has been developing the National Exposure Information System (NEXIS), a national database of exposure information to identify elements in both the built environment and community that are at risk from natural disasters. A key component of NEXIS is the description of each building including footprint area and height; these geometric characteristics can be derived from LiDAR. This investigation is an assessment of the current abilities of GA and industry partners to provide this data. GA holds LiDAR data representing 70% of the places Australians live, however most of these dataset have not been processed to identify buildings. Five software methods and five industry partners were assessed for their ability to do two main tasks: identify or classify buildings in the LiDAR point clouds, and extract geometric characteristics of buildings. The extracted features were assessed using an urban LiDAR point cloud that has good accuracy and a high data density. Feature-based and area-based assessment methods were developed to assess the output of software packages against a reference building dataset provided by the Launceston Council. The various methods achieved a producer's accuracy between 80% and 90%, user's accuracy between 70% and 90%, and overall accuracy between 90% and 95%.

This collaborative project between Geoscience Australia (GA) and CSIRO aims to use physicochemical measurements, collected from surface overbank sediments as part of the National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) project, to help validate the ASTER multispectral geoscience maps of Australia. Both data sets have common information including that related to the surface abundance of silica, aluminium, iron, clay, sand and volatiles (including carbonate). The ASTER geoscience maps also provide spatial information about trends of mineral composition, which are potentially related to pH and oxidation state.

Old, Flat and Red: the Origins of the Australian Landscape Colin Pain, Geoscience Australia, Lisa Worrall, Geoscience Australia, and Brad Pillans, Research School of Earth Science, Australian National University

Integrating surface water and groundwater sampling with pore fluid analysis of cored sediments, combined with fuzzy-k means (FCM) cluster analysis, provides a novel, relatively simple but powerful tool to interpret groundwater processes. This methodology has been applied to a study of shallow (<120m) alluvial aquifers in the Darling River floodplain, Pore fluids were extracted from sediments from 100 sonic-cored bores, and together with surface and groundwater samples, provided a hydrochemical dataset with over 1600 samples and 25 analytes. The FCM cluster analysis used analytes that were present in at least 60% of samples and resulted in samples being classified into eight classes (or hydrochemical facies). Pore fluids and groundwaters with the greatest affinity to the surface water samples were easily identified. In this way, sites with significant active recharge, principally by river leakage, were mapped. Downhole plots of the pore fluid FCM classes provided additional insights into groundwater processes. Comparing the FCM classification of pore fluids within the target (semi)confined aquifer with those from the overlying clay aquitard and shallow aquifer allowed the assessment of vertical inter-aquifer leakage. The FCM cluster analysis also assigns indices to each sample as indicators of how well it relates to each of the eight classes. A simple recharge index was calculated from these FCM indices. This novel approach has provided invaluable new insights into groundwater processes and has assisted greatly with assessing groundwater resources and managed aquifer recharge options.

Imagine you are an incident controller viewing a computer screen which depicts the likely spread of a bushfire that's just started. The display shows houses and other structures in the fire's path, and even the demographics of the people living in the area - such as the number of people, their age spread, whether the household has independent transport, and whether English is their second language. In addition, imagine that you can quantify and display the uncertainty in both the fire weather and also the type and state of the vegetation, enabling the delivery of a range of simulations relating to the expected fire spread and impact. You will be able to addresses the 'what if' scenarios as the event unfolds and reject those scenarios that are no longer plausible. The advantages of such a simulation system in making speedy, well-informed decisions has been considered by a group of Bushfire CRC researchers who have collaborated to produce a 'proof of concept' system initially for use in addressing 3 case studies. The system has the working name FireDST (Fire Impact and Risk Evaluation Decision Support Tool). FireDST links various databases and models, including the Phoenix RapidFire fire prediction model and building vulnerability assessment model (radiant heat and ember attack), as well as infrastructure and demographic databases. The information is assembled into an integrated simulation framework through a geographical information system (GIS) interface. Pre-processed information, such as factors that determine the local and regional wind, and also the typical response of buildings to fire, are linked with the buildings through a database, along with census-derived social and economic information. This presentation provides an overview of the FireDST simulation 'proof of concept' tool and walks through a sample probabilistic simulation constructed using the tool.

Assessment of climate change impacts on groundwater in East Timor

Measuring vulnerability to hazards is necessary to understand the true extent of risk. Determining social vulnerability relies on the integration of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Qualitative approaches explore the capacity of communities to manage risk. Quantitative methods integrate data and analytical processes to develop vulnerability measures. Geoscience Australia (GA) has developed tools for modelling natural hazards and assessing vulnerability, building exposure (NEXIS) and infrastructure resilience (CIPMA). Work on social vulnerability began with the Cities Project in 1996. In 2008 GA developed a new method for assessing social vulnerability, within the Critical Infrastructure Project (CIP). CIP takes an all hazards approach to vulnerability, to include impacts like lifeline disruption. This paper discusses a quantitative method for measuring social vulnerability to hazards. The method uses nationally available data to assess individual communities - relative vulnerability. The method allows for a standard approach to identifying highly vulnerable areas.

The formation of iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits requires the conjunction in time and space of four essential components of the ore-forming mineral system: (1) energy source(s) to motivate the flow of hydrothermal fluids; (2) sources of ore components (metals, sulphur) and fluids; (3) favourable 'architecture' of permeable pathways for fluids, and (4) physico-chemical gradient sites for ore deposition. These components have been identified for IOCG systems in northern Queensland and South Australia, focussing on uranium-bearing IOCG deposits, during multidisciplinary studies of the energy potential of these regions. Each of the four system components was mapped using existing and newly acquired geological, geophysical and geochemical data. Using mineral potential modelling based on established approaches, maps of potential for uranium-bearing IOCG deposits (and for other uranium mineral systems) were created for each of the two regions. In north Queensland the under-cover extensions of the IOCG province hosted by the Mt Isa Eastern Succession were identified as highly prospective for IOCG deposits, although the potential for uranium-bearing systems appears to be more limited due to the relatively deep crustal levels of exposure. Potential for Paleozoic IOCG systems was also identified in the Etheridge Province. In South Australia the well known early Mesoproterozoic Olympic IOCG Province in the eastern Gawler Craton is proposed to extend westwards via the Mt Woods Inlier into the Coober Pedy Ridge region. A key result is the identification of IOCG potential in the northern Curnamona Province, of equivalent age and setting to that in the Gawler Craton

A multi-disciplinary, hydrogeological systems mapping approach has been developed to guide development of new geological and hydrogeological conceptual models, and provide a framework for understanding complex hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical processes. Integration of the 3D mapping with hydrochemical and hydrodynamic data provides critical new insights into surface-groundwater interactions and groundwater flow. Using this approach, it has been possible to develop a new understanding of recharge processes, and identify potential recharge and groundwater flow pathways. The new datasets, knowledge and hydrogeological conceptual models provide a reliable basis for the identification, characterisation and initial assessment of groundwater resources and MAR options. To meet the challenge of rapid identification and assessment of potential MAR targets and groundwater resources over the relatively large study area (7,541.5 sq km) within relatively short timeframes (18 months), the only cost-effective method with the ability to resolve key features of the hydrogeological system in the 0-150m depth range was airborne electromagnetics (AEM). The SkyTEM system is a high-resolution helicopter-borne time-domain electromagnetic system, and was developed specifically for high-resolution groundwater and environmental investigations. The SkyTEM survey, validated by borehole and ground geophysics and drilling, successfully delineated the key functional elements of the Darling Floodplain hydrogeological system, and identified potential groundwater resources, zones of river leakage, and a large number of potential MAR targets. The survey revealed significant heterogeneity in the sub-surface electrical conductivity structure, reflecting a complex geology. The survey mapped heterogeneity (and 'holes') within the near-surface aquifers and confining aquitards, while conductivity variations validated by drilling enabled five hydraulic classes (based on grain size) to be mapped within the main aquifers, as well as groundwater salinities. Locally, pump and slug tests, and NMR data were integrated with the AEM data to produce maps of interpreted hydraulic conductivity and aquifer transmissivity. Previously unrecognised faults, and landscape warping and tilting are observed to disrupt hydrostratigraphic units. These data necessitated development of a completely new hydrogeological conceptual model for the study area. This model shows the importance of faulting and erosional 'holes' in aquitards for recharge models. Discrete vertical fault offsets up to 20m produce localised inter-aquifer leakage. Sampling of rainfall, river, lake, groundwater and pore fluids has provided a comprehensive hydrochemical dataset for the alluvial aquifers of the Darling River floodplain. Major ion chemistry highlighted a mixing signature between river waters, the shallow unconfined aquifer and the underlying semi-confined target Calivil aquifer. Hydrochemical analysis including fuzzy-k means (FCM) cluster analysis, integrated with conventional hydrochemical and hydrodynamic analysis also provides invaluable new insights into groundwater processes. Recharge is dominated by river leakage during high flows, when scouring of riverbank mud veneers allows infiltration. In summary, the new hydrogeological conceptual model of the study area has enabled a number of MAR options to be identified and assessed. The integrated, multi-disciplinary approach provides critical insights for developing appropriate conceptual models for groundwater processes and dynamics. This approach provides an invaluable tool for the rapid identification and assessment of MAR options, particularly in shallow sedimentary systems. *Note: corresponding author is Ken Lawrie, as Ross S. Brodie is currently on leave until February.

Multiple lines of evidence were used to understand recharge processes in shallow (<100m) unconsolidated alluvial sediments of the Darling River floodplain, NSW. Major-ion chemistry highlighted a mixing signature between river waters, the shallow unconfined aquifer and the underlying semi-confined Pliocene aquifers. The hydrostratigraphy and groundwater salinities were mapped using airborne electromagnetics (AEM), validated by drilling. The fresh near-river shallow groundwater has a modern carbon signature. The mounding of groundwater levels near the river indicates the regional significance of losing river conditions. Stable isotope data show that recharge is episodic and linked to high-flow flood events rather than river leakage being continuous. This is also evident when groundwater chemistry was compared with river chemistry under different flow conditions. Critically, rapid and significant groundwater level responses were measured during flood events. Continuation of rising trends after the flood peak receded suggests that this is an actual recharge response rather than hydraulic loading. Mud veneers and mineral precipitates are evident along the Darling River channel bank when river flows are low. During low flow conditions these act as impediments to river leakage. During floods, high flow velocities scour these deposits, revealing lateral-accretion surfaces in the shallow scroll plain sediments. This scouring allows lateral bank recharge to the shallow aquifer. During flood recession, mud veneers are re-deposited while return flows from bank storage results in carbonate precipitation in river banks. Recharge to the underlying Pliocene aquifer occurs through mapped faults and via erosional 'holes' in the confining aquitard. Mapped depressions in the river bed ('cod holes'), are floored by indurated clays, and do not provide preferential connectivity to the underlying aquifer. Such flow-dependent recharge has implications for groundwater assessment and management. For example, an analysis of historic river flows suggests that active recharge to the groundwater system would only occur for about 17% of the time when flow exceeds about 9,000 ML/d. Recharge would be negligible with groundwater extraction during low-flow conditions.