This service has been created specifically for display in the National Map and the chosen symbology may not suit other mapping applications. The Australian Topographic web map service is seamless national dataset coverage for the whole of Australia. These data are best suited to graphical applications. These data may vary greatly in quality depending on the method of capture and digitising specifications in place at the time of capture. The web map service portrays detailed graphic representation of features that appear on the Earth's surface. These features include the administration boundaries from the Geoscience Australia 250K Topographic Data, including state forest and reserves.

Geoscience Australia carried out a marine survey on Carnarvon shelf (WA) in 2008 (SOL4769) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through colocated sampling of surface sediments and infauna, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video and stills photography, and measurement of ocean tides and wavegenerated currents. Data and samples were acquired using the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Research Vessel Solander. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and video transects were completed in three survey areas that extended seaward from Ningaloo Reef to the shelf edge, including: Mandu Creek (80 sq km); Point Cloates (281 sq km), and; Gnaraloo (321 sq km). Additional bathymetric mapping (but no sampling or video) was completed between Mandu creek and Point Cloates, covering 277 sq km and north of Mandu Creek, covering 79 sq km. Two oceanographic moorings were deployed in the Point Cloates survey area. The survey also mapped and sampled an area to the northeast of the Muiron Islands covering 52 sq km. cloates_3m is an ArcINFO grid of Point Cloates of Carnarvon Shelf survey area produced from the processed EM3002 bathymetry data using the CARIS HIPS and SIPS software

This dataset contains the 2010 Offshore Petroleum Acreage Release Areas. The regular release of offshore acreage is a key part of the Australian Government's strategy to encourage investment in petroleum exploration. The 2010 release consits of 31 areas in 5 sedimentary basins.

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in southeast Tasmania in 2008 and 2009 (GA0315) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through observation of habitats using underwater towed video. Data was acquired using the Tasmania Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) Research Vessel Challenger. Bathymetric mapping was undertaken in seven survey areas, including: Freycinet Pensinula (83 sq km, east coast and shelf); Tasman Peninsula (117 sq km, east coast and shelf); Port Arthur and adjacent open coast (17 sq km); The Friars (41 sq km, south of Bruny Island); lower Huon River estuary (39 sq km); D Entrecastreaux Channel (7 sq km, at Tinderbox north of Bruny Island), and; Maria Island (3 sq km, western side). Video characterisations of the seabed concentrated on areas of bedrock reef and adjacent seabed in all mapped areas, except for D Entrecastreaux Channel and Maria Island. fortescue_2m is an ArcGIS layer of the backscatter grid of the Tasman Peninsula survey arae produced from the processed EM3002 backscatter data of the survey area using the CMST-GA MB Process

Map showing Australia with offshore and scheduled areas Map produced for Border Protection for inclusion in reviewed GAMSA publication Developed from previous maps produced for OPGGS Act 2006 publication, etc. No GeoCat numbers were created for these maps. Original maps located in AG directory

This dataset contains data collected on various domestic and international swath surveys in and around Australian waters.

Very short News item for ASEG's Preview newsletter announcing the availability of the Tasman Frontier Geophysical Data Base

Fluid escape features and their correlation with subsurface geology have been studied in the Capel and Faust basins, offshore Eastern Australia, as part of the petroleum prospectivity assessment of these frontier basins. New high resolution 2D seismic, gravity, magnetic and multibeam bathymetry data significantly improved the geological understanding of the area through imaging of the deeper structure of sedimentary depocentres and exposure of a wide range of seafloor features. Integration of seafloor features identified on multibeam bathymetry data with subsurface fluid flow pathways interpreted from seismic data provides insights into the nature of fluid flow mechanisms and seal integrity in the Capel and Faust basins. Seafloor features identified include mega-pockmarks, polygonal faults, buried mud-volcanoes, forced-folds above saucer-shape sills, and slope failures with associated debrites along basement bounding faults. The correlation between the distributions of modern bathymetric features and subsurface fluid flow pathways indicate that fluid flow has been mainly driven by Cenozoic igneous activity. The magmatism and fluid flow activity have implications for petroleum prospectivity. Ongoing magmatism, fluid flow and fault reactivation during the Cenozoic adds to the risk of hydrocarbon charge relative to regional seal formation and structure emplacement. Hydrocarbon accumulations that may have formed within the deeper syn-rift and the pre-rift sections are less likely to have been affected by the Cenozoic magmatic and fluid flow processes and, therefore, may represent lower-risk exploration targets.

Geomorphic landscape features and associated surface materials are fundamental to groundwater recharge processes as they form the first layer through which surface water passes before it becomes groundwater. Different surface materials exhibit different water-holding capacity and hence permeability characteristics. In the Broken Hill Managed Aquifer Recharge project, surface-materials mapping in conjunction with geomorphic mapping, has assisted hydrogeological investigations, including recharge predictions, salinity hazard and the identification of potential infiltration basins. Prior to landform identification, LiDAR DEM data was levelled using trend surfaces to eliminate regional slope (~20m). As a consequence of this, an ArcGIS interactive contour tool could be used to identify specific breaks in elevation associated with landform features. Multivariate image analysis of elevation, high resolution SPOT and Landsat-derived wetness further enhanced the contrast between geomorphic elements to confirm mapping boundaries. While specific landforms can be characterised by particular surface materials, these sediments can vary within a single geomorphic feature. Consequently, SPOT multispectral satellite imagery was used to identify surface materials using principal component analysis and unsupervised classification. This approach generated 20 classes; each assigned a preliminary cover/landform attribute using SPOT imagery. Field data (surface and borehole sample, and observations at shallow pits) were used to refine the classification approach. Interactive mapping using a de-trended DEM provided a rapid, effective and accurate alternative to time consuming manual landform digitisation. The combination of these two new products - surface-materials and geomorphic maps - has assisted in the identification of potential recharge sites and naturally occurring infiltration sites.

Understanding marine biodiversity has received much attention from an ecological and conservation management perspective. For this purpose, scientific marine surveys are necessary and often conducted by a multidisciplinary team. In particular, the data collected can come from multiple sources inheriting a particular aspect of each discipline that requires reasonable integration for the purpose of modelling biodiversity. This talk gives an overview of some strategies investigated in the Marine Biodiversity Research Hub project funded by the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities Program to reconcile these differences.