As part of the Urban Digital Elevation Modelling (UDEM) Project (July 2008- June 2010), Airborne LiDAR data were acquired in partnership with State jurisdictions over priority areas including Perth-Bunbury, Adelaide, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and the NSW Hunter and Central Coast. These datasets were then further processed to produce hydrologically enforced and conditioned DEMs (Hydro-DEMs).

We present a multifaceted hydrogeological investigation of the McBride and Nulla basalt provinces in the Upper Burdekin region, north Queensland. The project aims to better understand their key groundwater system processes to inform future development and water management decisions. This work, carried out as part of the Exploring for the Future Upper Burdekin Groundwater Project, has shown that basalt aquifers in each province are typically unconfined where monitored. Groundwater recharge is widespread but highly variable, largely occurring within the boundaries of the basalt provinces. Groundwater salinity based on electrical conductivity is <1000 μS/cm in the McBride Basalt Province (MBP) and up to 2000 μS/cm in the Nulla Basalt Province (NBP). Groundwater levels have been declining since 2011 (following major flooding in Queensland), showing that the study period covers a small fraction of a longer-functioning dynamic groundwater system. The basalt provinces contain distinct lava flows, and the degree of hydraulic connectivity between them is unclear. Despite similarities in their rock properties, the geometry of lava emplacement leads to different groundwater flow regimes within the two basalt provinces. Radial flow away from the central high elevations towards the edges is characteristic of the MBP, while regional flow from west to east dominates the NBP. Basalt aquifers in both provinces support a range of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, such as springs, some of which sustain flow in tributaries of the Burdekin River. Where streams intersect basalt aquifers, this also results in direct groundwater discharge. Springs and perennial tributaries, particularly emanating from the MBP, provide important inflows to the Burdekin River, especially in the dry season. This work has highlighted that management of MBP and NBP groundwater sources is crucial for maintaining a range of environmental assets in the region and for ensuring access for existing and future users. <b>Citation:</b> Ransley, T.R., Dixon-Jain, P., Cook, S.B., Lai, E.C.S., Kilgour, P., Wallace, L., Dunn, B., Hansen, J.W.L. and Herbert, G., 2020. Hydrogeology of the McBride and Nulla basalt provinces in the Upper Burdekin region, north Queensland. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems measure surface properties at high resolution, including ground surface elevation, and vegetation height and density. As well as having routine application in studies of surface hydrology, vegetation, ecology, infrastructure and hazard assessments, LiDAR is important in groundwater studies as it can help characterise and inform hydrogeological architecture, recharge and discharge processes, surface water–groundwater connectivity, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. LiDAR-based high-resolution elevation data support surface and subsurface mapping, borehole data analysis, and the processing, calibration and interpretation of geophysics and remote sensing. Here, we describe several applications of airborne LiDAR to understanding groundwater systems in two case study areas in northern Australia: the East Kimberley area in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and the Upper Burdekin area in Queensland. The East Kimberley LiDAR data were critical to mapping geomorphology and near-surface hydrostratigraphy, which informed our understanding of recharge processes. The Upper Burdekin LiDAR data enabled the mapping of key surface features such as lava flows and rootless cones, which can act as recharge pathways. <b>Citation:</b> Halas, L., Kilgour, P., Gow, L. and Haiblen, A., 2020. Application of high-resolution LiDAR data for hydrogeological investigations. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

<div>The Lacepede Channel bathymetry survey was acquired for the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) onboard the MV Pacific Conquest and USV Blue Shadow - 901 during the period 19 May 2021 – 22 Sep 2021. This was a contracted survey conducted for the Australian Hydrographic Office by Fugro as part of the Hydroscheme Industry Partnership Program. The survey area encompases an area in Lacepede Channel, Western Australia. Bathymetry data was acquired using a Kongsberg EM2040 Mk II, and processed using Caris Hips & Sips processing software. The dataset was then exported as a 30m resolution, 32 bit floating point GeoTIFF grid of the survey area.</div><div>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.</div>

The Bass Strait Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a compilation of all available bathymetry data for the area of seabed between the coastlines of Victoria and northern Tasmania, extending approximately 460 km from west of King Island to east of Flinders Island. The Bass Strait is bounded by a continental slope incised with numerous canyons, including the prominent Bass Canyon on the eastern side. The region encompasses islands and exposed rocks, drowned paleo-shorelines and dunefields, fringed by a rugged coastline. Bathymetry mapping of the seafloor is vital for the protection of Bass Strait, allowing for safe navigation of shipping, improved environmental management and resource development. Australian Hydrographic Office-supplied ENC tile spot depths were used to develop the general bathymetry variation across the entire region. Shallow- and deep-water multibeam survey data reveal the complexity of the seafloor for the continental shelf and adjacent canyons which incise the western and eastern sides of Bass Strait. Airborne LiDAR bathymetry acquired by the Australian Hydrographic Office cover most of the northern Tasmanian nearshore and coast, with some coverage gaps supplemented by Landsat-8 satellite derived bathymetry data. The Geoscience Australia-developed Intertidal Elevation Model DEM improves the source data over the intertidal zone. Highly accurate photogrammetry coastline data developed for the Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales coastlines, and Near Surface Feature data representing shoal features observable in aerial imagery, were used to improve the land/water interface of the numerous island and rock features. All source bathymetry data were extensively edited as 3D point clouds to remove noise, given a consistent WGS84 horizontal datum, and where possible, an approximate MSL vertical datum.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

This web service contains a selection of remotely sensed raster products used in the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) East Kimberley Groundwater Project. Selected products were derived from LiDAR, Landsat (5, 7, and 8), and Sentinel-2 data. Datasets include: 1) mosaic 5 m digital elevation model (DEM) with shaded relief; 2) vegetation structure stratum and substratum classes; 3) Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 20th, 50th, and 80th percentiles; 4) Tasselled Cap exceedance summaries; 5) Normalised Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) and Normalised Difference Wetness Index (NDWI). Landsat spectral reflectance products can be used to highlight land cover characteristics such as brightness, greenness and wetness, and vegetation condition; Sentinel-2 datasets help to detect vegetation moisture stress or waterlogging; LiDAR datasets providing a five meter DEM and vegetation structure stratum classes for detailed analysis of vegetation and relief.

This report presents key results from the Upper Burdekin Groundwater Project conducted as part of Exploring for the Future (EFTF)—an eight year Australian Government funded geoscience data and information acquisition program. The first four years of the Program (2016–20) aimed to better understand the potential mineral, energy and groundwater resources in northern Australia. The Upper Burdekin Groundwater Project focused on the McBride Basalt Province (MBP) and Nulla Basalt Province (NBP) in the Upper Burdekin region of North Queensland. It was undertaken as a collaborative study between Geoscience Australia and the Queensland Government. This document reports the key findings of the project, as a synthesis of the hydrogeological investigation project and includes maps and figures to display the results.

This web service contains a selection of remotely sensed raster products used in the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) East Kimberley Groundwater Project. Selected products were derived from LiDAR, Landsat (5, 7, and 8), and Sentinel-2 data. Datasets include: 1) mosaic 5 m digital elevation model (DEM) with shaded relief; 2) vegetation structure stratum and substratum classes; 3) Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 20th, 50th, and 80th percentiles; 4) Tasselled Cap exceedance summaries; 5) Normalised Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) and Normalised Difference Wetness Index (NDWI). Landsat spectral reflectance products can be used to highlight land cover characteristics such as brightness, greenness and wetness, and vegetation condition; Sentinel-2 datasets help to detect vegetation moisture stress or waterlogging; LiDAR datasets providing a five meter DEM and vegetation structure stratum classes for detailed analysis of vegetation and relief.

The Australian Bathymetry and Topography (AusBathyTopo) Torres Strait dataset contains depth and elevation data compiled from all available data within the Torres Strait into a 30 m-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The Torres Strait lies at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the largest coral reef ecosystem on Earth, and straddles the Arafura Sea to the west and the Coral Sea to the east. The Torres Strait area is bounded by Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Bathymetry mapping of this extensive reef and shoal system is vital for the protection of the Torres Strait allowing for the safe navigation of shipping and improved environmental management. Over past ten years, deep-water multibeam surveys have revealed the highly complex continental slope canyons in deeper Coral Sea waters. Shallow-water multibeam surveys conducted by the US-funded Source-to-Sink program revealed the extensive Fly River delta deposits. Airborne LiDAR bathymetry acquired by the Australian Hydrographic Office cover most of the Torres Strait and GBR reefs, with coverage gaps supplemented by satellite derived bathymetry. The Geoscience Australia-developed National Intertidal DIgital Elevation Model (NIDEM) improves the source data gap along Australia’s vast intertidal zone. We acknowledge the use of the CSIRO Marine National Facility (https://ror.org/01mae9353 ) in undertaking this research.” The datasets used were collected by the Marine National Facility on 13 voyages (see Lineage for identification). All source bathymetry data were extensively edited as point clouds to remove noise, given a consistent WGS84 horizontal datum, and where possible, an approximate MSL vertical datum. The 30 m-resolution grid is a fundamental dataset to underpin marine habitat mapping, and can be used to accurately simulate water mixing within a whole-of-GBR scale hydrodynamic model. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

<div>The Western Approaches to Torres Strait Bathymetry survey was acquired for the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) onboard the MV Pacific Conquest, an unmanned vehicle USV and VH-VEH Cessna 441 aircraft during the period 29 October 2020 – 21 February 2021.&nbsp;</div><div>This is a contracted survey conducted for the Australian Hydrographic Office by Fugro Australia Marine as part of the Hydroscheme Industry Partnership Program (HIPP). </div><div>The survey area is east of the Western approaches to the Torres Strait. </div><div>Bathymetry data was acquired using a Kongsberg EM2040 (Dual/Single Head and Dual swath), EM2040P and LADS HD+ and RIEGL VQ-820-G systems and processed using CARIS HIPS & SIPS 11.3.17, LADS HD+ GS, RiWorld processing software. </div><div>The dataset was then exported as a 30m resolution, 32 bit floating point GeoTIFF grid of the survey area.</div><div>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.</div>