Data was collected by selecting the highest point(s) in each geographical area of 30 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude. Elevations are recorded in feet and metres (always rounded up). Information is derived from 1:1 Million scale World Aeronautical Charts. Note: This is not regularly gridded data.

SRTM Documentation (best viewed with mono-spaced font, such as courier) 1.0 Introduction The SRTM data sets result from a collaborative effort by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), as well as the participation of the German and Italian space agencies, to generate a near-global digital elevation model (DEM) of the Earth using radar interferometry. The SRTM instrument consisted of the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C) hardware set modified with a Space Station-derived mast and additional antennae to form an interferometer with a 60 meter long baseline. A description of the SRTM mission, can be found in Farr and Kobrick (2000). Synthetic aperture radars are side-looking instruments and acquire data along continuous swaths. The SRTM swaths extended from about 30 degrees off-nadir to about 58 degrees off-nadir from an altitude of 233 km, and thus were about 225 km wide. During the data flight the instrument was operated at all times the orbiter was over land and about 1000 individual swaths were acquired over the ten days of mapping operations. Length of the acquired swaths range from a few hundred to several thousand km. Each individual data acquisition is referred to as a "data take." SRTM was the primary (and pretty much only) payload on the STS-99 mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which launched February 11, 2000 and flew for 11 days. Following several hours for instrument deployment, activation and checkout, systematic interferometric data were collected for 222.4 consecutive hours. The instrument operated virtually flawlessly and imaged 99.96% of the targeted landmass at least one time, 94.59% at least twice and about 50% at least three or more times. The goal was to image each terrain segment at least twice from different angles (on ascending, or north-going, and descending orbit passes) to fill in areas shadowed from the radar beam by terrain. This 'targeted landmass' consisted of all land between 56 degrees south and 60 degrees north latitude, which comprises almost exactly 80% of the total landmass.

The Lapstone Structural Complex (LSC) comprises a series of north-trending faults and monoclinal flexures forming the eastern margin of the Blue Mountains Plateau, ~50 km west of the Sydney CBD. The LSC is considered a potential source of large earthquakes, however its evolution, and in particular its tectonic history is not well constrained. The LSC is bounded to the west by the Kurrajong Fault System (KFS), a series of <i>en echelon </i>reverse faults downthrown to the west. Streams crossing the LSC oversteepen by about 2-5 times over these faults. This study aims, through longitudinal profile analysis of 18 streams crossing the LSC coupled with field observation, to determine whether the oversteepening can be attributed to a lithological change at the faults, or tectonically-induced disequilibrium. Two approaches are used. Firstly, plots of log slope versus log distance (DS plots) are produced for each of the streams. As a result of noise in the topographic data, these results are inconclusive in demonstrating either situation. Secondly, an area-slope relationship, defined by <i>A^0.4S</i> (where A = area and S = slope), is plotted against downstream distance. This factor is derived from the stream incision law, <i>dz/dt </i>= <i>KA^mSⁿ</i>, where <i>K</i> is assumed to be constant, and <i>m</i> and<i> n</i> are positive constants relating to erosional processes, and basin hydrologic and geometric factors. The analysis shows that in all but two streams, values for <i>A^0.4S</i> are at a maximum over the LSC. Peak <i>A^0.4S</i> values of about 0.2 are estimated to be equivalent to vertical incision rates of about 70 m/Ma. <i>A^0.4S</i> varies with lithology; however the lithological effect is demonstrated to be of similar magnitude or smaller than the apparent structural control exerted by the LSC. All streams with catchment areas less than 100 km² have developed swamps upstream of faults on the LSC. Sediment accumulated in these swamps is generally 0.5-4 m thick, but reaches 14 m in Burralow Swamp. In Blue Gum Creek and Burralow Swamps, the sedimentary sequence includes an organic clay layer indicative of low-energy depositional conditions. Previous radiocarbon dating and pollen analysis suggests the sediment is of Pleistocene age. The elevation of the clay layer is similar to that of bedrock downstream of the faults, consistent with damming related to from tectonically induced uplift.

National Elevation Data Audit is a report outlining all elevation data available across all Australian jurisdictions which was identified by the Intergovernment Committee on Surveying and Mapping's (ICSM) Permanent Committee on Topographic Information (PCTI).

The Peel 2008 LiDAR data was captured over the Peel region during February, 2008. The data was acquired by AAMHatch (now AAMGroup) and Fugro Spatial Solutions through a number of separate missions as part of the larger Swan Coast LiDAR Survey that covers the regions of Perth, Peel, Harvey, Bunbury and Busselton. The project was funded by Department of Water, WA for the purposes of coastal inundation modelling and a range of local and regional planning. The data are made available under licence for use by Commonwealth, State and Local Government. The data was captured with point density of 1 point per square metre and overall vertical accuracy has been confirmed at <15cm (68% confidence). The data are available as a number of products including mass point files (ASCII, LAS) and ESRI GRID files with 1m grid spacing. A 2m posting hydrologically enforced digital elevation model (HDEM) and inundation contours has also been derived for low lying coastal areas.

A test site for airborne gravity (AG) systems has been established at Kauring, approximately 100 km east of Perth, Western Australia. The site was chosen using a range of criteria that included being within 200 km of Jandakot Airport in Perth where most of the airborne systems would be based at one time or another when operating in Australia, being free of low level flight restrictions, having minimal human infrastructure in the central 20 by 20 km area, and the presence of gentle to rolling terrain rather than deeply incised topography or an extensive flat plain with very low relief. In anticipation of catering for airborne gravity gradiometer (AGG) systems, the site was required to have a gravity gradient feature with clear response in the wavelength range of 100 m to 2 km in a 5 by 5 km core region. In addition to catering for AGG systems, the site may also be used in the future to demonstrate and compare various airborne magnetic systems (TMI, vector, and gradient tensor systems) and digital terrain mapping systems.

The 3 second (~90m) Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) derived Digital Surface Model (DSM) Version 1.0 was derived from resampling the 1 arc second (~30m) gridded DSM (ANZCW0703013336) that represents ground surface topography as well as features above the ground such as vegetation and man-made structures. The 1 second DSM was derived from the SRTM data acquired in February 2000, supported by the GEODATA 9 second DEM in void areas and the SRTM Water Body Data. Stripes and voids have been removed from the 1 second SRTM data to provide an enhanced and complete DSM for Australia and near-shore islands. A full description of the methods is in progress (Read et al., in prep). The 3 second DEM was produced for use by government and the public under Creative Commons attribution. Further information can be found in the User Guide. The 1 second DSM forms the source for the 1 second DEM with vegetation offsets removed (ANZCW0703013355) and the smoothed version (ANZCW0703014016). All 1 second products resampled to 3 seconds are available (DSM; ANZCW0703014216, DEM; ANZCW0703014182, DEM-S; ANZCW0703014217). <strong>Please note that all 1 second products are available for GOVERNMENT USERS ONLY.</strong>

The National Catchment Database is a linked set of spatial layers and associated attribute tables describing key elements of the surface water hydrology of the Australian continent at a map scale of about 1:250,000. It is built upon the representation of surface drainage patterns provided by the GEODATA national 9 second Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Version 3 (ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society and Geoscience Australia, 2008). The stream network and catchment boundaries contained within the database form foundation elements of the Bureau of Meteorology's Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric (Geofabric), the spatial framework that underpins the Australian Water Resources Information System (AWRIS) (http://www.bom.gov.au/water/geofabric/index.shtml). This database adds additional environmental attributes not available through the AHGF. The database contains Levels 1 (drainage divisions) and 2 (aggregated river basins group) National Catchment Boundaries (NCB) in raster format including NCB Pfafstetter coding. The Vector format is available from the Bureau's Geobraic website.

The 2009 National Elevation Audit is a series of maps illustrating the areas where elevation data has been captured or will be completed until the end of 2009 and their relative vertical accuracy.

Elevation data and products such as Digital Elevation Models derived from these data comprise an essential layer within the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Historically the creation of these datasets has been the domain of National and State mapping agencies. However, in recent years the rapid development of survey technologies and industry capability, the need for high resolution elevation data to meet a range of purposes, and the nature of government funding arrangements has resulted in significant project-based investment.