Exploring for the Future (EFTF) is a four-year (2016-20) geoscience data and information acquisition program that aims to better understand on a regional scale the potential mineral, energy and groundwater resources concealed under cover in northern Australia and parts of South Australia. Hydrogeochemical surveys utilise groundwater as a passive sampling medium to reveal the chemistry of the underlying geology including hidden mineralisation. These surveys also potentially provide input into regional baseline groundwater datasets that can inform environmental monitoring and decision making. Geoscience Australia, as part of the Australian Government’s EFTF program, undertook an extensive groundwater sampling survey in collaboration with the Northern Territory Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Queensland. During the 2017, 2018 and 2019 dry season, 224 groundwater samples (including field duplicate samples) were collected from 203 pastoral and water supply bores in the Tennant Creek-Mt Isa EFTF focus area of the Northern Territory and Queensland. An additional 38 groundwater samples collected during the 2013 dry season in the Lake Woods region from 35 bores are included in this release as they originate from within the focus area. The area was targeted to evaluate its mineral potential with respect to iron oxide copper-gold, sediment-hosted lead-zinc-silver and Cu-Co, and/or lithium-boron-potash mineral systems, among others. The 2017-2019 surveys were conducted across 21 weeks of fieldwork and sampled groundwater for a comprehensive suite of hydrogeochemical parameters, including isotopes, analysed over subsequent months. The present data release includes information and atlas maps of: 1) sampling sites; 2) physicochemical parameters (EC, pH, Eh, DO and T) of groundwater measured in the field; 3) field measurements of total alkalinity (HCO3-), dissolved sulfide (S2-), and ferrous iron (Fe2+); 4) major cation and anion results; 5) trace element concentrations; 6) isotopic results of water (δ18O and δ2H), DIC (δ13C), dissolved sulfate (δ34S and δ18O), dissolved strontium (87Sr/86Sr), and dissolved lead (204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb, and 208Pb) isotopes; 7) dissolved hydrocarbon VFAs, BTEX, and methane concentrations, as well as methane isotopes (δ13C and δ2H); and 8) atlas of hydrogeochemical maps representing the spatial distribution of these parameters. Pending analyses include: CFCs and SF6; tritium; Cu isotopes; and noble gas concentrations (Ar, Kr, Xe, Ne, and 4He) and 3He/4He ratio. This data release (current as of July 2021) is the second in a series of staged releases and interpretations from the Northern Australia Hydrogeochemical Survey. It augments and revises the first data release, which it therefore supersedes. Relevant data, information and images are available through the GA website (https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/133388) and GA’s EFTF portal (https://portal.ga.gov.au/).

This dataset provides geospatial representation of the Australian wind regions defined in AS/NZS 1170.2 (2021) Structural Design Actions Part 2: wind actions (hereafter “Standard”). The dataset is intended to assist in delineating areas for referencing the Standard – for example in assigning building vulnerability models across the country. The dataset represents Geoscience Australia's interpretation of the definitions set out in the Standard and is intended for internal use only. This dataset is not suitable for design purposes: professional designers should refer to the Standard for assessing the wind region for their projects. In the event of any inconsistency between this dataset and Figure 3.1 in the Standard, the Standard will take precedence. This product has not been formally endorsed by Standards Australia or the relevant Working Groups and subcommittees. References to localities are indicative and use the best available information at the time of production. For further information on this dataset, please contact hazards@ga.gov.au.

Earthquake design standards seek to ensure that structures are adequately resilient to local hazard. The probabilistic hazard that forms the basis of the design loadings used and the methods by which they are calculated typically reflect the best available information and practices at the time. This was the case with the earthquake loadings standard for the design of PNG buildings that was published in 1982. However, with the collaborative development of a better understanding of earthquake hazard across PNG the need to adjust the earthquake loadings for design through an Interim Amendment was highlighted. This key step would precede any more general and broader update of national building regulations. In this paper the process taken to translate the latest earthquake hazard assessment for PNG, PSHA19, to design practice is described. This included an assessment of the level of current under-design and the engagement with stakeholders in PNG to assess their needs through workshop activity. The central document to this process, “The Interim Amendment to PNGS 1001-1982: Part 4: Earthquake Design Actions”, is described and goes beyond the incorporation of the new design hazard to the introduction of new approaches for assessing earthquake loads that more closely align with those used in New Zealand and Australia. Preparation and delivery of seminars in-country to familiarise design professionals with its use are also described along with the series of professional development video products also developed for use in PNG. Finally, future needs in regulatory development in PNG are outlined. Presented at the 2023 Australian Earthquake Engineering Society (AEES) National Conference

<div>Maps of seabed geomorphology derived from bathymetry data provide foundational information that is used to support the sustainable use of the marine environment across a range of activities that contribute to the Blue Economy. The global recognition of the value of the Blue Economy and several key global initiatives, notably the Seabed 2030 project to map the global ocean and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, are driving the proliferation and open dissemination of these data and derived map products. To effectively support these global efforts, geomorphic characterisation of the seabed requires standardized multi-scalar and interjurisdictional approaches that can be applied locally, regionally and internationally. This document describes and illustrates a geomorphic lexicon for the full range of coastal to deep ocean geomorphic Settings and related Processes that drive the formation, modification and preservation of geomorphic units on the seabed. Terms and Settings/Processes have been selected from the literature and structured to balance established terminology with the need for consistency between the range of geomorphic Settings. This document also presents a glossary of the terms and identifies the insights that can be gained by mapping each unit type, from an applied perspective.</div> <b>Citation:</b> Nanson, Rachel, Arosio, Riccardo, Gafeira, Joana, McNeil, Mardi, Dove, Dayton, Bjarnadóttir, Lilja, Dolan, Margaret, Guinan, Janine, Post, Alix, Webb, John, & Nichol, Scott. (2023). <i>A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme; Part 2: Geomorphology classification framework and glossary (Version 1.0) (1.0).</i> Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7804019

The Foundation Spatial Data Framework (FSDF) is a framework of ten national authoritative geographic data themes that supports evidence-based social-economic decision making across multiple levels of Australian and New Zealand government agencies, industry, research and the community. The AAA data management principles (Authoritative, Accurate and Accessible), articulated for FSDF, are easily translatable to the FAIR Principles and applied to ensure: - Ability to Find data through rich and consistently implemented metadata; - Access to metadata and data by humans and machines while practicing federated data management within trusted data repositories; - Interoperability of metadata and data through adoption of common standards and application of best practices; and - Reusability of data by capturing licencing constraints and information about its quality and provenance. The Location Information Knowledge Platform (LINK) was developed in 2016 as a digital catalogue of FSDF content. This governed, online, dynamic, analysis and discovery tool was designed to enhance the discovery of FSDF datasets, support work planning and indicate the legal frameworks, agency priorities and use case associated with FSDF data. More than 73 Australian government agencies and commercial organisations use this Platform. Current work includes: - Building common high-level and individual lower-level information models (ontologies) for the FSDF and each dataset; - Development of a new architecture for persistent identifiers and identifier incorporation in the datasets; - The ISO 19115-1-based Australian and New Zealand Metadata profile and best practices user guides; and - Testing new workflows for metadata and data governance and integration utilising a set of common cloud-based infrastructure. On realisation, the FSDF will become a necessary component of spatial socio-economic decision making across Australian and New Zealand government agencies and the private sector. FSDF will encourage cross-sector partnerships and enable seamless access to authoritative spatial data across organisational and jurisdictional boundaries, thus contributing to economic growth, improved public safety, meeting legal and policy obligations and sustaining business needs.

Development of a data policy and ensuring its uptake is not a trivial task within any organisation. There are many surrounding factors that may help or hinder the acceptance and imbedding of policies. Preparation and development of Geoscience Australia’s (GA) Data Strategy and Data Stewardship Policy required a combined understanding and knowledge of political, stakeholder, geoinformatics and technological landscapes external to the organisation, and an internal understanding of a vast amount of multi-disciplinary data assets and their champions within GA. Externally, from an international perspective, any data policy needs to take into account: - Regulations and compliance requirements (FAIR Principles and Trusted repositories), - Supporting data interoperability geoinformatics developments (common ontological information models, vocabularies and content standards (ISO, OGC, W3C)); - Technology trends (semantic web, machine learning, block chain); and - How these may interrelate to each other. From an Australian perspective, any GA data policy must: - Maintain a high level awareness of changes in Government priorities and policies (Australian Government Data Policy, Digital Continuity 2020); - Similar developments within other Government organisations; - Understand GA stakeholders and their roles in supporting delivery of GA goals and outcomes: the influencers, partners and consumers and how GA can communicate its Data Policy to them. Internally, to ensure the Strategy implementation, GA needs to: - Build a strong support base from executives, managers and data champions to ensure adoption of the strategy and funding; - Develop an architecture to sustain the implementation; - Ensure technological support through expert geoinformatics and Multi-Disciplinary-Teams; - Educate staff to ensure they have adequate competencies to comply with the policy. The GA Data Strategy is accompanied by a three year roadmap, which includes developing methodologies and frameworks to: - Streamline data processes, systems and tools; - Embed best practice data management; - Encourage and reward data management; - Develop data capabilities; - Strengthen and embed Data Governance. Realisation of this work is essential for GA to achieve its main goal of maximising geoscientific data potential to serve Australia.