The coastal zone is arguably the most difficult geographical region to capture as data because of its dynamic nature. Yet, coastal geomorphology is fundamental data required in studies of the potential impacts of climate change. Anthropogenic and natural structural features are commonly mapped individually, with their inherent specific purposes and constraints, and subsequently overlain to provide map products. This coastal geomorphic mapping project centered on a major coastal metropolitan area between Lake Illawarra and Newcastle, NSW, has in contrast classified both anthropogenic and natural geomorphological features within the one dataset to improve inundation modelling. Desktop mapping was undertaken using the Australian National Coastal Geomorphic (Polygon) Classification being developed by Geoscience Australia and supported by the Department of Climate Change. Polygons were identified from 50cm and 1m aerial imagery. These data were utilized in parallel with previous maps including for example 1:25K Quaternary surface geology, acid sulphate soil risk maps as well as 1:100K bedrock geology polygon maps. Polygons were created to capture data from the inner shelf/subtidal zone to the 10 m contour and include fluvial environments because of the probability of marine inundation of freshwater zones. Field validation was done as each desktop mapping section was near completion. This map has innovatively incorporated anthropogenic structures as geomorphological features because we are concerned with the present and future geomorphic function rather than the past. Upon completion it will form part of the National Coastal Geomorphic Map of Australia, also being developed by Geoscience Australia and utilized in conjunction with Smartline.

Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) web services offer a cost efficient technology that permits transfer of standardised data from distributed sources, removing the need for data to be regularly uploaded to a centralised database. When combined with community defined exchange standards, the OGC services offer a chance to access the latest data from the originating agency and return the data in a consistent format. Interchange and mark-up languages such as the Geography Markup Language (GML) provide standard structures for transferring geospatial information over the web. The IUGS Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information (CGI) has an on-going collaborative project to develop a data model and exchange language based on GML for geological map and borehole data, the GeoScience Mark-up Language (GeoSciML). The Australian Government Geoscience Information Committee (GGIC) has used the GeoSciML model as a basis to cover mineral resources (EarthResourceML), and the Canadian Groundwater Information Network (GIN) has extended GeoSciML into the groundwater domain (GWML). The focus of these activities is to develop geoscience community schema that use globally accepted geospatial web service data exchange standards.

The 3 second (~90m) Smoothed Digital Elevation Model (DEM-S) Version 1.0 was derived from resampling the 1 second SRTM derived DEM-S (gridded smoothed digital elevation model; ANZCW0703014016). The DEM represents ground surface topography, excluding vegetation features, and has been smoothed to reduce noise and improve the representation of surface shape. The DEM-S was derived from the 1 second Digital Surface Model (DSM; ANZCW0703013336) and the Digital Elevation Model Version 1.0 (DEM; ANZCW0703013355) by an adaptive smoothing process that applies more smoothing in flatter areas than hilly areas, and more smoothing in noisier areas than in less noisy areas. This DEM-S supports calculation of local terrain shape attributes such as slope, aspect and curvatures that could not be reliably derived from the unsmoothed 1 second DEM because of noise. A full description of the methods is in progress (Gallant et al., in prep) and in the 1 second User Guide. The 3 second DEM was produced for use by government and the public under Creative Commons attribution. The 1 second DSM and DEM that forms the basis of the product are also available as 3 second products (DSM; ANZCW0703014216, DEM; ANZCW0703014182, DEM-S; ANZCW0703014217). <strong>Please note that all 1 second products are available for GOVERNMENT USERS ONLY.</strong>

A growing need to manage marine biodiversity at local, regional and global scales cannot be met by applying the limited existing biological data sets. Abiotic surrogacy is increasingly valuable in filling the gaps in our knowledge of biodiversity hotspots, habitats needed by endangered or commercially valuable species and systems or processes important to the sustained provision of ecosystem services. This review examines the utility of abiotic surrogates across spatial scales with particular regard to how abiotic variables are tied to processes which affect biodiversity and how easily those variables can be measured at scales relevant to resource management decisions.

Current understanding of the temperature distribution in the Australian continent is based on sparse and unevenly distributed borehole temperature measurements, and even fewer heat flow determinations. To address this, the Geothermal Project at Geoscience Australia (GA), established under the $58.9M Onshore Energy Security Program, has set up a capability for determining surface heat flow across the country through temperature logging and thermal conductivity measurement. Without the resources to drill new holes, GA has worked with state governments and mineral exploration companies to access exploration and water bores for temperature logging. In addition to the continuous temperature logs recorded, the logging tool has a natural gamma detector. As of December 2010, 156 new temperature logs have been collected across all states and territories. Samples have been collected from most of these holes, and thermal conductivity measurement of these samples is ongoing. GA uses an Anter 2022 Unitherm thermal conductivity meter. As part of the set up procedures, an inter-lab comparison was performed between GA and Southern Methodist University (U.S.), Hot Dry Rocks Pty Ltd, and Torrens Energy Ltd. A comparison has also been performed between GA and the National Geophysical Research Institute (India). Where temperature data are sparse, it is necessary to use other geoscience information to assess the geothermal potential of an area. A thermal calculation module has been built for the GeoModeller software package by Intrepid Geophysics. GA is using this and other software to allow non-geothermal-specific data to also be incorporated into regional geothermal resource assessments.

This record presents a compilation of new zircon U-Pb SHRIMP geochronological results (total of 17 samples) from the east Arunta region, the Litchfield Province and the Nimbawah Domain of the Pine Creek Orogen, and the Murphy Inlier, Northern Territory/Queensland. These data was collected through the ongoing collaborative NTGS-GA geochronology project during the period July 2007-June 2009 under the National Geoscience Agreement (NGA). Six samples were analysed from the east Arunta region (HALE RIVER, ILLOGWA). Five of these samples were from Palaeoproterozoic metasediments and intrusives, one sample (1945963) was from the overlying Neoproterozoic Amadeus Basin (Table 1). Ten samples in total were collected from the Pine Creek Orogen; one from the Litchfield Province (CAPE SCOTT), the remainder from the Nimbuwah Domain (COBOURG PENINSULA, ALLIGATOR RIVER). One sample (from the base of the Westmoreland Conglomerate) was analysed from the Murphy Inlier region (WESTMORELAND; Qld). Three additional samples were submitted for SHRIMP analysis but which did not yield zircons or the zircons extracted were unsuitable for analysis.

This map shows the boundary of the Maritime Security Zones for each port for the purpose of the Maritime Transport & Office Security Act 2003. 1 Sheet (Colour) June 2010 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project, PMD

This is a 3 minute movie (with production music), to be played in the background during the October 28th 2010 Geoscience Australia Parlimentary Breakfast. The video shows a wide range of the types of activities that GA is involved in. These images include GA people doing GA activities as well as some of the results of offshore surveys; continental mapping; eath monitoring etc. The movie will be played as a background before and after GA's CEO (Chris Pigram) presentation.

This map shows the boundary of the Maritime Security Zones for each port for the purpose of the Maritime Transport & Office Security Act 2003. 9 Sheets (Colour) March 2010 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project, PMD

Improving techniques for mapping land surface composition at regional- to continental-scale is the next step in delivering the benefits of remote sensing technology to Australia. New methodologies and collaborative efforts have been made as part of a multi-agency project to facilitate uptake of these techniques. Calibration of ASTER data with HyMAP has been very promising, and following an program in Queensland, a mosaic has been made for the Gawler-Curnamona region in South Australia. These programs, undertaken by Geoscience Australia, CSIRO, and state and industry partners, aims to refine and standardise processing and to make them easily integrated with other datasets in a GIS.