Geoscience Australia is supporting the exploration and development of offshore oil and gas resources and establishment of Australia's national representative system of marine protected areas through provision of spatial information about the physical and biological character of the seabed. Central to this approach is prediction of Australia's seabed biodiversity from spatially continuous data of physical seabed properties. However, information for these properties is usually collected at sparsely-distributed discrete locations, particularly in the deep ocean. Thus, methods for generating spatially continuous information from point samples become essential tools. Such methods are, however, often data- or even variable- specific and it is difficult to select an appropriate method for any given dataset. Improving the accuracy of these physical data for biodiversity prediction, by searching for the most robust spatial interpolation methods to predict physical seabed properties, is essential to better inform resource management practises. In this regard, we conducted a simulation experiment to compare the performance of statistical and mathematical methods for spatial interpolation using samples of seabed mud content across the Australian margin. Five factors that affect the accuracy of spatial interpolation were considered: 1) region; 2) statistical method; 3) sample density; 4) searching neighbourhood; and 5) sample stratification by geomorphic provinces. Bathymetry, distance-to-coast and slope were used as secondary variables. In this study, we only report the results of the comparison of 14 methods (37 sub-methods) using samples of seabed mud content with five levels of sample density across the southwest Australian margin. The results of the simulation experiment can be applied to spatial data modelling of various physical parameters in different disciplines and have application to a variety of resource management applications for Australia's marine region.

This dataset contains species identifications of sponges collected during survey SOL4934 (R.V. Solander, 27 August - 24 September, 2009). Animals were collected from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf with a benthic sled. Specimens were lodged at Northern Territory Museum on the 26 September 2009. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Belinda Glasby at the Northern Territory Museum and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the 23 February 2011. See GA Record 2010/09 for further details on survey methods and specimen acquisition. Data is presented here exactly as delivered by the taxonomist, and Geoscience Australia is unable to verify the accuracy of the taxonomic identifications.

This dataset contains species identifications of echinoderms collected during survey GA2476 (R.V. Solander, 12 August - 15 September 2008). Animals were collected from the Western Australian Margin with a BODO sediment grab or rock dredge. Specimens were lodged at Museum of Victoria on the 10 March 2009. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Tim O'Hara at the Museum of Victoria and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the 24 April 2009. See GA Record 2009/02 for further details on survey methods and specimen acquisition. Data is presented here exactly as delivered by the taxonomist, and Geoscience Australia is unable to verify the accuracy of the taxonomic identifications.

Geoscience Australia Marine Survey 302: Final Survey Report. by Fugro Robertson Inc, Nov. 2006 - Jan. 2007.

The Australian Maritime Boundaries Web Service is a web based interactive mapping and decision support system that improves access to integrated government and non-government information in the Australian Marine Jurisdiction. The Australian Maritime Boundaries Web Service contains many layers of information displayed in themes of Maritime Boundaries. The data has been sourced from Geoscience Australia, other Australian government agencies and some industry sources. Information in this application should not be relied upon as the sole source of information for commercial and operational decisions. The Australian Maritime Boundaries Web Service should not be used for navigational purposes.

Improvements to the Australian Crustal Temperature Image

This is a short and informative 3.3 minute movie for the Engineering, Economics and Exposure Project - NEXIS Development for DCCEE - late 2010. It is a promotional movie that demonstrates NEXIS capabilities, and explains how NEXIS will be benefitial to the NEXIS stakeholder. This movie may also go onto the web, where it's purpose is to convince the public that NEXIS is a worthwhile investment in Australia's future.

This record has been created for Sales to be able to invoice data requests that occur from downloading of data from the National Elevation Data Framework (NEDF) Web Portal. The Portal was set up in 2010 and data more than 400MB needs to be downloaded from the holding pen on the NEDF server and copied onto media and sent to the requester. Each data request will come with metadata and the appropriate data licence.

Meteorological data from Arcturus (ARA) atmospheric greenhouse gas baseline station. Data includes time stamp (local time), air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, sigma-theta, solar radiation, barometric pressure and total rainfall. Dataset limited to 15 min and 60 min average data from12/6/13 to 21/6/13.

The Common Earth Model is a collection of data collated by Geoscience Australia that aims to give a unified overview of the geology of Australia. The data are visualised in the Geoscience Australia 3D Data Viewer software and the intention is to give users a rich environment to explore diverse geological data. Geoscience Australia has collated these datasets from a wide range of sources. Copyright in all content on the DVD remains with the originating organisations and individuals, and may not be reproduced without permission. The 3D Data Viewer software itself is released under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.