Spatial interpolation methods have been applied to many disciplines. Many factors affect the performance of the methods, but there are no consistent findings about their effects. In this study, we focus mainly on comparative studies in environmental sciences to assess the performance of spatial interpolation methods and to quantify the impacts of data properties on the performance. Two new measures are proposed to compare the performance of the methods applied to multiple variables with different units/scales. A total of 53 comparative studies were assessed and the performance of 61 methods/sub-methods compared in these studies is analysed. The impacts of sample density, data variation, and sampling design on the estimations of 32 methods are quantified using data derived from their application to 80 variables. Inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging (OK), and ordinary co-kriging (OCK) are the most frequently used methods. Data variation is a dominant factor and has significant impacts on the performance of the methods. As the variation increases, the accuracy of all methods decreases and the magnitude of decrease is method dependent. Gradient plus inverse distance squared (GIDS), OCK and regression residual kriging (RK-C) are less sensitive to data variation. Irregular-spaced sampling design might improve the accuracy of estimation. The effect of sampling density on the performance of the methods is found not to be significant. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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Geoscience Australia undertakes classification of biophysical datasets to create seabed habitat maps (termed 'seascapes') for the Australian margin and adjacent sea floor. Seascapes describe a layer of ecologically meaningful biophysical properties that spatially represents potential seabed habitats. Each seascape area corresponds to a region of the seabed that contains similar biophysical properties and, by association, potential habitats and communities. The lack of available standardised biological data at the national scale precludes the integration of biological information into the derivation of national seascapes. By focusing on a much smaller scale over tens of kilometres near the Glomar Shoals in Western Australia, referred to as 'local scale', available biological data were integrated into new derivations of seascapes and results compared with seascapes without these data. Using physical data as described in Whiteway et al. 2007 (GA Record 2007/11) and demersal fish data obtained from the 1967 Russian Berg-3 survey, we have derived four new local sets of seascape to compare the effects of integrating biological data: 1) Standard seascapes using only physical data, 2) Seascapes with an additional biology layer based on the Shannon diversity index, 3) Seascapes with an additional biology layer based on the Simpson diversity index, and 4) Seascapes with an additional layer of randomly-generated data. At the 'regional-scale' we derived two sets of seascapes: 1) Seascapes with an additional biology layer based on the Shannon diversity index that encompasses the entire Berg-3 survey area in northwest Australia, and 2) Standard seascapes using only physical data for the same area. This datsets is the regional scale northwest Australian seascape produced with a biological layer called the 'Shannon Diversity Index'.

This map shows the boundary of the Maritime Security Zones for each port for the purpose of the Maritime Transport Office Security Act 2003. 4 sheets (Colour) June 2009 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project

This dataset contains information about post mining pinnacle fields.

Worldwide, the discovered very large Nickel and Platinum Group Element (PGE) deposits are strongly concentrated in mafic igneous rocks of Proterozoic age. The rich Proterozoic endowment of other continents - Russia, Canada, Africa, China - contrasts with discovery in Australia, where only one world class example has been found so far (Nebo-Babel in the Musgrave Province, ~1080 Ma, approx 1m tonnes Ni). The deficit of discovery in Australia, relative to other continents, is unlikely to reflect real geological difference. Rather, it reflects the difficulty of identifying settings for mineralisation in intrusions which are under cover. This presents a major opportunity for exploration that can use the knowledge gained from other continents to predict which magmatic events and intrusions may be most prospective. Based on the settings of known very large Ni-PGE deposits, four questions can be used to distinguish highly prospective magma provinces and intrusions, from others. Where are the mafic magmatic systems? spatial / temporal correlation, under cover. Which are the very large magmatic systems? - correlation again. Which magmatic events include ultramafic magmas? - correlation again. Can crustal structure narrow the focus? -eading to feeder zones / metallogenic corridors.

Cobar has a long history of mining with a vast amount geoscientific data collected over the years, and is considered to be a mature exploration province. By building an integrated 3D map and applying mineral system concepts in the Cobar region, new exploration targets can be readily generated.

This map shows the boundary of the Maritime Security Zones for each port for the purpose of the Maritime Transport Office Security Act 2003. 5 sheets (Colour) July 2009 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project

This map shows the boundary of the Maratime Security Zones for each port for the purpose of Maratime Transport Office Security Act 2003. 11 sheets (colour) September 2009 Not for sale of public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project

This map shows the boundary of the security regulated port for the purpose of the Maritime Transport & Office Security Act 2003. May 2009 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project