Abstract

Developing and Implementing a National Groundwater Information System in Australia
Track: Water Resources
Authors: Alys Wall, Carl Daamen, Dovey Dee, Tony Boston

The 2007 Water Act in Australia mandated the Bureau of Meteorology to coordinate national-scale water resource data across Australia. Unconstrained by jurisdictional boundaries, the National Groundwater Information System (NGIS) will enhance understanding of Australia's groundwater resources. Integrated with surface water models it is vital information for national water accounting. In addition, the NGIS will improve understanding of groundwater dependent ecosystems and be compatible with the Australian Hydrologic Geospatial Fabric.

This paper will present work completed with state jurisdictions to improve and normalise a variety of existing groundwater data sources into one consistent geodatabase. Phase 1 of the project produced a core geodatabase that included bore log information, time series groundwater observations, stratigraphy, and licence data that can be analysed and visualised using ArcHydro for Groundwater. Phase 2 includes testing a continental scale geodatabase prototype, developing national groundwater terminology and spatial data standards, and developing an effective method for data aggregation.