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Seamless Geology

Project team

David Higgins, Graham Callaway, John Dunleavy, Vincent Morand, Fons VandenBerg, Ross Cayley, Suzanne Haydon, Ben Williams and Francisco D'Elia

Project scope

The Seamless Geology project will create a dynamic set of Victoria's geological data and ensure that the states geological information assets at all key scales are the most up-to-date possible. The ultimate aim is for clients located anywhere in the world to be able to access our high quality pre-competitive geoscientific data in a consistent format at anytime via web services. The seamless data will also form the basis of the surface geology for the 3D models that are being developed as a component of our geological projects, including the 3D model of Victoria.

Seamless means harmonising geological boundaries, to create seamless spatial data, and harmonising the aspatial properties of geological concepts, for example unit names, lithology or metamorphic grade. The Seamless Geology project will ensure that the digital geological map data are seamless at a particular scale and across scales, and that their attributes better represent geological concepts.

Geometry and attribution will be reconciled at scale and across scales for 1:50 000, 1:250 000, 1:1 million and 1:4 million. Geology of suitable quality collected in the pre-digital era (eg 1 to 1 mile maps) will supplement the more recent data in the 50k or 250k layers. The project will generalise the reconciled 50k geological mapping into the 250k and ensure that the updates are then incorporated into the 1M and 4M geology.

The project is structured to deliver the four seamless geological data layers for the whole of Victoria by July 2011.

Description

Victorias digital geological map data is a fundamental and valuable resource to the state. Some $30M has been invested in the collection of these data over the last 15 years, and many times that amount over the 150 years of geological data collection in Victoria. Over this period, mapped information has been disseminated mainly via cartographic quality maps.

Modern GIS data capture and management practices and the shift to web-based delivery of data have created an opportunity for GSV to improve how it manages and delivers geoscience data. Through the MPD Business Excellence project GeoDATA.Vic, GSV will have access to an environment capable of delivering integrated spatial and aspatial data, so that geological data is captured and stored once, with a consistent set of attributes available to all applications.

This new environment creates a significant opportunity for GSV to integrate the existing geological map data from various geological mapping projects, scales and vintages, to produce a consistent digital geological map dataset covering the whole of Victoria.

The Seamless Geology project will use the structural zones of Victoria as the basis for compartmentalising the geology (VandenBerg et al., 2000), starting with the Bendigo Zone due to its importance to the Gold Undercover initiative. The project will then compile data for the Stawell, Grampians-Stavely and Glenelg zones, before moving into the Melbourne Zone and then on through eastern Victoria.

Map: Structural zones of Victoria

Products

For any given area, geological data will be seamless at the most detailed scale mapped. In addition, new procedures will ensure that new geological mapping data is incorporated in a seamless manner into all of the datasets as it is acquired, to maintain the most current data at all scales.

Products include:

  • seamless geology data from 1:250k layers are now available to view via the OneGeology portal (external link)
  • seamless geology data for use in GIS and 3D geological modelling;
  • standard symbology for geological themes to ensure that visual representation of the data is consistent within a scale and, where practical, across scales;
  • new Zone maps with cross sections;
  • a revised 1:250 000 series of geological maps with cross sections;
  • revised 1:1 million and 1:4 million geology data and maps;
  • new seamless geology data layers for GeoVic;
  • new GIS data DVD for Victorian geology;
  • new seamless geology data in the Corporate Spatial Data Library;
  • tools for custom making of geological maps for any nominated interest area produced with consistent legends;
  • processes and procedures for creating and managing geological data in the new IT environment;
  • revision of troublesome units and clear guidelines for future seamless mapping; and
  • comprehensive metadata suitable for a range of clients.

Reference

VandenBerg, A.H.M., Willman, C.E., Maher, S., Simons, B.A., Cayley, R.A., Taylor, D.H., Morand, V.J., Moore, D.H. and Radojkovic, A., 2000. The Tasman Fold Belt System in Victoria. Geological Survey of Victoria Special Publication.

Contacts

For further information contact the project leader:

David Higgins
Geospatial Information Officer
Ph: (03) 9658 4506
Fax: (03) 9658 4555
David.Higgins@dpi.vic.gov.au