Healthy landscapes, viable communities

" Working towards the equitable, efficient and sustainable use of water, land and other environmental resources of the Queensland Murray Darling Basin "

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NRM Knowledge and Information Network

Project Overview

Many people in NRM have experienced the frustrations of not having access to the information they need for making informed decisions.  The new pilot Datahub project aims to resolve some of this frustration. The pilot project started on March 1st and will run until June 2009. It is a collaboration between the Regional NRM Groups Collective (RGC), Terrain NRM and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) and will involve a number of additional regional NRM bodies as stakeholders. 

Regional working groups will provide a regional catalogue of available data sets, establish a database of information available through the NRM toolbar and provide reports and recommendations for broader application of the project concepts.

Datahub aims to make it easier for resource managers, planners and researchers to access information on a wide array of NRM related topics. The Datahub will be a regional collaborative network to implement new functions and structures to improve knowledge and information exchange.

The first step in making all this happen is to identify ways to encourage the use of process which allow for easy information sharing. The pilot will achieve this first step by focusing on specific NRM themes (Water in the Southern Pilot) and trialing new information sharing approaches, documenting the process that works for stakeholders.

Download the Project outline here [.doc] or visit the RGC website here

For more information on the Southern pilot in the Queensland Murray-Darling contact Roxane Blackley or Brett Coppard on 07 4637 6270.  

Regional Water Information Catalogue (under construction).

Lending Library now online:  Search books, Compact Discs, websites and unpublished reports (under construction).

Useful Tools for natural resource management

Regional Ecosystem Maps (Qld only): Download and import files in to mapping programs

Create a map showing areas affected by the moratorium on clearing of endangered regrowth.  Use Lot on Plan number or a central coordinate.  A pdf map, or digital shapefiles suitable for mapping programs will be emailed back.  click here

Request a report showing rainfall and pasture (user enters location) over for a 40 year period.  Total Standing Dry Matter (TSDM) estimated using calculations from the Grasp/AussieGRASS model. click here

Convert geographic coordinates.  Move between different projections (degrees/minutes/seconds and Australian Map Grid meters) Datums (GDA1966, GDA94, WGS84 etc).  Includes Finding places using address and geocoding. 

Sentinel: national bushfire monitoring system.  Includes a mapping system to identify current and past fire locations.  Hosted by Geoscience Australia it supports WFS and WMS capabilities (direct access through GIS software).

Maps of Environmentally sensitive areas (Department of Environment and Resource Management).  Create map by entering coordinates or entering lot/plan number.

Links to external data sources and search engines

Biodiversity Assessment and Mapping Methodology (BAMM) use information to generate Biodiversity Planning Assessments (BPAs) for planning and decision making.

National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) extent and distribution of vegetation types in Australia.  Includes Web Maps

Australian Spatial Data Directory (ASDD): search for geographical datasets using metadata (descriptions). 

Australian Natural Resources Data Library (ANRDL): Search for downloadable geographic data available from the Bureau of Rural Sciences (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry). 

Environment Resource Information Network (ERIN) provides a number of services. 

Australian Agriculture and natural resources online (AANRO): database under redevelopment therefore no new data has been added.

Australian National Bibliographic Database (ANDB):

NRM Navigator (previously NRM Toolbar): searches across a number of websites, including AANRO, ASDD, ANDB, Livestock Library and the NRM Toolbar databases.  It also searches a long list of government and organisation websites (list here) 

Data Downloads from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW).  Includes some mapping that extends in to Queensland.

See earth from space.  Geoscience Australia provides 'real-time' satellite

Mining and Natural Resources

Interactive Resource and Tenure Maps (IRTM): Mapping tool to view and download geological, exploration and mining data for Queensland. 

  • Map Tool: may take a few minutes on wireless connections
  • Downloads: Subject to copyright and disclaimers products available without charge.

Exploration Reports (QDEX) includes a downloadable document collection (register as a user first).  Search all documents here, or by the following categories:

Maps of Environmentally sensitive areas (Department of Environment and Resource Management).  Create map by entering coordinates or entering lot/plan number.

Link to the mining page, analysis and maps summarising the impact exploration may have on the catchment. <available here soon>