A new digital platform combining a range of datasets – including soil, geology and land use – from across the country has been officially launched.
Developed by Geoscience Australia, The Digital Atlas of Australia brings together a wide range of data including water systems, soil analysis, bushfires, social infrastructure and demographic information collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Interactive maps and tools allow users to explore, analyse and visualise data by location.
Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, said that the platform would become an essential tool for planners and researchers, or anyone interested in better understanding the nation.
“The Digital Atlas of Australia offers a treasure trove of information, all in one place.
“It can help identify opportunities for industries such as mining and agriculture by combining analysis of soil and geology, water bodies and land use data.
“Using data from across government agencies, the Digital Atlas gives government comprehensive data to better understand and to respond to issues.”
The Digital Atlas aims to remove the geographic boundaries usually prescribed by current methods of government data collection by curating and connecting the datasets that already exist and providing them in one digital resource.
The Digital Atlas is expected to deliver in depth information on topics like income support, demographic breakdown, employment figures and environmental changes, which is expected to provide government with comprehensive data to better understand and respond to priority issues, including emergency management and address place-based needs for all Australians.
Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, said that the platform is built with the latest technology and has passed strict security assessments to safeguard and enable safe data sharing and offer an enduring resource that will serve the needs of government and Australians well into the future.
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