Geoscience Australia's Spatial Data Dictionary

The Geoscience Australia Data Dictionary for Spatial Data is a specification for the capture of geoscientific spatial data. It is a description of fields for each feature type in a database, containing the themes currently created from Geoscience Australia's databases. It forms a foundation for the production of geoscientific spatial data by specifying rules regarding the structure of such data.

The dictionary covers such matters as allowable coverage names, feature types, and attribute values. A theme is a set of spatial objects. Some of the themes in this data dictionary have associated look-up tables. Look-up tables store an additional array of attributes that may be linked to the primary attribute table of a theme. Object type, feature definition, field type, attribute case, compulsion for data entry, a list of valid values and any rules or comments regarding the feature are also given in this data dictionary. It is revised and updated regularly.

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Current Versions

• Module 1: Definitions, Rules and Terminology (2004.02) [PDF_704k]
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• Module 2: Geology, Geophysical, Geochemistry and Geochronology Themes (2007.01) [PDF_1.4Mb]
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• Module 3: Mineral Deposits and Mineral Potential Assessment Themes, Surveys and Field Observations Themes (2004.02) [PDF_885k]
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• Module 4: Urban Infrastructure Themes, Terrain Physiography Themes, Cartographic Themes (2004.02) [PDF_765k]
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What's new in this latest release?

The Data Dictionary now consists of four modules instead of one large document, as was the case in previous releases. The module approach will aid document administration and provide clients with prompt theme updates. Due to the nature of updates, modules will not be updated together.