National projects National Groundwater Systems

This project activity will develop a national geoscientific inventory of Australia's groundwater systems. Some of the key activities will include delivery of an updated ‘State of knowledge’ assessment for the major hydrogeological basins across the country. Identifying and documenting important data and knowledge gaps during this assessment will assist with prioritising future groundwater investigations in these regions. Subsequent work will include a series of detailed groundwater system inventories for high priority basins identified from the ‘State of knowledge’ evaluation.

This project activity consists of a number of activities that aim to consolidate, document and advance science workflows, data processing, existing national groundwater data and information:

• In collaboration with national science agencies and relevant jurisdictions we aim to assess and improve the availability and currency of national groundwater data and information by updating the linkages between the existing National Groundwater Information System, National Aquifer Framework, Australian Stratigraphic Units Database and the current Hydrogeology Map of Australia.
• Testing, documenting and formalising workflows using multi-disciplinary data to improve groundwater data analysis and knowledge is a priority. This includes the expansion of integrated basin analysis for groundwater applications to incrementally advance our understanding of hydrostratigraphy tied to a nationally consistent chronostratigraphic framework that will continue beyond the Exploring for the Future program.
• Integrated workflows will be supported by improvements in Geoscience Australia database infrastructure to more effectively and efficiently store and deliver groundwater data, in particular hydrochemistry and groundwater level data. These databases and existing Geoscience Australia 3D hydrogeologic visualisations will be prepared for delivery through the Exploring for the Future Data Discovery Portal, with flexibility to include updates from the current program and external organisations, as appropriate.

This project activity will facilitate groundwater data integration and accessibility, develop nationally consistent datasets and map products, and draft leading practice guidelines. Activities that will contribute to these goals include:

• Enhanced groundwater data accessibility — we are working towards improving delivery of data. We are developing a dedicated Groundwater Portal persona to optimise the groundwater user interface of the existing Exploring for the Future Data Discovery Portal. We are improving the way a range of hydrogeological data is visualised and delivered to users, including delivery of the 'State of knowledge' inventory of groundwater information.
• New and updated map products — we are developing data products that will contribute to national coverages to improve groundwater system understanding for specialist and general audiences. This activity will use remotely sensed data to improve our understanding on Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems and Palaeovalleys nationally.
• Leading practice — in collaboration with experts from national science agencies, we will develop leading practice guidelines for groundwater science. Priority topics include water level monitoring and revised groundwater sampling workflows.

• Lewis, S., Lai, E., Flower, C., Lester, J. 2022. Towards a national information inventory of Australia's major hydrogeological regions. Geoscience Australia, Canberra