Australian Coastal Geomorphology Smartline - Sand Dune and Beach Ridge Coasts

Abstract This dataset maps the coastal landform types (geomorphology) of continental Australia and most adjacent islands (excluding the Great Barrier Reef). The dataset was compiled primarily using existing spatial data sets provided by a number of Commonwealth, State, Territory and other agencies from across Australia. The Smartline is a line map that represents the coastline (typically the High Water Mark), and is split into segments wherever any of the coastal landform attributes change. Each individual coastline segment has a series of attributes which describe the landform types of that segment of the coast. The coastal characteristics recorded refer not only to those at the precise location of the coastline itself, but to a coastal area nominally extending up 500m inland and offshore of the coastline itself. Where such information is available, these attributes describe the landforms in the subtidal, intertidal and backshore zones; the backshore profile and intertidal zone slope; the shoreline segment exposure; and the geological substrate. The dataset also contains attribute-level metadata: for each geomorphic attribute in each coastline segment, there are two additional attributes that identify the source dataset from which the attributes were derived, and defining the scale of the source dataset. Finally, there are a series of attributes which classify each coastline segment according to a shoreline landform stability classification scheme. Currency Date Modified: 06 May 2019 Modification Frequency: As needed Data Extent Coordinate reference: GDA94 / Australian Albers Spatial Extent North: -9° South: -44° East: 154° West: 112° Source information eCAT record: [https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/service/ga/104560] Geopackage download: [https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/104160] Geodatabase download: [https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/104100] Sharples, C., & Mount, R., 2009: The Australian Coastal Smartline Geomorphic and Stability Map Version 1: Manual and Data Dictionary; School of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania. [https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/104100/104100_02_0.pdf] Sharples, C., Mount, R., Pedersen, T., Lacey, M., Newton, J., Jaskierniak, D., & Wallace, L., 2009: The Australian Coastal Smartline Geomorphic and Stability Map Version 1: Project Report; School of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania. [https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/83568/SmartlineProjectReport_2009_v1.pdf] Lineage statement This dataset was derived from a total of 240 individual datasets. A complete list of these source datasets with additional metadata is available as a table in the Manual and Data Dictionary report and the Project report. Because of the wide variety of source datasets, a variety of different methods were used to extract and reclassify the source data. A generalised workflow is described below. Most of these steps were carried out using existing or newly-developed tools in ArcGIS 9.3: 1. For each coastal state, the best available coastline dataset was identified and obtained for use as a Smartline base map. 2. Attributes from each source dataset were transferred to a copy of the Smartline base map for the relevant state. For aspatial and non-georeferenced source datasets, the transfer process was manual; for georeferenced datasets, the transfer process was automated as much as possible. 3. The transferred attributes were reclassified and inserted into the appropriate Smartline field or fields using transfer tables and the Smartline Classification Scheme. 4. The individual Smartline base maps containing attribute data from different source datasets were merged into a single state Smartline. 5. Where conflicting or concordant attribute data were present for a single Smartline field, a resolution process was followed to choose a single attribute from those available. As a general rule, priority was given to the source datasets that contained the most relevant and detailed attribute information; if the available source datasets contained similar attribute information, preference was given to the source dataset with the best spatial resolution. 6. A series of logical checks were carried out to ensure consistency between attributes in related Smartline attribute fields. 7. Coastal features less than 10m long were merged with the most similar adjacent feature (based on attributes) where possible. Some features which were less than 10m long (generally very small islands) could not be merged because there were no adjacent features to merge with. 8. A topology was developed and used to ensure that the Smartline geometry was identical to the original Smartline base map, and that the Smartline did not have any self-overlapping segments. All topological errors were repaired. 9. Incorrectly spelled attribute data were detected and repaired using tables exported from an Access database containing the complete Smartline Classification Scheme. 10. The Smartline Stability fields were populated using queries based on particular combinations of geomorphic attributes. For further details of the data compilation, processing, editing and verification processes, please refer to the [Smartline Manual and Data Dictionary Report], and the [Smartline Project Report]. Data dictionary ──────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Attribute name│Description ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── OBJECTID │Unique ID ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── BASELINE │Reference ID for source of base line map ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── BASEMAPSCALE │Scale of base map ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── BASEFEATURE │Coastal feature upon which base line map is based ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AUSCOASTFID │Unique Australian coastal segment identifier number (v.1.0) ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── UPDATED │Date of data currency or last update ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ABSAMP_ID │Beach number ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── DUNES_N │Class code of Sand dune & beach ridge coasts (significant soft sand deposits in the backshore having some potential for instability resulting from wind exposure and erosion (i.e., dune mobility) ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── DUNES_V │Class name of Sand dune & beach ridge coasts (significant soft sand deposits in the backshore having some potential for instability resulting from wind exposure and erosion (i.e., dune mobility) ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── DUNES_L │Class short name of Sand dune & beach ridge coasts (significant soft sand deposits in the backshore having some potential for instability resulting from wind exposure and erosion (i.e., dune mobility) ──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── COMMENTS │General notes and comments ──────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Contact Oceans, Reefs, Coasts and the Antarctic (ORCA), Geoscience Australia. [clientservices@ga.gov.au]