National Coastal Geomorphology Information Framework: Discovery and Distribution

Geoscience Australia collaborated with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) in a national programme of work that focused on an assessment of the vulnerability of Australia's coastline to the impacts of sea level rise. This program aimed to: - develop the first phase of a nationally consistent geomorphic classification of coastal landform types of the Australian coastal zone - catalogue the available polygon geomorphology/geology digital maps and datasets of the Australian coastal zone. - reclassify these maps and datasets with a nationally consistent geomorphic classification scheme, and develop a national geodatabase that contains the reclassified digital maps of geomorphology and landform types of the Australian coastal zone. Completion of the programme of work described above (Schedule 1 under the Collaborative Head Agreement with the DCCEE) resulted in the creation of the National Coastal Geomorphology classification and geodatabase. This data is underpinned by pre-existing spatial data sourced from local, state and federal government agencies that were reclassified to conform to the new National Coastal Geomorphology classification scheme. This report describes the rationale and workflow for the management and distribution of the National Coastal Geomorphology data undertaken as part of 'Schedule 10', the subsequent phase of this programme. Geomorphology data, together with elevation, hazard and exposure data, underpin assessments of coastal vulnerability for current and future climate conditions. Therefore it is critical that these data are made available to coastal scientists and land use management and planning stakeholders and the community. The purpose of the work described in this report is to establish a mechanism to manage and distribute the National Coastal Geomorphology data and the newly created National Coastal Geomorphic classification scheme. The future work section of this report makes recommendations around the next stage in the development of this dataset. A key issue is the development of a formal governance model to enable a comprehensive revision and maintenance program of the data and the classification scheme, and ensure sustainability through continued stakeholder engagement in the product.

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