Where all the rivers run
Geofabric stream network and catchment boundaries
Our knowledge of Australia's water landscape has taken a huge step forward with the launch of an exciting new spatial water information product.
The Geofabric, or as it is more formally known, the Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric, is a specialised Geographic Information System (GIS). It shows spatial relationships and connections between hydrological features such as rivers, dams, reservoirs and catchments.
For the first time, users can model how water is stored, transported and used within the landscape. The Geofabric offers the most comprehensive spatial view of hydrological data in Australia and is freely available on the Bureau's website.
Dr Greg Ayers, Director of Meteorology, launched the Geofabric at a spatial conference in Canberra on 5 October 2010. Surrounded by hundreds of spatial information enthusiasts and experts, Dr Ayers said "we are delighted to provide users with an extra dimension to gauging where water is and where it is flowing."
"Users can now determine the area that a particular catchment gets its water from. The Geofabric enables them to visualise where in the catchment features of interest such as wetlands or water storages start and finish", he said.
Dr Ayers described the product as a "significant milestone in the advancement of high quality, integrated, water information in Australia".
The Geofabric has been developed by the Bureau in partnership with Geoscience Australia, the Australian National University and CSIRO. Over time, it will be updated to store the boundaries of topologically defined drainage divisions, catchments, aquifers and priority aquatic ecosystems. It will also identify administrative boundaries such as water management areas, water supply schemes and water trading zones. Access the Geofabric products and learn more about this product.