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Client: Simon Baker, Department of Sustainability and Environment – Office of Water, Victoria

Groundwater Management Units (GMUs) are the prime administrative unit used in the management of groundwater resources in Victoria.   These units vary in area, overlap in some places, and have criteria that identify the depth under the ground to which they relate.  Groundwater bore licences are issued on this basis.

• Task A – An analysis of Current GMU Distribution both Horizontally and Vertically; and
• Task B - Visualisation of Current GMUs, Gaps and Overlaps

More specifically DSE required a greater understanding of where there are "gaps" in existing GMU areas, in that the base of one GMU is not the same as the top of an underlying GMU.  It also required a review of its spatial data that depicts GMUs to ensure they contain valid depth attributes.  Spatial Vision was subsequently commissioned to undertake the identified tasks.

The Task A analysis was undertaken using ESRI ArcInfo GIS processes.  The approach developed identified errors in the assignment of GMU depth attributes by identifying where more than one GMU was found to occupy the same depth interval and spatial extent.  Gaps between GMUs in terms of depth were also identified for GMUs occupying the same spatial location.

The approach pursued in Task B was dependent on both DSE resources, and the application and sophistication of the 3D tools required.  A combination of approaches involving the use of both the ESRI ArcGIS ArcScene product and a stand alone application using Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) were selected.  The visualisation tools assisted in a review of GMU analysis results arising from Task A, and allowed anomalies to be identified and addressed.  It has also assisted DSE obtain an improved understanding of groundwater management information across the state.  This visualisation tool is now available to planners and potentially the public.

Demonstrated Capabilities

• Effective working relationship with clients in providing analytical support of resource information.
• Identification and fixing of errors within the existing groundwater management data.
• In depth knowledge of spatial analysis methodologies that assisted in the data analysis and collation of the final report
• Feasible 3D data exportation from GIS (ArcScene) into VRML.

Resources

Milos Pelikan undertook GMU analysis and ArcScene development. Timothy Germanchis undertook development of the VRML-HTML-JavaScript product to visualise the GMUs.

Technologies Applied

• ESRI ArcInfo GRID
• ESRI ArcScene
• VRML
• HTML/JavaScript
• Adobe Photoshop