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Download data
Geographic Information System (GIS) datasets available for downloading
How to download GIS datasets
- Read this whole page before you download files. It includes information about conditions of use, file formats, how to use the download files and projections.
- Before you are able to download, you will be prompted to login to the Australian Antarctic Data Centre's portal at the top right of the page. If you are using the portal for the first time, create your own logon name and password.
- When selecting the files you would like to download, include the readme file listed with each dataset, which is a copy of the information provided on this page.
- Access the download area.
Conditions of use
The conditions you agree to when you download the data:
- The data is not to be used for any commercial purpose.
- Clear acknowledgement of the Australian Antarctic Division is to be given on any product resulting from the use of the data. The digital data remain the property and copyright of the Commonwealth of Australia. See general copyright conditions.
- The Australian Antarctic Division accepts no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the data.
- If the data is modified or improved in any way because of the detection of errors, the Australian Antarctic Data Centre should be given a copy of the updated dataset, along with an updated metadata record. This helps the AADC maintain high quality data.
- You consent to your information being recorded and to the Division contacting you regarding this information. You acknowledge that statistics may be compiled.
Downloaded File Formats
The files you have downloaded from our web site are shapefiles.
They are gzipped to compress them for transfer. They can be uncompressed on most platforms using packages like WinZip (PC) and GNU Gzip (UNIX). New or updated files will be zipped to compress them for transfer as of November 2007.
How to use these files
Uncompress the files. The shapefiles can be used in ArcInfo workstation, ArcGIS, ArcView 3 or ArcExplorer.
If you don't have any GIS software then, uncompress the files
You can use ArcExplorer, a free GIS data viewer, or other free GIS software.
Projections
All datasets are stored in geographicals, that is with latitude and longitude values. Each dataset includes a projection file *.par, that gives the details of the projection the dataset is in, in this case geographicals, and a recommended projection to convert to for mapping.
Information about the most commonly used projections in the Australian Antarctic Program. See Projections.
Our services
Geographic data requests (for Australia's Antarctic Program)
The Australian Antarctic Data Centre assists those working in Australia's Antarctic Program by providing advice to extract information from GIS data and to optimise the use of the data.
We provide advice on:
- The use of GIS software to
a. import data to GIS format;
b. manage GIS data;
c. visualise GIS data (including producing maps);
d. query and analyse GIS data;
e. model catchment areas and drainage using GIS data. - Choosing appropriate map projections.
- Access to GIS software and applications.
Map production
The Australian Antarctic Data Centre produces maps when they can be used for a range of applications. Because of resourcing limitations, we cannot usually produce one-off maps for publications.
Production of 'one-off simple' maps for inclusion in scientific publications (Australian Antarctic Division staff only)
A large number of pre-made maps produced by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre can be accessed using our online Map Catalogue. Those in digital form are available for downloading, generally as pdf files.
The Australian Antarctic Data Centre encourages those working in Australia's Antarctic Program with map production needs to build skills in the use of GIS software. This enables clients flexibility to produce maps as and when required. We encourage those who produce maps to submit their drafts to the Data Centre for constructive suggestions prior to publication.
The Data Centre also provides assistance to those working in Australia's Antarctic Program who require maps that could be produced by external contractors. Advice includes drafting of specifications and the provision of data.
If you have any GIS related queries please log a request.
Projections
Maps are flat , but the surfaces they represent are curved. Transforming three dimensional space onto a two dimensional map is called "projection". Projection formulae are mathematical expressions which convert data from a geographical location (latitude and longitude) on a sphere or spheroid to a representative location on a flat surface. This process distorts at least one of these cartographic properties: shape, area, distance, direction, and often more.
It is important that anyone who uses a Geographical Informational System (GIS) to map or analysis their data, has an understanding of which projections distort which properties, and to what extent. Likewise an understanding of map coordinate systems and datums is important.
The Australian Antarctic Data Centre holds master topographical and thematic GIS datasets for the Australian Antarctic Territory and the subantarctic Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands. The Data Centre also holds datasets for Macquarie Island. All of these datasets are held in geographicals, i.e. latitude and longitude. This allows users to project data on the fly to a suitable projection. It also allows for the easy plotting in a GIS of geographical data, in particular, data from a Global Positioning System (GPS).
The most commonly used projections in the Australian Antarctic Program are:
These projections are conformal, that is, they preserve shape and angles over small areas. When working with precise referencing and directional relationships, it is necessary to develop a plane coordinate system, preferably one that is conformal.
Polar Stereographic
The Polar Stereographic is a planar perspective projection where the south pole is viewed from the north pole. True scale is represented along the standard parallel. For example, 71°S was chosen for our 1:20 million scale map of Antarctica. This projection is good for mapping a hemisphere, continent and medium scale, (for example, mapping the whole of Antarctica,) as it preserves its shape. The true scale equals 0 if the plane is tangential to the Earth's surface at latitude 90°.
projection polar
spheroid wgs84
units meters
parameters
central meridian = 70 00 00
latitude of the true scale = -71 00 00
false easting = 6000000
false northing = 6000000Projection parameters used to define the Polar Stereographic Projection
Polar Stereographic Projection and the appearance of the graticule. (There is a small increase in the spacing between latitudes from the pole.)
NOTE: It is not possible to project a dataset from geographicals to polar stereographic using a standard parallel of 71°S on the fly using ESRI's ArcView 3.2 software. Users who want to map using this projection must hold their data in this projection, i.e. not project on the fly.
Projecting to the polar stereographic projection in ArcGIS.
Universal Transverse Mercator
The Universal Transverse Mercator is a cylindrical projection made up of sixty zones which cover the globe. Each zone is six degrees and has its own central meridian. It has a limit of 80°S.
Universal Transverse Mercator Projection and the appearance of the graticule
The origin for each zone is the Equator and its central meridian. The value given to the central meridian is the false easting, and the value assigned to the Equator is the false northing. To eliminate negative coordinates, the projection alters the coordinate values at the origin. A false easting of 500,000 and a false northing of 10 million is applied. "
The location of the false northing and easting
This projection is good for mapping a region, and medium or large scale. It has accurate representation of large objects within a zone.
projection UTM
units meters
parameters
Longitude
Latitude
or
ZoneProjection parameters used to define the Universal Transverse Mercator Projection
A map of UTM zones covering Antarctica
Lambert Conformal Conic
The Lambert Conformal Conic is a conic projection usually based on two standard parallels. It can represent the pole as a single point. This projection is good for mapping a region, continent and at medium or large scale.
Projecting to the Lambert Conformal Conic projection in ArcGIS.projection lambert
spheroid wgs84
units meters
parameters
1st standard parallel = -68 30 00
2nd standard parallel = -74 30 00
central meridian = 70 00 00
latitude of projections origin = -50 00 00
false easting = 6000000
false northing = 6000000Projection parameters used to define the Lambert Conformal Conic Projection
Lambert Conformal Conic Projection and the appearance of the graticule
Projections and Satellite Imagery
The most common question asked about a satellite image is probably "Where am I on this image", followed by "How accurate is the location". The answer will vary depending on the details known about the satellite, the instrument and control points on ground. Even then, the image could be distorted by topography, cloud or snow drift and time of day. It will also depend on the location of the control points. For example, control points on an AVHRR image may be a coastal feature like a cape, as opposed to a rock outcrop on a MSS image. The certainty of the location of control points can be difficult. Snow drift can result in a rock outcrop looking different from one image to another.
AVHRR imagery does not have a specific projection. A polar stereographic projection is applied using coastal features as control. This projection allows all the images along the coastline to be joined into a mosaic.
Landsat TM or MSS imagery has its own projection, the Spatial Oblique Mercator. This projection is nearly conformal and has little scale distortion within the sensing range. This projection incorporates the Earth's rotation with respect to the orbiting satellite. Scale is true along the ground track. This projection was designed to minimise distortion of the imagery as it orbits the rotating Earth. It is good for continuous mapping using Landsat imagery.
Properties of the Spatial Oblique Mercator:
"Shape - Shape is correct within a few parts per million for the sensing range of the satellite
Area - Varies by less than 0.02 percent for the sensing range of the satellite
Direction - Minimal distortion within the sensing range
Distance - Scale is true along the ground track, and varies approximately 0.01 percent within the sensing range." - From "Map Projections", a manual published by ESRI, page A-108
Also see "Reference systems of maps and geographic information systems of Antarctica" by Jörn Sievers and Heinz Bennat published in Antarctic Science 1 (4):351-362 (1989)
Symbology
Symbology is the use of symbols. Symbols represent features or functions on maps. The symbols used on hard copy maps and those used in maps for the web can be very different, and so the sysmbols have been developed differently. For example, symbols used on maps for the web need to be fairly simple due to the low resolution of the computer screen.
Symbols for maps on the web
SCAR's Standing Committee on Antarctic Geographic Information has a current project called SCAR Symbology. Australia's contribution to this project has been the development of SEAL, a Symbol Editor and Library. SEAL uses OGC's Styled Layer Descriptors (SLD). Anyone can view symbols, but only custodians can create and edit symbols. SEAL is currently been developed so SLD's can be imported and linked with the SCAR Feature Catalogue.
Symbols for hard copy maps
These publications are available on request.
- "Map and Data Standards Project, Summary of Feature Codes for use on maps and in databases, and Data Dictionary". Draft dated May 2000. Written by J.W. Thomson at BAS for the then SCAR Working Group on Geodesy and Geographc Infomation.
- "Specifications, Antarctic Topographic Map, Scale 1:50,000" Written by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, 2001.
- "Standard Symbols for use on Maps of Antarctica", Edition 2, published by the then SCAR Working Group on Geodesy and Cartography in 1980. Pages 7-12 are captured below.
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)
- Standing Committee on Antarctic Geographic Information
- King Geoge Island GIS
- Antarctic Digital Database - Vector topographic data for Antarctica
- British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
- Standards and specifications
