Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

SEED is a web-based portal and data repository for NSW environmental data. Data is submitted by NSW Government agencies, industry, the academic and research sector, and the community through Citizen Science projects. We also links to other environmental portals to bring as much environmental data together in one place as possible. 

Through the SEED portal you can access:

• The SEED Map: an interactive, digital mapping tool that overlays and analyses thousands of open-source, environmental data laters.
• Datasets: open-source environmental, geospatial and administrative information.
• The dataset catalogue: a searchable index of all dataset files and map layers
• SEED website pages: for example, site search, case studies, insights and news, and updates.

To learn more, visit About the SEED portal.

Can't find the dataset you need? 

To learn more, visit Find data help guides, or contact us. 

A dataset may not appear in SEED for several reasons:

• It is being assessed and prepared for inclusion.
• It is new data that hasn't been published yet.
• It is not in a format SEED supports. (See 'Is data stored in SEED?' below.)
• It hasn't met the minimum criteria for inclusion, such as the

There are various reasons why an existing environmental dataset might not be included in SEED:

• It is currently being assessed and prepared to be included.
• It is (possibly new) data that hasn’t yet been published.
• It is not in a format that is appropriate for SEED. (See 'Is data stored in SEED?' below.)
• It hasn't met the data standards and principles or minimum criteria to be fit-for-purpose.

• If you know of a dataset that should be in SEED, let us know using the contact us form. 
• If the data hasn't been published yet, SEED will work with the data custodian to make it available where possible.
• If you have datasets ready to publish, learn how through our publish your own data help guides.

A dataset listing can appear without data in a few circumstances:

• The listing points to another data portal, not a dataset itself (for example, the NSW Climate Data Portal). In this case, the resources provided will link to that portal.
• The dataset is not freely available because it has access restrictions, requires payment, needs specific approvals, or contains sensitive information (such as data that may affect the privacy rights of NSW citizens).
• The dataset has been archived by the data provider. Metadata statements and Data Quality Statement will still be available.

You can request access to some, but not all, datasets. 

Check the metadata statement for the relevant Creative Commons licence or a link to specific licence conditions. 

If you're unsure, contact the dataset provider using the 'Contact Data Broker' on the dataset page.

SEED works on most web-enabled devices, including computers, smartphones and tablets. SEED is compatible with recent versions of Firefox, Chrome and Safari.

Learn more about SEED's Data, software and information formats.

You can subscribe to a dataset or dataset filter to get notified when updates or changes are made. 

You can choose to receive notifications for all new datasets or only the filters you select. Learn more about How to save and subscribe to datasets.

You can also view 'All datasets' on the Search and access data page. Use the 'Sort by' dropdown to sort by recency, date, name or relevance.

SEED determines whether a dataset is relevant to a location based on the geographic extent, or boundaries, set by the data custodian. If the extent is defined as 'NSW' — meaning data has been collected across the whole state — the dataset will appear in results for every location.

If you use the spatial search, results will also include datasets from surrounding local government areas. 

Learn more about spatial search and how to find data in a local area.

Data added to SEED must meet a minimum set of requirements so that users know its level of reliability, accuracy and quality. Each dataset's data quality statement lists these requirements. 

Quality refers to whether the data suits your specific purpose — it always needs to be assessed in context. Find out how to know if data is fit-for-purpose.

SEED publishes data as supplied by data providers. The SEED development team do not remediate data quality, but worked closely with providers to improve the quality of supporting information where needed.

Learn more about SEED's data standards and principles. 

The SEED portal is a repository - like a library - not a database service. 

This means we do: 

• store environmental data for public access and download, and

• provide access to spatial map services connected to other databases

We do not host, manage or offer direct access to databases.

Where possible, datasets are held and maintained by the organisations that own them. SEED provides a way to publicly view that data.

Learn more About the SEED portal.

SEED data follows recognised standards and principles to: 

• support transparency 

• accessible data practices 

• responsible data management, and 

• better decision-making across government, industry, research and the community.  

The main standards and principles that guide how we share data include:

• the ANZLIC Metadata Standard (for metadata and data quality)
• CC BY 4.0 for licensing and reuse  
• NSW Government Open Data Policy, and 
• FAIR Principles 
• CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (in progress). 

Learn more about SEED's data standards and principles.

For a list of metadata collected for datasets in SEED, see About metadata statements.