World Soil Day is celebrated on 5 December each year to reflect on the importance of soil health, and support the sustainable management of soil resources.

Scientists from the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) have developed an app to make important soil information accessible to the community.

Introducing Soils Near Me NSW, a soil data app

Soils Near Me NSW is a new app that brings soil information to the community in a simple and practical way.

Soil plays a vital role in the production of the food we eat and fibre for our clothes. The quality and quantity of our water supply is also intrinsically linked to the health of our soils.

Why we care about soil

Most of us tend not to think about soil very much - it’s that brown stuff that keeps the plants standing up in our gardens, stops our houses from falling down and that our kids and dogs like to roll around in. Soil plays its greater role in the environment silently, often invisibly and (generally) very slowly.

Senior Scientist Humphrey Milford says “Managing and preserving our soils is really important. To do that, we need to know something about those soils: where they occur, what their characteristics are, what land uses are suitable and which ones are not. If soils become degraded, how can we fix them? For all of these things - we need soil information.”

Scientists from the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and its predecessors have been collecting, analysing, storing, delivering and sharing soil data for over 80 years. In more recent decades, scientists, researchers and experts from other NSW agencies, universities and industries have also contributed to this enormous data set which is one of the largest in Australia and significant globally.

For many years, this treasure trove of soil information was available only to a small community of connected scientists. The latest step forward is the release of the Soils Near Me NSW app, available free for Android and Apple mobile platforms.

Accessing the 3 most popular soil datasets on SEED

Soils Near Me NSW draws on the three most popular soil datasets on SEED. These datasets are consistently found in the SEED Top 10 Datasets each month.

Rigorous data you can trust

The app provides maps of key soil parameters directly to anyone managing or interested in soil in a simple, easy, and accessible form.

Soils Near Me NSW is underpinned by a suite of information systems, platforms and over 100 datasets. Our data aligns with rigorous nationally-standardised terms and methods and is based on many thousands of observations and millions of individual pieces of land and soil data.

Brian Jenkins, Senior Team Leader says “The Soil and Landscape Assessment Team are a small, but committed team that delivers soil data and information to meet the needs of the NSW government and community and can be relied on to make informed and sustainable land and soil management decisions.”

Download the app today and start exploring the soils near you!

Find out more      

Search Soils Near Me NSW in your favourite app store or go to the Soils Near Me webpage

[Header image: Peter Robey/DPE]

The enhanced Layer Intersect Tool (LIT) provides a more intuitive user experience, expanded functionality, and increased flexibility in managing the tool. With a redesigned step-by-step interface, new geometry source options, removal of the restrictive area limit, and now offering compatible SEED Map layers, users can perform more customised assessments—unlocking data insights beyond biodiversity to any spatial data combination. 

The enhancements provide:

• User Interface Redesign.
  The LIT interface has been modified to provide a step-by-step interface with clearer access to tool functionality and Simple and Detailed reports.
• A new geometry source is added.
  An additional Area of Interest is added, “Select by location,” which allows SEED Map layer features to be used. High-value administrative layers, such as Lot, LGA, National Park, and Regional Planning Areas, will be made available.
• Remove the area limitation of 2000 hectares.
  The new limitation is the number of records the LIT can process in an acceptable
  time. Users run a feasibility check to have an opportunity to refine the area of interest or choose a Simple Report if the area is too large. This allows large AOIs to be used in the tool.
• Any compatible layer can be used in the LIT.
  A user can select any feature layers in the SEED Map to find ‘what is inside’ my area of interest. This expands the use of the tool from only Biodiversity Assessment analysis to any combination of SEED Map layers.

👉Explore the enhanced Layer Intersect Tool -SEED Map and find out more about how to use the Layer Intersect Tool | SEED Portal.

NSW Blue Carbon datasets are now available to access via the Dataset Catalogue. This dataset shows what areas in NSW have the most 'blue carbon' potential.

Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses. Scientific assessments show that blue carbon ecosystems can sequester (or store) two to four times more carbon per hectare and store it 30-50 times faster than land-based forests.

These coastal ecosystems are now recognised for their role in mitigating climate change.

The NSW Government has assessed and mapped the blue carbon storage potential of areas across coastal NSW and identified the areas most suitable for re-establishing coastal wetlands.

The data comes from The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries Wollongong University collaborative study, which assessed the blue carbon storage potential of areas across coastal NSW. The data is based on a paper by Rogers et al 2022. This blue carbon research was conducted by DPI Fisheries and funded under the Marine Estate Management Strategy.

You can access a number of NSW Blue Carbon datasets via the dataset catalogue. These datasets give vital information on the indication of blue carbon across NSW, potential priority areas, preservation, and storage. These datasets are important for planning, conservation efforts, and decision-making for the protection and sustainable management of blue carbon ecosystems.

• NSW Blue Carbon Stored within Coastal Quaternary Sediments
• NSW Blue Carbon Preservation for long-term sequestration
• NSW Blue Carbon Generation from existing mangroves and saltmarsh
• NSW Blue Carbon Indicator
• NSW Blue Carbon Compatibility under 2017 Landuse
• NSW Blue Carbon Permanency in Belowground Sediments
• NSW Blue Carbon in watersheds of Instream Barriers
• NSW Blue Carbon Potential Priority Areas

You can also visualise the data on the SEED map.

[Header image: DPI Fisheries]

SEED case studies showcase success stories on key projects, initiatives and partnerships.

SEED has partnered with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) Water to improve water sector transparency and build confidence in water management by providing open access to water data.

The DPE Water group was looking for a unique solution to publish water data openly. To achieve this, a robust solution was required with good data governance. DPE Water partnered with SEED to achieve this, which was a mutually beneficial opportunity for SEED to improve the number and type of datasets available whilst enhancing the way its users can search for themed data.

Read the full case study here.

Access the DPE Water group data here

A PDF version is available to download

Header image: Robert Cleary/DPE

Geographic Information System (GIS) day is celebrated in November each year to highlight the technology of geographic data, and applications of GIS in society and environmental management.

GIS resources in SEED are key in making environmental data discoverable and accessible, and SEED has a range of different types of GIS data to suit your need.

SEED is celebrating GIS day by highlighting some of our most popular datasets.

• Seabed NSW

The SeaBed NSW program has created a high-resolution digital map of the seafloor, providing data on the structure and composition of the seabed adjacent to our beaches. This spatial data supports councils undertake their coastal hazard studies, and enables users to better understand marine management.

• NSW State Vegetation Type Map

The consolidated NSW State Vegetation Type Map (SVTM) is the first comprehensive regional scale map of Plant Community Types (PCTs).

The maps are easily accessible at one location, and the consolidation of the data makes it easier for users to access and navigate. This spatial data aids with strategic decision-making about vegetation management and conservation.

• Fire Extent and Severity Mapping (FESM)

In collaboration with the NSW Rural Fire Service, DPIE Remote Sensing & Regulatory Mapping team has developed a semi-automated approach to mapping fire extent and severity through a machine learning framework based on sentinel 2 satellite imagery. The state-wide severity map has standardised classes to allow comparison of different fires across the landscape, which is important for bushfire response planning. New data for this year has been released. You can view all the current layers on the SEED map via this link.

More information on data resource formats is available through our help page.

[Header image: Adam Hollingworth/DPE]

New year, new look, continued commitment to be the trusted source of NSW environmental data

SEED has refreshed the look and feel of our portal to align with NSW Government’s Visual Identity System, which supports customers and the broader community to identify, navigate and have a consistent user experience across NSW agencies.

There are no changes to the navigation, services, or functionality of SEED.

SEED is committed to continuous improvement and user feedback. Contact us if you have any feedback on your experience of the SEED portal.

SEED’s core aim is to enable great decisions to be made for the people of NSW with easy-to-find, current, trusted and open environmental data. With over 5200 datasets, the openness of data on SEED has enabled it to be used in research and decision-making. We are delighted to share evidence of SEED being used in journals, research, articles and decision-making.

A keyword search found that SEED data had been cited in over 200 distinct publications since its launch in 2017, with a clear upward trend. Citations were found across technical reports, journal articles, books, conference papers, and more. We found the most popular datasets cited were on bushfires, vegetation and fire-related data, including NSW Landuse (all versions), Fire Extent and Severity Mapping (FESM), Google Earth Engine Burnt Area Map (GEEBAM), NPWS Fire History, the State Vegetation Type Map, and soils-related datasets. While SEED is cited across a diverse array of themes, the most common articles citing SEED data were in Marine and Freshwater Research, Science of the Total Environment, Australian Zoologist and NSW Department of Industry reports.

Having your data openly available on SEED means that it is available for research and is a trusted resource for decision-making. By making your data publicly available on SEED it can have a much greater impact.

Get in touch with us if you have any questions about getting your data onto SEED or examples of how you have used SEED data in your research and/or decision-making.

Header image: Peter Robey/DPE

SEED is excited to introduce our latest enhancement: the new SEED Map, marking a significant stride forward in our core services.

The SEED Map has always been a cornerstone feature, attracting a high volume of site traffic. With this upgrade, users can expect simpler navigation, increased interactivity, enhanced security, and scalability for future needs.

SEED is leading the way by adopting VertiGIS technology that's not widely used in the NSW Government. By modernising our infrastructure, we're setting an example and encouraging others to follow suit.

The benefits of upgrading the SEED Map are:

• A more user-friendly interface to increase productivity and satisfaction.
• Increased system efficiency through routine maintenance and security updates.
• Making data more accessible to non-specialists, growing inclusivity and collaboration.
• Expanding capabilities to meet the increasing demands of users.

This upgrade strengthens SEED's position as a technology leader, ready to adapt to emerging trends. By prioritising user needs and embracing innovation, SEED continues to evolve to cater to the people of NSW. 

Excited to explore? The map is live! But first, take a peek at the video showing some of the map's standout features.

What is NARCliM?
The NSW and Australian Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) project helps us understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change. It supports decision-making across sectors in New South Wales, helping to build resilience for the future.

Why is this important?
NARCliM climate projections provide critical information for planning and decision making to manage risks like bushfires, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. This helps ensure that communities and infrastructure are prepared to face these challenges.

Real-World Applications

As extreme weather events become more common, NARCliM projections provide strategies to reduce their impact on infrastructure, businesses, health, industries, and communities. For example, when temperatures exceed 40°C, railways need to be monitored and train speeds reduced to prevent derailments. NARCliM data helps us plan for and adapt to such rising temperatures. This is just one example of how trusted data from the NSW Government helps prepare for changing conditions.

NARCliM 2.0 Data on SEED
SEED’s interactive map allows users to combine NARCliM data with other datasets, like bushfire-prone land or species sightings, providing deeper insights into climate impacts. This helps users make informed, data-driven decisions to help protect infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities from climate risks.

To Learn More About NARCliM:

• Watch a video series to dive deeper.
• Visit the AdaptNSW website.
• Explore the NARCliM data on SEED.

Twenty-eight years worth of existing data from the citizen science water monitoring program Streamwatch is publicly available on the Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data portal, making its mark as the first community-generated dataset on the platform.

The SEED data team worked with the Australian Museum to bring nearly 11,000 data points to life and present them visually on the SEED map. In June, Streamwatch volunteers got a first look at how their hand-on science and environmental monitoring information was translated and viewed on the SEED map, with many bringing questions on how to layer different charts to see trends over time and view different areas.

Those accessing Streamwatch data through the SEED map viewer can see and compare collected water monitoring information such as PH levels, turbidity and electrical conductivity in Streamwatch monitoring areas over time.

Streamwatch and its hundreds of dedicated volunteers deliver scientifically accurate data on water quality and health of local waterways across the greater Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions.  

From July 2019, management of Streamwatch and the activities of its volunteers have transferred to the Greater Sydney Landcare Network.

View the Streamwatch data here.

What happens when you gather some of the most creative minds across the country and give them free reign to generate innovative tools using open government data? You get GovHack – an open data competition with the exciting potential to produce effective solutions to tackle social, economic and environmental challenges.

The Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data (SEED) portal joined forces with GovHack again this year to showcase some of New South Wales’ environmental data and to learn a thing or two about what opportunities open government data present to better society. After sifting through an abundance of entries for our SEED GovHack Challenges, we found some little gold nuggets within some of this years’ winning projects: GreenRoutes by Mentally Friendly and CoolWalk Sydney by Team 520.

We spoke to Thom Vincent – a member of the Mentally Friendly team who won our Three C’s of Innovation Challenge – to gain some insights from the weekend and see the inspiration behind their project ‘GreenRoutes’.

Thom is the Technical Director at the design and innovation studio Mentally Friendly. With the studio having over 15 years’ experience helping decision-makers build evidence to confidently launch products and services that make people’s lives better, Thom saw another opportunity in GovHack to challenge himself and collaborate with like-minded individuals to build a product that would benefit the community.

GovHack is founded on principles of collaboration – where from the action of putting many ideas and minds together, innovation can flourish. Thom and another colleague Alex formed the basis for participating in GovHack after looking for hackathon opportunities across Sydney. Their other colleagues Liam, Amanda and Tyson joined soon after. Together they formed a super team comprised of a product manager and three developers. Amanda organised the planning of the build and strategy, Liam worked on the design, and Alex and Tyson built the prototype. In the spirit of teamwork, they floated between roles and supported each other.

To selecting from the multitude of datasets, solving unexpected technological problems, and forming various prototypes, the team crossed the finish line, submitting their entry with half an hour to spare.

Spawn out of their curiosity and ideation was the application: ‘GreenRoutes’.

GreenRoutes

With temperatures rising in Sydney each year, GreenRoutes aims to prepare citizens for heatwaves, tackle the issue of congestion and improve the well-being of the community through providing an application that calculates the coolest route to travel across Greater Sydney. By combining tree canopy data and urban heat data from SEED with a navigation algorithm to plot walking routes, alongside cycleway and local wildlife data, the application visually illustrates an efficient route for citizens to reduce their exposure to heat but still get them to where they need to be. Watch their elevator pitch on the application here:

Top tips for GovHack participants

For those considering participating in GovHack in the future, Thom provided a few key tips.

1. Spend some time upfront as a team planning for the weekend. Use this time to define the story you want to tell and how you want to tell it. This means creating a strategy and finding a way to execute that strategy.
2. Talk to those around you. It’s always beneficial to bounce ideas off other teams. Don’t worry about other teams copying your ideas. And take advantage of the mentor sessions – go in ready to present your idea and with questions to ask.

3. Last of all, don’t forget to have fun! Take advantage of meeting.

   

    

   Key learnings

   If there’s one key lesson to gain from GovHack, it’s the boundless opportunities that open data presents. As Thom says, “The most important benefit of open government data is its ability to foster social innovation. Open data provides organisations and the government with new opportunities to collaborate – allowing them to work together on improving existing services or creating new ones … Organisations can use the data to design a service or build a product that could help a community – or the entire population of Australia.”

   And with that, another year of GovHack is over. It’s amazing what can happen in the span of one weekend. Thom sums it up perfectly in saying We only had a weekend. But in that time, we were able to prototype a product using real data. Imagine what we could do with a few months.

   We only had a weekend. But in that time, we were able to prototype a product using real data. Imagine what we could do with a few months.

   

   Mentally Friendly taking home the prize for the 'Three C's of Innovation' challenge. 

   Read more about the  Mentally Friendly Team and their GovHack entry ‘GreenRoutes’ here.

This update incorporates user feedback as part of the ongoing effort to continuously improve the NSW plant community type classification of the state vegetation type map. While the update involves no changes to the PCT Master List (version C2.0 remains current), the state vegetation type map has been revised (version C2.0M2.1). See 2024 release notes.

Feedback/Support  

You can provide feedback on the map through the Provide Feedback button in SEED.

For general support, please don't hesitate to contact the BioNet team at [email protected].