Appendix C - Fence and Water Facilities Guide

1. Background

This guide was derived from:

• A series of thematic maps including Wheat Cropping Areas in Australia, Land use, Size of Farms, and Rainfall supplied in the Atlas of Australia series produced by AUSLIG (which was used to form the original Appendix C, the predecessor of this guide)
• Additional thematic maps at various scales (including land use, population density & rainfall)
• Previous 250K and 100K topographic mapping
• Consultation with users of recently published 250K NATMAP topographic maps.

In predominantly wet and/or heavily developed regions, fences and water facilities such as mills, tanks and bores proliferate and therefore lose their significance as a feature and need not be shown. However, vermin proof fences and dog fences will all be shown even in the areas marked as 'no fences'.

In particular, the following features were not captured in the more densely settled and/or predominantly wet areas of Australia:

• bores
• fences
• gates
• homesteads
• names of minor roads
• springs
• stock grids
• water tanks
• water points
• wind pumps
• yards

2. Region Descriptions

Australia has now been divided into 3 settlement/climatic area types. These are:

• Densely settled (urban)
• Moderately settled (agricultural)
• Sparsely settled (pastoral/wilderness)

2.1 Densely Settled

This region comprises major urban areas, mostly in higher rainfall zones and having high population densities. Features such as waterpoints (bores, springs, dams, wind pumps etc), fences, homesteads and named minor roads are not significant landmark features. The features listed above will not be shown, unless a significant feature is identified. For example, a homestead, such as Elizabeth Farm outside Sydney, which does has significant historical value and should be named.

Features to be shown:

None of the specified items will be shown, unless advised to by Geoscience Australia. However, if during production a possible significant feature is identified an Action Request should be directed to Geoscience Australia seeking clarification.

2.2 Moderately Settled

This comprises the agricultural (cropping/grazing) areas between the coast and the sparsely settled interior or wilderness areas. Most areas are subject to moderate rainfall and moderate population densities. The majority of the population live in cities and towns, therefore homesteads are a significant feature. Other features such as waterpoints (bores, springs, dams, wind pumps etc), vermin proof fences and named minor roads are also significant. However, as 250K topographic generalisation rules prohibit showing all these features, only a selection will be shown, with preference given to homesteads.

Features to be shown:

Capture a selection of these features in the following priority order:

First Priority

• named homesteads - with emphasis on larger homesteads
  (these may be differentiated from smaller homesteads by reviewing imagery to identify infrastructure, such as buildings)
• vermin proof fences

Second Priority

• names of some minor roads

Third Priority

• wind pumps
• bores, springs, waterpoints, water tanks

These features are not to be captured:

• yards
• non-vermin proof fences
• gates
• stock grids

Note: During the capture process producers should adhere to the rules of cartographic generalisation. If 'clutter' becomes an issue, an appropriate selection of hydrology point features or minor road names should be made, consistent with the generalisation principles.

Note: New named homesteads may previously have been captured as part of 1:250 000 Series 2 as buildings.

2.3 Sparsely Settled

This comprises the arid pastoral land of central Australia with very low populations - mostly located in small settlements and homesteads. It also includes areas where no/little pastoral activity occurs (eg deserts, conservation reserves and state forests). In this region all features are significant landmark features - especially homesteads. All features will be shown. Where 250K topographic generalisation rules prohibit showing all features, preference will be given to remote settlements and homesteads, then waterpoints.

Features to be shown:

Capture all of these features in the following priority order:

• small settlements, such as Indigenous communities
• homesteads
• vermin proof fences
• names of minor roads & vehicle tracks
• windpumps
• non-vermin proof fences
• bores, springs, waterpoints, water tanks
• gates
• stock grids
• yards

Note: During the capture process producers should adhere to the rules of cartographic generalisation. If 'clutter' becomes an issue, an appropriate selection of hydrology point features or minor road names should be made, consistent with the generalisation principles.

Note: New named homesteads may previously have been captured as part of 1:250 000 Series 2 as buildings.

3. Source Material

For information about acceptable source material to be used for the feature capture please refer to the NMD Guidelines on Using National Mapping Supplied Material and in the individual Work Unit Production Files.

4. Background, Use & Supply of the Digital Guide

Geodatabase description:

The digital data was sourced from the seamless database, and GEODATA Series 2 data.

The database shows Australia divided up into the 3 different region types in the form of polygons. The polygons are bound by the coastline on the external perimeter, and by various selected arc features inland. Whilst roads were the preference, other features such as vegetation arcs, drainage and waterbody arcs, powerlines and reserve boundaries, railways etc have also been used.

The feature arcs that form the region boundary have retained their attributes to assist producers in determining which feature has been used

Where a suitable feature did not exist in the source data, a new artificial feature was created in this database to close the polygon. This feature is called a 'joiner'. It was placed with logical connectivity to existing features, so that it was obvious as to its intended position (eg an extension to a road, or across the mouth of a river etc).

Where a feature used to delineate a region boundary has since been altered by the producer in the process of revision, the region boundary will be deemed to move with that feature. A likely example would be a builtup area boundary or a vegetation boundary.

Polygon Attribute Item Definition:

REGION [10,10 C]: Descriptive of Region Type

dense
moderate
sparse

Arc Attribute Item Definition:

FEAT_CODE [12,12,C]: Relates to the Specification Feature Classes
Various Standard Feat_codes
Joiner - representing an indicative line
NAME [50,50,C]: Name of Feature, if available.
CLASS [1,1,I] : Classification of road feature, if appropriate.
FORMATION [1,1,I] : Formation of road feature, if appropriate.
NRN [12,12,C]:National Route Number of road feature, if appropriate.
SRN [12,12,C]:State Route Number of road feature, if appropriate.
TEXT_NOTE [30,30,C]: Descriptive note of feature, if appropriate.
FEATURETYPE [50,50,C]: Feature Type as defined in the Geodatabase.

Supply:

The Appendix C guide is supplied in both a Geodatabase (Geographical GDA94) and PDF format, with the release of each specification version. Updates may be supplied with an amendment, if appropriate.