Reflectance data

Reflectance data includes different methods of measuring reflected electromagnetic energy from the Earth’s surface to collect geoscientific information. Surveys using several different technologies have been acquired over all or part of Western Australia.
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How to access reflectance data

You can download all geophysical datasets online from MAGIX using a search in “Method” of REFLECTANCE or place an order to receive larger grids and images on an external drive through the MAGIX Open-File Digital Data Request order form (fees apply).

You can search for specific geophysical surveys via a map interface through GeoVIEW.WA.

For national datasets, please go to National Geophysical Archive Data Delivery System (GADDS) or the Geoscience Australia Portal.

Satellite ASTER geoscience map of Western Australia

The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is a high spatial resolution instrument aboard the Terra satellite, capturing images of Earth in 14 different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, from visible to thermal infrared light.

The ASTER Geoscience Map project (2012) was a partnership between us and the Centre for Three-Dimensional Mineral Mapping (C3DMM), led by CSIRO. You can download individual product files from MAGIX.

The map set contains 17 different 'mineral group' composition maps:

  • 14 maps come from ASTER’s visible, near-infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands.
  • 3 maps come from ASTER’s thermal infrared (TIR) bands.

Formats and sizes

  • The maps are available in formats compatible with GIS software like TIFF and JPG, as well as in image-processing software format like BSQ.
  • Each map is divided into blocks that match 1:1,000,000 scale map sheets. The file size for each block is about 100 megabytes

For more information, you can refer to the Australian ASTER Geoscience Product Notes.

Hyperspectral

Hyperspectral imaging is a special case of spectral imaging where often hundreds of contiguous spectral bands are measured.

LiDAR

LiDAR is a method for determining distances by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. It may be used to create digital terrain elevation models of the Earth’s surface.

Multispectral

Spectral imaging captures image data within specific wavelength ranges (bands) across the electromagnetic spectrum. Multispectral imaging measures light in a small number (typically 3 to 15) of spectral bands.

Aerial photography

Aerial photography captures photographs from an aircraft or other airborne platforms. These can be used to create orthophotos and digital terrain elevation models of the Earth’s surface. Please check the date of acquisition when using the images

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