Vicmap Hydro REST API

Brief description

Vicmap Hydro represents the natural and man-made water resources for Victoria and consists of point, line and polygon vector features in a seamless, networked and topologically structured dataset series. It comprises a basic framework of linear features supplemented by related point and polygon features to value add data for the water networks across the State. Attribute tables classify and describe the real-world features using code lists that can be used for search, discovery and analysis.



The following hydrographic features are contained within Vicmap Hydro:

Watercourse (line)- watercourse, connector, channel, drain

Water Area (polygon)- lake, flat, wetland, pondage, watercourse area

Water Area Boundary (line)- shoreline, junction

Water Point (point)- rapids, spring, waterfall, waterbody point

Water Area Fuzzy (polygon) – bay, beach, bend, entrance, inlet, passage, reach, sea

In inland and coastal areas, point and line features are used to describe various waterline related structures:

Water Structure Line (line)- wharf, marina, offshore platform, breakwater, launching ramp, dam wall, spillway, lock

Water Structure Point (point)- lock, well

Water Structure Area (polygon)- dam batter, spillway

Along our coastline various features exist which either aid or obstruct local navigation:

Navigation Point (point)- buoy, beacon, rock, wreck

Navigation line (line)- reef ledge

Depiction of coastal environment

Features along our coastal environment are best depicted with Vicmap Index which contains Victoria’s state boarders and coastline.

Interpretation of features such as watercourses and sea depend on the following criteria:

The limit between sea and land ie. coastline is represented by the mean highwater mark (1m below flotsam on the beach) except in areas covered by mangroves where the landward side is adopted. Note: The limit between the shoreline of internal water bodies and land is represented by the full supply level.

The use of a connector feature ceases when a watercourse area runs into the sea delineated by a junction representing coastline.

Coastal intertidal flats comprised of sand or mud, exposed at low tide form polygon areas which can extend seaward more than 100m or inland.

Small inlets with a single line stream flowing into them are usually considered part of the sea.

Islands are represented by polygons coded “Island” when they are fully surrounded by sea.