A map of the state of Victoria showing bordering states greyed out with no detail. On the map, region names are highlighted in yellow text with yellow boundary outlines, major cities are written in black text, and waterways are coloured in blue right across the state, forming a detailed network of lines. The ocean is coloured light blue around the coastline.

- Extent of the 2009-10 Rivers LiDAR survey: 127,000 linear kilometres.

A LiDAR derived image of a section of a river with colour used to represent height. The highest points are shaded in deep blue, and the lowest, or deepest points, are shaded in red, with a spectrum in between of greens, yellows and oranges. A map legend is displayed in the top left corner, and a map scale in the bottom right corner. The centreline of the river and banks of the river are also outlined.

- River centreline and river bank delineation.

A capture of a computer monitor with two windows open. The right hand image displays a square cross-section of land floating on a black background. The camera is angled down towards the square area where height is shaded in colour. Deep blues represent the lowest/deepest points of the surface and/or river depth. The ground surface is fairly flat and is shaded in greens. The highest points are tree cover which is shaded in yellows and reds. The river cuts through the image, from front to back, with trees clustered around the landscape as well as along the banks of the waterway. A menu of buttons appears down the screen between the left and right hand windows. The left window is a black and white aerial view of the same area, with deep points represented by the darkest shading, and the highest points closer to white.

- 1 M Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and 4 ppms LiDAR.

A 3D LiDAR image looking diagonally down over an area of land, with a black background around the cross-section. Tree coverage appears with shades of red on the highest points through shades of orange, yellow and then greens to depict lower and lower points. The bottom of waterways are the lowest, or deepest, points on the map and the spectrum of colours continues to move through from greens to aquas, teals and blues, ending in a deep blue. The main river is quite deep, with channels and banks visible in deeper rivulets through the riverbed. Smaller waterways off the main channel of water are a much brighter blue as they feed down towards the main water source.

- 3D Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with LiDAR point-cloud.

The image is split in half vertically. On the right hand side, there are two aerial images taken of the same section of river in 2010 on top, and 2018 on the bottom. On the left hand side, an analysis with areas of red, green and yellow shaded show the change in canopy cover, with red representing loss of canopy cover, and colours closer to green representing growth and reestablishment of canopy cover.

- 2010 baseline data supporting change analysis.

An aerial photograph of an area of river densely populated with trees on either side. Multiple light green lines have been drawn across river from edge to edge of the tree line to measure the width of the vegetation cover.

- Riparian vegetation monitoring - vegetation width.

An aerial image with vegetation channels on either side of the river shaded in reds, oranges and yellows to indicate the average height of tree cover. The underneath LiDar image has tree coverage dotted across the landscape and shaded in black, on a white base. A legend is displayed on the right hand side, showing that red represents the tallest points, through the colour spectrum to green for the lowest points.

- Riparian vegetation monitoring - vegetation structure.

The Victorian Rivers LiDAR was a flagship project to create baseline river condition data for ongoing river monitoring. LiDAR data was used to generate accurate Digital Elevation Model (DEM) surface representations of river channel form and riparian vegetation attributes for rivers across Victoria totalling over 127,000 linear kilometres in survey length.

Since this project, many subsequent river LiDAR surveys have been conducted, enabling change metrics to be mapped with this evidence-based knowledge. This has ultimately informed how these rivers continue to be managed.

Extent: 127,000 linear kilometres
Point density: 4 pts/m2 (first returns)
Coordinate reference system: GDA94, MGA54 and MGA55, AHD
Elevation products: LAS 1.2, DEM 1 m, CHM 1 m
Vertical accuracy: 20 cm

Availability: These products are available to license through Vicmap’s Value Added Reseller (VAR) and Data Service Provider (DSP) network for the private sector and via coordinated.imagery@transport.vic.gov.au for government entities.

Partner agencies:  Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA), Catchment Management Authorities and Coordinated Imagery Program (CIP), Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).

View elevation glossary (DOCX, 140.1 KB).

A screen capture of the web browser preview of Victorian rivers LiDAR data. A menu on the left hand side shows options to customise the data. The main screen shows terrain in shades of orange, vegetation in green with vegetation in grey.
A visual of Victorian rivers LiDAR sample data available for download or preview via web browser.
Download data sample
View sample in web browser

Page last updated: 25/02/25