Exploring for the Future

Informed decisions

Program quick links

Installing solar panels

Growing economic prosperity and social well-being

As the Australian Government's trusted geoscientific organisation, Geoscience Australia produces 2D and 3D data, information and support tools that are publicly available to all through our online portals.

Our innovative tools and information are used by landholders, traditional owners, groundwater managers, natural hazard managers, environmental stewards, government, academia, industry and more.

The Exploring for the Future program has demonstrated benefits (2016-2024), especially in regional Australia.

Our work supports

  • Better evidence-based engagement and informed decision-making
  • Community well-being, resilience and empowerment.

Featured work

Hydrogen video

Mapping Australia's hydrogen Future

Hydrogen can be used for a variety of domestic and industrial purposes such as heating and cooking (as a replacement for natural gas), transportation (replacing petrol and diesel), and energy storage (by converting intermittent renewable energy into hydrogen). The key benefit of using hydrogen is that it is a clean fuel that emits only water vapour and heat when combusted.

Mapping Australia's hydrogen Future Watch the video
Indigenous engagement

Land access and Indigenous engagement for Australian geoscience

The Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program is unmatched for the scale of geoscience data acquisition across northern Australia, covering 37,648 individual land parcels and 2.9 million km2. The scale of works has raised many new challenges for Geoscience Australia through the diverse range of field activities, and the numerous stakeholders from different social and cultural backgrounds, across multiple jurisdictions.

Land access and Indigenous engagement for Australian geoscience Read the extended abstract
AusAEM map

AusAEM: imaging the near-surface from the world's largest airborne electromagnetic survey

Real advances in understanding geology for mineral, energy and groundwater resource potential of the Australian continent will come from unveiling what lies at depth, especially in the extensive under-explored regions that are obscured by cover.

AusAEM: imaging the near-surface from the world's largest airborne electromagnetic survey Read the extended abstract
3d portal

Exploring for the Future in 3D

Geoscience Australia has been acquiring 3D datasets over many years, however they often require specialist software and high-end computing capabilities to use. To make 3D more widely available, we have developed a browser-based 3D viewer.

Exploring for the Future in 3D Read the news article
city view from above

Case studies

Our case studies showcase our work, community stories, and emerging benefits and impacts of the Exploring for the Future program.

Case studies Read case studies

Other impact areas

Electric vehicle

Sustainability

Increased sustainability unperpinned by thriving low emissions energy and critical minerals sectors.

Sustainability Learn more
Water security

Water security

Improved intergenerational water security and community resilience.

Water security Learn more
Alice Springs

Prosperity

Growing economic prosperity and social well-being through resource development, investment in resource exploration, new job creation and responsible agricultural planning.

Prosperity Learn more
Outback rural landscape with red earth, dry rivers and green trees, Australia, aerial view

Understanding what lies beneath

The Australian Government's Exploring for the Future program, led by Geoscience Australia, was dedicated to supporting a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of all Australians through an integrated geoscientific understanding of our mineral, energy and groundwater resource potential.

Launched in 2016, the first 4 years of the program (2016-20) initially focused on northern Australia. Based on the program's success it was extended (2020-24) and expanded across the whole of Australia.

Drawing together data, science and innovative techniques and technology, the program enabled us to map undercover and underexplored areas. This in turn encouraged new investment in 'greenfield' areas by providing security and certainty to our minerals, energy and agriculture sectors as we transition towards a sustainable, low-emissions future.

The evidence gathered through the program is already translating into real impacts, providing industry and communities with vital information they need to confidently plan, make better informed decisions and invest in new developments.

The Exploring for the Future impact pathway summarises how the program has realised its vision.