Description

Continued:

AusMap is a QGIS plugin for visualising publicly available Australian geographic data. It gives quick access to a variety of feature sets and map layers provided by  Geoscience Australia, the Google Maps Platform and OpenStreetMap. Selecting a desired layer from the AusMap menu will add it to the map canvas with styling and labelling applied. The layers are provided via WMS, WFS, WMTS and XYZ services, which all require an active internet connection.

Significance for Australian GIS users

The significance of the AusMap Plugin for Australian GIS users lies in its ability to streamline access to high-quality geospatial datasets from trusted Australian sources directly within QGIS. Here’s why it matters:

1. Easy Access to Authoritative Australian Geospatial Data

The plugin integrates datasets from Geoscience Australia, Bureau of Meteorology, State and Territory Governments, and other authoritative sources.

It simplifies the process of loading WMS, WFS, WMTS, and XYZ tile services into  QGIS without manually configuring URLs.

2. Supports a Wide Range of GIS Applications

Environmental Analysis – Users can overlay topographic maps, land cover,  vegetation, and climate data for conservation and planning.
Urban & Regional Planning – Accessing administrative boundaries, road  networks, and zoning information aids decision-making.
Disaster Management – The plugin enables real-time visualization of bushfires, flood risk areas, and emergency response data.
Mining & Agriculture – Datasets on land use, geology, and water resources help industries make informed decisions.

3. Reduces Data Processing Overhead

Users don’t need to download and store large datasets locally—they can stream maps and vector data via web services.

Eliminates the need to manually configure coordinate reference systems (CRS) for Australian-specific datasets.

4. Free & Open-Source Alternative to Commercial GIS Software

Offers a no-cost solution for accessing Australian geospatial data compared to paid services like Esri’s ArcGIS Online or commercial WMS/WFS services.

Encourages adoption of QGIS as a viable tool in government agencies, universities, and small businesses.

5. Enhances Collaboration & Standardization

Ensures GIS professionals across different states and territories have a standardized way to retrieve spatial data.

 Promotes interoperability by aligning with Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure (ASDI) principles.

About the Plugin’s author

author=WMS Engineering
email=tools@wmseng.com.au
homepage=https://wmseng.com.au/
repository=https://github.com/WMS-Engineering/AusMap
tracker=https://github.com/WMS-Engineering/AusMap/issues

Requirements

    QGIS version 3.18 or higher
    Internet access for fetching online map layer web services (faster the better)

Installation through QGIS

    Open QGIS.
    Navigate to Plugins > Manage and Install Plugins.
    Search for AusMap.
    Click the Install button.

Manual Installation through GitHub

    Download the ZIP file from the GitHub repository.
    In QGIS, navigate to Plugins > Manage and Install Plugins.
    Click Install from ZIP and select the downloaded plugin file.

The AusMap plugin provides 129 layers covering Australia, via via WMS, WFS, WMTS and XYZ services.

Note: There are several QGIS plugins and tools that provide access to Australian geospatial data, similar to the AusMap Plugin.

Here are some notable alternatives:

1/ Qgeo

This plugin loads and displays geoscientific spatial data for Queensland, Australia. Users can load layers using property (lot-plan) or extent searches, and the plugin also offers imagery, basemaps, various informative overlays, and the ability to export maps to georeferenced PDFs. ​QGIS Plugins

2/ Qveg

Developed by the same authors as Qgeo, Qveg focuses on Queensland’s vegetation management data. It allows users to load relevant datasets using property details or specific extents, facilitating detailed vegetation analysis within QGIS. ​QGIS Plugins

3/ AURIN QGIS Resources

The Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) provides resources and tutorials for using QGIS to access a wide range of Australian geospatial data, supporting urban research and analysis. ​AURIN

Each of these tools offers unique functionalities tailored to specific datasets and regions within Australia, providing valuable alternatives or complements to the AusMap Plugin for users working with Australian geospatial data in QGIS.

For Australian GIS users, the AusMap Plugin is a powerful tool that enhances accessibility to critical geospatial data while promoting open-source GIS adoption. However, users should be aware of potential performance issues and data limitations when using the plugin for large-scale mapping projects.

For those wishing to host the Vector Data locally in a PostGIS/Oracle/MSSQL Database, one can use the VectorToDBLoader Plugin by SpatialTapestry. This plugin will read all the features in a theme and store them in the chosen Database.

Features & Functionality

For a details about each theme, click here!

BaseMaps and Imagery

Bathymetry Basemap
Bathymetry Imagery
Google Maps
Google Roads
Google Satellite
Google Satellite Hybrid
Google Terrain
National Basemap
National Basemap – Grey
National Basemap – Without Labels
NSW Imagery
OpenStreetMap
QLD Globe Imagery
TAS Imagery
Topographic Basemap

Boundaries and Placenames

Gazetteer
Local Government Area Council Offices
Shoreline
State Borders

Built Environment

Bores
Canal Lines
Dam Walls
Dam Walls – Major
Dams and Tanks
Farm Dam Areas
Levees
Lighthouses
Locks
Marine Infrastructure Lines
Mine Areas
Prohibited Areas
Recreation Areas
Spillways
Urban Landscapes

Digital Elevation Models (DEMS)

LiDAR 5 m
SRTM 1 Sec Hydrologically Enforced

Emergency and Health Services

Ambulance Stations
General Practices
Hospitals
Metro Fire Facilities
Other Emergency Management Facilities
Pharmacies
Policing Facilities
Rural Country Fire Service Facilities
State Emergency Service (SES) Facilities

Infrastructure Networks and Utilities

Electricity Major Power Stations
Electricity Transmission Lines
Electricity Transmission Substations
Powerlines
Storage Tanks
Telephone Exchange
Vertical Obstructions
Waste Management Facilities
Wastewater Treatment
Water Pipelines

Natural Environment – Land

Cultivated Areas
Forestry Reserves
Indigenous Reserves
Land Cover
Land Subject to Inundation
National Parks and Other Reserves
Native Vegetation – Scale 1:60,000,000 to 1:2,000,000
Native Vegetation – Scale 1:2,000,000 to 1:70,000

Natural Environment – Water

Aquaculture Areas
Basins
Catchments
Foreshore Flats
Flood Irrigation Storages
Gnamma Holes
Hydrogeology
Lakes
Lakes and Reservoirs
Lakes National Scale to 1:5,000,000
Lakes Scale 1:5,000,000 to 1:300,000
Major Rivers National Scale to 1:5,000,000
Major Rivers Scale 1:5,000,000 to 1:300,000
Marine Parks
Marine Swamps
Native Wells
Offshore Rocks and Wrecks
Pools
Reefs and Shoals
Reservoirs
Reservoirs National Scale to 1:300,000
River Connectors
Rockholes
Saline Coastal Flats
Salt Evaporators
Settling Ponds
Soaks
Springs
Swamps
Watercourse Areas
Watercourse Lines
Waterfalls
Waterholes
Water Supply Reserves

Oil and Gas

Energy Production
Gas Pipelines
Liquid Fuel Depots
Liquid Fuel Refineries
Liquid Fuel Terminals
Oil Pipelines
Petrol Stations

Transport – Air and Water

Airports
Airport Landing Grounds and Runway Centrelines
Air Traffic Services Centres
Aviation Control Towers
Aviation Firefighting and Rescue (AFFR)
Ferry Routes
Ferry Terminals
Heliports
Landing Grounds
Major Aviation Fuel Depots
Major Aviation Hangars
Major Aviation Terminals
Major Ports

Transport – Roads and Rail

Foot Tracks
Major Road Network
Railways
Railway Bridges
Railway Crossing Lines
Railway Stations
Road Bridges and Fords
Road Crossing Lines
Roads – Scale 1:7,000,000 to 1:600,000
Roads – Scale 1:600,000 to 1:300,000
Roads – Scale 1:300,000 – 1:70,000

Performance & Usability

Some users have reported issues with the plugin’s performance, particularly when working with large map extents or when zoomed out to a world view. In such cases, layers may fail to load properly, possibly due to timeouts or server limitations. To
mitigate these issues, it’s recommended to zoom in to specific areas, such as a town or city, and add layers one at a time, allowing each to
load fully before proceeding. ​GIS Stack Exchange

Pros & Cons

The overwhelming strength of this Plugin is the rich diversity of the data.

As with any web-based tool, the weakness is going to be the internet speed, and the amount of data that needs to be fetched to display the map.

A fatal thing to do is to open the attribute data for a theme, and QGIS will ‘hang’ while downloading the entire dataset.

A much better thing to do is to select a theme and use the “Identify Features” (Ctrl+Shift+I) to click (say on a Petrol Station) to see the attributes.

Some users have reported slow performance when working with large map extents or multiple layers.

Data availability can vary—some state-specific datasets may not be included.

The plugin’s functionality depends on external servers, meaning downtime or service disruptions can affect usability.

Comparison to Alternatives

I have not seen anything as comprehensive in this space as this before.

Final Verdict & Recommendations

This is a very valuable Plugin, all GIS Professionals in Australia should be aware of it.

For Australian GIS users, the AusMap Plugin is a powerful tool that  enhances accessibility to critical geospatial data while promoting open-source GIS adoption. However, users should be aware of potential performance issues and data limitations when using the plugin for large-scale mapping projects.

For those wishing to host the Vector Data locally in a PostGIS/Oracle/MSSQL Database, one can use the VectorToDBLoader Plugin by SpatialTapestry. This plugin will read all the features in a theme and store them in the chosen Database.

See the video:  YouTube