ASDST Hearths Current Model: Predictive Likelihood of Aboriginal Hearth Sites in NSW

New South Wales data from the Aboriginal Sites Decision Support Tool (ASDST) predicts the likelihood of Aboriginal hearth features in the current landscape. The model, produced by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in 2020, is a raster GIS layer at 50-meter resolution covering the entire state. Cell values range from 0 to 1000, indicating relative likelihood rather than probability.

Use Cases

• Assess landscape planning risks based on predicted likelihood of Aboriginal hearths.
• Prioritize field survey areas for cultural heritage based on model reliability scores.
• Analyze accumulated impacts on Aboriginal heritage by comparing pre-colonisation and current likelihood models.

Strengths

• Model covers the entire state of New South Wales.
• Provides a current landscape prediction at a 50-meter spatial resolution.
• Uses a standardized likelihood scale from 0 to 1000 for comparability.
• Part of a suite of models covering multiple Aboriginal site feature types.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect geographic or source bias inherent to the underlying Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS).

Provenance

Source

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Collection Method

Derived from the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) using predictive modelling techniques.

Time Range

Model reflects current landscape conditions as of its 2020 production.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-12 20:01:35.650404; freshness should be verified.

Geography

New South Wales, Australia