How to optimise search

To start searching you can either search click the large search icon in the middle of the screen or you can hit the Search tab button in the black bar at the top left.

Either of the search functions will provide the view below and will display all the items available The search page displays all items in the catalogue until you apply a filter from the list on the left-hand side of the search results.

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Use quotation marks

To narrow your search use quotation marks in the text field , use quotation marks for phrases eg “cadastral data”, and use other Boolean search operators. The following filters can also assist.

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Choose content type

Data and information from QSpatial is available as different types of content. The Choose content type will filter spatial datasets to be broken down by content type.

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Clicking the check box next to a content type will refine the datasets returned Search results list.

To filter by series will show you the dataset groupings. Popular series are: vegetation management and hydrographic features series.

To view only downloadable datasets user “dataset”.

To view only web services, filer by “services”.

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Filter by organisation

Filter by organisation will display a listing of all the organisations that contribute data to QSpatial. Spatial data are then categorised by the organisation responsible for the data. Most datasets are published by the Department of Resources and Department of Environment and Science, but this can help where a department only publishes a few datasets.

The number to the right shows the number of datasets contributed by that organisation.

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Clicking the check box next to a category will refine the datasets returned Search results list.

Important: Web services do not have this field in the metadata so they will not appear in the results.

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Filter by location

Filter by location allows you to search for a location within Queensland. You can manually type in your location, or alternatively you can refine your search by local government area (LGA) or City/Suburb. Further options to search anywhere, intersects and within will refine your search results by using the extent of the map to find resources whose extent either intersect or are completely within the subject area.

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The search combinations you choose will refine the datasets returned Search results list.

Important: most datasets are statewide so this type of search is relevant where a dataset is regional only, which are very limited.