A new digital map showing where drone users can and cannot fly their equipment has been made available by the federal Department of Infrastructure.

The first iteration of the Local Drone Rules map clearly shows where rules are in place that may restrict the use of drones, such as near prisons and parks.

The map currently covers 7,610 different areas managed by 15 different government agencies, with more still to dome.

The map displays information such as whether an area requires authorisation or is restricted, or whether, for example, altitude rules apply. It even extends to certain areas well beyond the coastline.

According to the Department, the map can be integrated into drone software applications to help with flight planning, thanks to open data and courtesy of a free API.

The Department says that it will “continue working with relevant agencies to collect and improve the data, review and evaluate the impact of current rules, and share lessons learned to bolster regulatory policy, compliance and enforcement of drone laws in the future”.

The map is the result of 18 months of collaboration between the federal government and state and local governments, and accords with the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy, which aims to contribute to the roll out of simple, secure and connected public services.

The Department has invited feedback on the map in order to help improve its functionality.