Australia’s marine jurisdiction covers over 10 million square kilometres, and we estimate that only 25% of its seafloor has been mapped to the adequate resolution required to support the sustainable development and management of our marine estate. Considering that seabed mapping underpins most aspects of ocean sciences and engineering, and contributes strongly to Australia’s economic, environmental and social values, it is critical that we address this fundamental knowledge gap. AusSeabed was founded three years ago—a cross sector collaborative national program aimed at coordinating ocean mapping efforts to maximise benefits to stakeholders. AusSeabed is working to address many challenges surrounding efficient data acquisition, quality assurance, processing and delivery to various end-users with an aim to eliminate duplication of effort and improve data quality and consistency across sectors. A fundamental component of the AusSeabed program is the design and development of a federated, cloud-based, open-source platform to address the whole supply chain from data acquisition to delivery. Importantly, this work is enabling seamless collation of seabed mapping datasets and their integration with other marine data types from a variety of previously isolated and inaccessible holdings. Strong community commitment and a powerful resonance with stakeholders have driven rapid program growth and are a testament to the value of deliberate and effective collaboration for national benefit. This presentation will give an overview of AusSeabed’s current progress, highlights and forward plan.

This resource includes backscatter data for Arafura Marine Park (Arafura Sea) collected by Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science during the period 2 – 15 November 2020 on the RV Solander. The survey was undertaken as a collaborative project funded through the National Environmental Science Program Marine Biodiversity Hub, with co-investment by GA and AIMS. The purpose of the project was to build baseline information for benthic habitats in Arafura Marine Park that will support ongoing environmental monitoring within the North Marine Park Network as part of the 10-year management plan (2018-2028). Data acquisition for the project included multibeam bathymetry and backscatter for two areas (Money Shoal and Pillar Bank), seabed samples and underwater imagery of benthic communities and demersal fish. This backscatter dataset contains two 32-bit geotiff files of the backscatter mosaic for two survey areas produced from the processed EM2040C Dual Head system using the CMST-GA MB Process v15.04.04.0 (x64) toolbox software co-developed by the Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University and Geoscience Australia. A detailed report on the survey is provided in: Picard, K. Stowar, M., Roberts, N., Siwabessy, J., Abdul Wahab, M.A., Galaiduk, R., Miller, K., Nichol, S. 2021. Arafura Marine Park Post Survey Report. Report to the National Environmental Science Program, Marine Biodiversity Hub (https://www.nespmarine.edu.au/node/4505).

This resource includes bathymetry data acquired during the Banks Strait bathymetry survey collected by University of Queensland during the period 16 – 28 March 2018 on the TV Bluefin using Bathyswath interferometric sonar system. The survey was undertaken as a project of the Australian Tidal Energy (AUSTEn; http://austen.org.au/) co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for the Advancing Renewables Program, led by Prof. Irene Penesis. The purpose of the project was to map the country’s tidal energy resource in unprecedented detail and assess its economic feasibility and ability to contribute to Australia’s energy needs. It will aid the emerging tidal energy industry to develop commercial-scale tidal energy projects. This dataset contains a 4m resolution 32-bit floating point geotiff file of the bathymetry in study area and transits, derived from the processed Bathyswath interferometric data, using Fledermaus. A final report of the project is provided in: Penesis, I et al. 2020. Tidal Energy in Australia: Assessing Resource and Feasibility in Australia’s Future Energy Mix (https://tethys-engineering.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/publications/tidal-energy-in-australia-2020.pdf). This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

This resource includes bathymetry data acquired during the Arafura Marine Park bathymetry survey using Kongsberg EM300 multibeam sonar system. The Arafura Marine Park bathymetry survey (SS052005/GA0282); also known as Arafura Sea survey; was led by Geoscience Australia aboard the National facility research vessel Southern Surveyor from the 30th of April to the 27th of May 2005. The primary objective of the expedition was to collect seismic and oceanographic data, mapping the sea floor and taking geological samples over various habitats. Another objective was to collect baseline information on the biodiversity of a smaller region within the Arafura Sea. This V1 dataset contains two 5m and 8m resolution 32-bit floating point geotiff files of the new Arafura Marine Park bathymetry, derived from the processed EM300 bathymetry data, using CARIS HIPS and SIPS software. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

This resource includes bathymetry data acquired during the Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea bathymetry survey using Kongsberg EM302 and EM710 multibeam sonar systems. The Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea bathymetry survey was led by Dr. Brendan Brooke and Dr. Scott Nichol (Geoscience Australia) with a team of scientists from Geoscience Australia, James Cook University, The University of Sydney, University of Tasmania, University of Wollongong, Queensland Museum and Parks Australia aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) RV Falkor from the 2nd to the 30th of August 2020. The primary objective of the survey to collect and analyze geological and biological data of the outer, deep-water edge of the Great Barrier Reef and platform reefs in the adjacent Coral Sea Marine Park. R/V Falkor’s multibeam systems were used to map the structure of the reefs, canyons, and seamounts, illuminating their formative processes. The datasets acquired will greatly improve understanding of the sedimentary processes that influence biodiversity patterns, including how canyons and platform reefs may provide a pathway for sediment to travel from coastal and shelf water to deep filter feeders. The deep and irregular canyon and platform-reef topography likely leads to direct upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters. This dataset contains a 64m and a 16m, for water depths shallower than 2560m, resolution 32-bit geotiff of the Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea survey area produced from the processed EM302 and EM710 bathymetry data combined. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

This dataset contains the processed bathymetric dataset from the Lord Howe and Lord How Island survey area held by Geoscience Australia. This dataset includes multibeam echosounder data and was gridded at 50m resolution of the Lord Howe survey area and a 10m resolution of Lord Howe Island, based on the optimal resolution for the depth range encountered. The objective of the survey on the Lord Howe Island shelf (NSW) in 2008 (SS062008) was to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through co-located sampling of surface sediments and infauna, rock coring, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video, and measurement of ocean tides and wavegenerated currents. Subbottom profile data was also collected to map sediment thickness and shelf stratigraphy. Data and samples were acquired using the National Facility Research Vessel Southern Surveyor. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia. Not to be used for navigational purposes.

This resource includes bathymetry data acquired during the Refuge Cove bathymetry survey acquired by Deakin University Marine Mapping Lab during the period of 07 – 11 June 2013 onboard the MV Yolla using a Kongsberg Maritime EM2040C multibeam sonar. The Refuge Cove bathymetry survey was led by Dr. Daniel Ierodiaconou (Deakin University). This dataset contains a 1m-resolution 32-bit floating point GeoTIFF file of the bathymetry in the study area, derived from the processed EM2040C bathymetry data, using CARIS HIPS and SIPS software. The elevation datum is shifted to EGM2008 at Geoscience Australia. Detailed information on this survey is provided in: Ierodiaconou, D., Schimel, A. C., Kennedy, D., Monk, J., Gaylard, G., Young, M., Diesing, M. & Rattray, A. (2018). Combining pixel and object based image analysis of ultra-high resolution multibeam bathymetry and backscatter for habitat mapping in shallow marine waters. Marine Geophysical Research, 39(1), 271-288. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

The RS9401 bathymetry survey, GA0124 was acquired by Geoscience Australia onboard the Australian vessel Rig Seismic from the 12th of January to the 16th of February 1994 using an MR1 (12 kHz) towed sidescan sonar system. The objectives of the RS9401 bathymetry survey was to collect new data in order to update our understanding of the Macquarie Ridge Complex (MRC), located at the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates. The survey acquired Sidescan/ bathymetry, gravity and 96- channel seismic reflection imaging across the morphologic ridge and trench system. Gravity and magnetic data were collected during the entire survey. This V0 dataset contains three, 128 m resolution 32-bit geotiff of the Macquarie Ridge survey area produced from the processed MR1 bathymetry data. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

The EM300 Sea Trials survey GA-2354, was acquired by Geoscience Australia after the installation of the new multibeam bathymetry acquisition system EM300 onboard the RV Southern Survey during the 16 to 18th of December 2003. The survey location was offshore Fremantle around the Perth Canyon. The aim of the survey was to test the bathymetry system installed on the vessel. The bathymetry grids consists of 10 and 40m resolution grids projected in Easting and Northing WGS84 UTM 50S.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

Geoscience Australia conducted a hydrographic and seafloor characterisation survey nearshore from Davis Station in the Australian Antarctic Territory. The multibeam bathymetry data was acquired during January-February 2017 from the AAD workboat Howard Burton in the Vestfold Hills region. This survey is a component of the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) and Project 5093 Hydrographic Surveying and Seafloor Characterisation Program (Chief Investigator: Ursula Harris, AAD). The objective of the survey was to map the seabed environment in shallow (<300 m) coastal waters for the compilation of nautical charts and acquire baseline data for environmental management, science, infrastructure and logistical operations. Data collected during the survey includes high-resolution multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, sediment samples, seafloor imagery and sub-bottom profiles. This dataset is a 32bit geotiff at 11 m resolution using EGM2008 vertical datum and EPSG:4326 coordinate system and produced from the processed EM3002D/ EM2040C Dual system bathymetry data. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia. Not to be used for navigational purposes.