The GMRT-AusSeabed project aims to address the cost associated with processing, merging and reformatting of bathymetric data in marine modelling and management by enabling users to more easily create bathymetric maps. The project leverages two major existing initiatives, the AusSeabed Data Hub operated by AusSeabed and the Global Multi-Resolution Topography Synthesis (GMRT) operated by Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) and funded by the US National Science Foundation. GMRT-AusSeabed is seeking to deliver two core services that are relevant to this particular document: 1. Definition of an attributed point cloud for bathymetric data that is common across a wide range of bathymetric sensor platforms (multibeam echosounder, LiDAR, satellite, etc) 2. Develop additional user controls, primarily relating to data selection, that leverage the attributed point cloud for the creation of bathymetric maps. Within the bounds of the GMRT-AusSeabed project, this document provides: 1. A summary of the key points discussed within the second workshop, “Backend Storage”, 2. An overview of the toolkits being explored by the project for delivery of various capabilities 3. Outcomes and actions that are being moved forward with in the project. Workshop participants included representatives from Geoscience Australia, Australian Antarctic Division, University of Western Australia, and Guardian Geomatics. See <a href="https://www.ausseabed.gov.au/gmrt">https://www.ausseabed.gov.au/gmrt</a> for more information.

This resource includes bathymetry data acquired during the Shellharbour Tharawal marine survey collected by the NSW government (Department of Planning and Environment – DPE) during the period 25 May – 30 November 2017 onboard the RV Bombora using DPE’s R2Sonic 2022 multibeam sonar. The Shellharbour bathymetry survey was led by Dr. Bradley Morris (DPE Coasts and Marine) as part of SeabedNSW program funded by NSW Coastal Reforms package. The purpose of the project was to 1) provide a baseline dataset and 2) map the spatial distribution of seabed types. The data will provide a better understanding of nearshore sediment distribution/transport mechanisms for improved assessment of threats/risks associated with erosion events (i.e. East Coast Lows) and changing sea levels. This dataset contains a 32-bit floating point geotiff file of backscatter (5m gridded) for the study area, derived from the processed R2Sonic 2022 multibeam data, using Hypack, R2Sonic GUI, POSView, POSPac, Qimera and FMGT software. A detailed report on the survey is provided in: i) AusSeabed Survey Report and ii) NSW DPE Scientific Rigor Statement NSWENV_20171130_Shellharbour_MB_ScientificRigour.pdf. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the Senior Team Leader and the department’s Hydrosurveyor, Coasts and Marine Science, NSW Dept. Planning and Environment.

The GMRT-AusSeabed project aims to address the cost associated with processing, merging and reformatting of bathymetric data in marine modelling and management. This will be achieved by adopting and expanding the Global Multi-Resolution Topography Synthesis (GMRT) tool and becoming a local platform node focused on Australia’s region of marine responsibility. The GMRT is operated by Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory and funded by the US National Science Foundation. The implementation of GMRT for Australia is supported by funding from the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC). One of the main deliverables for the project is a user needs analysis, which will inform the design of the platform. This report presents a summary of the outcomes of the engagement with the ocean and coastal modelling community to ensure the solutions are fit-for-purpose. The initial project plan included a proposal for in-person workshop with the modelling community to establish user requirements, however COVID-19 restrictions were in place during the project and this was not possible. Instead, requirements were gathered from the community via an online survey. An overview of the survey questions and responses is presented in Section 2, while Section 3 provides some further analysis of the results and recommendations for the design of the new platform.

<b>This record was superseded on 11/11/2022 with approval from Director, National Seabed Mapping as it has been superseded by eCat 147191</b> Seabed mapping data collected using a Kongsberg 2040C multibeam sonar system aboard research vessel MVYolla including bathymetry (2 metre resolution), backscatter (1metre resolution), watercolumn and preliminary hard bottom classification. Seabed mapping in Apollo Marine Park with 114 square kilometres of continuous seabed mapping conducted by Deakin University in partnership with iXblue for Parks Australia.

This flythrough highlights canyon environments within the Gascoyne Marine Park offshore northwestern Australia. The Cape Range Canyon is a relatively narrow, linear canyon that initiates on the continental slope, but is connected to the shelf via a narrow channel. The walls of the canyon are steep and reveal a history of slumping and retrogressive failure, that have broadened the canyon over time. The floor contains a series of deep plunge pools, indicative of the action of sediment-laden turbidity currents in further eroding this canyon. Epibenthos within the canyons was relatively sparse and likely regulated by disturbance associated with sedimentation in the canyons. Rock overhangs often supported the highest densities of benthic suspension feeders, including glass sponges, octocorals, and ascidians. Bathymetry data and seafloor imagery for this flythrough was collected by the Schmidt Ocean Institute during survey FK200308. Funding was provided by Schmidt Ocean Institute, Geoscience Australia, the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine Biodiversity Hub, the Director of National Parks, and the Foundation for the WA Museum through a Woodside Marine Biodiversity Grant.

This flythrough highlights shallow and mesophotic seabed environments of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, located within the Lord Howe Marine Park. These reefs are unique because they are the southern-most platform reefs in the world and host a diverse range of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate marine species. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry data and seafloor imagery used in this flythrough was acquired by the Marine Biodiversity Hub, during the period 31 January to 6 February 2020 on board the Australian Maritime College vessel, TV Bluefin. Participating agencies included Geoscience Australia, the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania), the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (University of Sydney) through their involvement with the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), NSW Department of Primary Industries and Parks Australia. The specific aim of the survey was to fill knowledge gaps on the distribution, extent and structure of seabed habitats and associated sessile and mobile fauna in the lagoon and mesophotic shelves of Elizabeth (Recreational Use Zone) and Middleton (National Park Zone) Reefs, using a suite of national standard survey tools and best practice sampling procedures. Data acquisition for the project included seabed mapping using multibeam sonar (Kongsberg EM 2040C HD, 300 kHz), seabed imagery acquisition by Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV Sirius and AUV Nimbus), sediment samples, and imagery of demersal fish communities by stereo-baited remote underwater videos (stereo-BRUVs). This work was undertaken by the Marine Biodiversity Hub, a collaborative partnership supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP), and Parks Australia. AUV data was sourced from Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) – IMOS is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). It is operated by a consortium of institutions as an unincorporated joint venture, with the University of Tasmania as Lead Agent. This multimedia product is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

The Peterborough to Port Fairy bathymetry survey was acquired by Deakin University Marine Mapping lab onboard the M/V Yolla during the period 28 May 2018 - 19 June 2018 using a Kongsberg EM2040C multibeam sonar system. The survey was completed as part of the Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program, which requires bathymetry data to understand offshore sediment dynamics within Victorian coastal waters. This dataset contains a 2m-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. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

This resource contains multibeam bathymetry data for the continental shelf area of Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve, northeast Tasmania. Multibeam data were collected by Geoscience Australia and University of Tasmania during the period of 24 June - 07 July 2012 onboard the RV Challenger using a Kongsberg EM3002 multibeam sonar. The Flinders Marine Reserve survey was led by Dr. Scott Nichol (Geoscience Australia). The survey was conducted to broadly classify the seabed into hard (bedrock reef), soft (sedimentary) and mixed substrate types at select locations across the shelf. The dataset contains a 2m-resolution, 32-bit floating point GeoTIFF file of the bathymetry in the study area derived from the processed EM3002 bathymetry data, using Caris HIPS and SIPS software. Attribution statement: Data was sourced from the NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub. The Marine Biodiversity Hub is supported through funding from the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program (NERP), administered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPAC). This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

This is a compilation of bathymetry surveys GA-4415 and GA-0348. GA-4415 survey was conducted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) onboard the RAN vessel Wyatt Earp in 2013/2014, while GA-0348 survey was a collaboration between Geoscience Australia (GA) , the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Antarctic Division acquired by the AAD workboat Howard Burton during December 2014 to February 2015. The survey goal was to acquire high resolution bathymetry data to improve our understanding of the seafloor using multibeam sonar. The bathymetry data collection will be supplemented by physical sampling of the seafloor sediments and video recordings of the biological communities living in the seafloor. The survey covers areas that are frequently used by the RSV Aurora Australis. Improving our understanding of the seabed environment in these shallow coastal waters will ultimately lead to a better environmental management of the Australian Antarctic Territory. The data will also help the RAN to develop more accurate navigation charts therefore reducing the risk to maritime operation in the region. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

This dataset contains bathymetry products from the Lord Howe Rise 2D Seismic Survey undertaken by Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) during the period from8 of November 2017 to1stJanuary 2018 onboard the RV Kairei (Survey KR1715C). The Lord Howe Rise (LHR) is a submerged plateau that extends from southwest New Caledonia to the west of New Zealand. Much of the LHR lies within the Australian marine jurisdiction at water depths of 1000-3000m. The Commonwealth conducted a scientific seismic survey over the Lord Howe Rise in 2017 in collaboration with JAMSTEC. This collaboration contributes to a larger research proposal submitted to the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) that would provide the first deep stratigraphic record for the Cretaceous Eastern Gondwana Margin. The IODP proposal, if funded, is to drill a deep stratigraphic well to a depth of 2-3 km below the seabed, possibly in 2020. In order to select the drill sites, GA and JAMSTEC are conducting site assessments that involve a seismic survey in 2016 and a geotechnical survey in 2017. Multibeam bathymetry data were acquired during the survey covering an area of 69,190 km2. Five bathymetry grids of 70 to 90m resolution were produced using the shipborne 12 KHz sonar system.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.