Mapping the deep ocean: Geoscience Australia and the search for MH370

A short film describing the processes of bathymetric mapping and side scan sonar, used to gather data within the search area for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.


Synopsis:

The film begins with a brief description of Geoscience Australia's role working with the lead agencies in the search process. It explains that existing satellite data is not detailed enough to assist in the search for MH370 and that more detailed bathymetric surveying is required before an underwater search can commence. The film describes how a bathymetric survey is carried out using sonar systems mounted on a ship's hull. It then shows imagery derived from the bathymetric mapping of the search area. The film then shows how a detailed underwater search is carried out, using the bathymetry as a guide. Animation shows how a towed, submersible vehicle gathers more detailed data while travelling slowly at a height of approximately 100 metres above the sea floor. The animation shows how side scan sonar reveals more detailed information about sea floor features. The film ends with a brief summary of the role of the Australian Government agencies involved in the search. Brief credits follow with a copyright statement and publication information.


About the data visualisation:

This video contains data visualisation and animation sequences. Bathymetry visualisations are derived from data gathered within the MH370 search area. Side scan sonar visualisations are derived from demonstration data only, not gathered within the MH370 search area. Animation sequences showing ship-mounted bathymetry and towed side-scan sonar are representations only and not to scale.


Film production credits:


Geoscience Australia

Script, Direction: Bobby Cerini, Melinda Holland

Edit, Cinematography, Sound: Michael O'Rourke

Production Management: Bobby Cerini, Neil Caldwell

3D Data Visualisation, Animation: Neil Caldwell, Michael de Hoog

Graphics: Kath Hagan

Scientific Advice: Stuart Minchin, Anna Potter, Maggie Tran, Tanya Whiteway, Kim Picard


Additional credits:


Voiceover: Media Sound Studios


Music: 'Namaste' by Jason Shaw, 2013


Animation of Globe: 'Earth in Cycles' by Adriano, 2012


3D Data Visualisation and Animation (ship, bathymetry, side scan, ocean features): Eye Candy Animation

Producer: Damian Stocks

Creative Director: Rachael Johnson

Studio Manager: Jess Burrows

Lead Artist: Artur Piwko

3D Artist: Kynan Stevenson

Simple

Identification info

Date (Publication)
2015-01-01T00:00:00
Citation identifier
Geoscience Australia Persistent Identifier/https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/82624

Cited responsible party
Role Organisation / Individual Name Details
Publisher

Geoscience Australia

 Canberra
Author

Cerini, B.

 1
Author

O'Rourke, M.

 2
Author

Caldwell, N.

 3
Author

Holland, M.

 4
Author

Hagan, K.

 5
Point of contact
Role Organisation / Individual Name Details
Custodian

Corp
Owner

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)
Custodian

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

 Voice
Topic category
  • Oceans
Maintenance and update frequency
Unknown
Keywords

  • Multimedia

  • Movie

Theme

  • marine

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

  • Earth Sciences

Keywords

  • Published_External

Resource constraints

Title

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Alternate title

CC-BY

Edition

4.0

Website

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/

Access constraints
License
Use constraints
License

Resource constraints

Title

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem

Edition date
2018-11-01T00:00:00
Website

https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Classification
Unclassified
Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8

Distribution Information

Distributor contact
Role Organisation / Individual Name Details
Distributor

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

 Voice
OnLine resource

MH370 Phase 1 Data release Landing Page

MH370 Phase 1 Data release Landing Page

OnLine resource

MH370 Story Map

MH370 Story Map

OnLine resource

Movie link in YouTube

Link to YouTube clip

OnLine resource

File download

Download the movie - low resolution (mp4)

Distribution format

  • mp4

OnLine resource

File download

Download the movie - high resolution (mp4)

Distribution format

  • mp4

Resource lineage

Statement

Unknown

Hierarchy level
Non geographic dataset
Other

Multimedia

Description

Source data not available.

Metadata constraints

Title

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem

Edition date
2018-11-01T00:00:00
Website

https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Classification
Unclassified

Metadata

Metadata identifier
urn:uuid/0ada290d-8883-0e09-e054-00144fdd4fa6

Title

GeoNetwork UUID

Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8
Contact
Role Organisation / Individual Name Details
Point of contact

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

 Voice

Type of resource

Resource scope
Non geographic dataset
Name

nonGeographicDataset

Alternative metadata reference

Title

Geoscience Australia - short identifier for metadata record with

uuid

Citation identifier
eCatId/82624

Metadata linkage

https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/0ada290d-8883-0e09-e054-00144fdd4fa6

Date info (Revision)
2018-04-22T08:47:37
Date info (Creation)
2014-12-23T00:00:00

Metadata standard

Title

AU/NZS ISO 19115-1:2014

Metadata standard

Title

ISO 19115-1:2014

Metadata standard

Title

ISO 19115-3

Title

Geoscience Australia Community Metadata Profile of ISO 19115-1:2014

Edition

Version 2.0, September 2018

Citation identifier
https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/122551

 
 

Keywords

marine

Provided by

Access to the portal

Associated resources

Not available