Authors / CoAuthors
Abstract
The Geophysical Processing and Data Access (GPDA) project at Geoscience Australia has undertaken a programme of collating, editing and cataloguing all bathymetry data in the Australian Region. For convenience this region has been loosely defined as extending from 5CS to 80CS and 45CE to 180CE. The contents of the Bathymetric Database consists of four datatypes: - Multibeam Echosounder Data (including LADS) - Singlebeam Echosounder Data - Depths from the digitisation of pre-existing maps - Depths: derived from remote sensing techniques (and produced grids) The dataset described by this metadata record is the Singlebeam Echosounder Dataset. It consists of the soundings from a number of marine surveys, that vary in size from a few hours data collection to surveys of several months duration. Data coverage of the defined region is very variable with some areas having quite dense data coverage whilst others are data poor. The datasets were collected by a variety of vessels (Australian and foreign) using a range of sensor systems. Although the formats often differed, nearly all datasets have been received as well defined ASCII files. Quite often the bathymetry data are associated with additional data such as shotpoint number, gravity, magnetics and sometimes an amplitude value of the returned echo. Further details can be found in the lineage section. In general the data are of good quality, although some poor segments of data are known to exist. Intersections with sources of reliable bathymetric data are needed to determine these poor data areas and to make data corrections and edits. More subtle problems such as wide angled beams, unknown (or poor) speed of sound corrections, poor navigation tidal and vessel draft corrections (in shallow water) are also known to exist. It is hoped that many of these problems can be minimised by tying these data to better quality datasets using modern bathymetric analysis applications. The original data files are maintained in UNIX directories. Those with sufficient metadata have also been loaded into the OZMAR database at Geoscience Australia
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
67170
Contact for the resource
Custodian
Point of contact
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Keywords
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- Marine MapBathymetry Map
- ( Theme )
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- marine
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Marine Geoscience
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2008-07-14T00:00:00
Creation Date
Security Constraints
Legal Constraints
Status
Purpose
Maintenance Information
continual
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
Lineage
The oldest singlebeam echosounder data in the Australian region comes from the Bonarparte Gulf survey conducted in 1963 (whilst older bathymetric data do exist, they have been obtained (at GA) from the digitising of old maps). Obviously the navigation of such a survey will not be to the accuracy obtainable from modern surveys. Essentially seven sources of singlebeam bathymetric data can be defined for the GA collection. - GA Acquired Data: These include data from the Continental Margins Surveys (1970 - 1972), Rig Seismic surveys (1984 - 1998), contract surveys (post 1998) and other smaller surveys involving GA staff. - CSIRO Data from the R/V Franklin, R/V Soella and the R/V Southern Surveyor (pre 2004). - Data from the NGDC. These data are comprised of a large number of datasets submitted to the NGDC by research institution around the world. - AGAD Data. The Antarctic Division has collected a substantial amount of bathymetric data in the Southern Ocean during its voyages to its Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic research stations. - Fishing Companies. Some excellent quality bathymetric data have been collected by fishing companies. In general these data are commercial-in-confidence. - Petroleum Exploration Data. A large amount of bathymetric data from the continental shelf has been collected and submitted to GA under the PSLA. Whilst some of these data have been incorporated into the GA bathymetric data collection, a considerable amount has not been due to an inability to collate sufficient metadata and QC the data themselves. In particular large 3-D seismic surveys should contain a wealth of bathymetric information. - Other Sources. These are minor.
Parent Information
Extents
[-80.0, -5.0, 45.0, 180.0]
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
Service Information
Associations
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Source Information
Source data not available.