Northern Australia Bathymetry Model at 30-Meter Resolution

A 30-meter resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of bathymetry for Northern Australia, compiled in 2018. The dataset was created by Geoscience Australia and the Australian Hydrographic Office, integrating multibeam surveys, LiDAR, satellite data, and an intertidal model. It covers a continental shelf over 400 km wide and approximately 1500 km long, including coral reefs, sand cays, and slope canyons.

Use Cases

• Modeling seafloor terrain for safe shipping navigation based on the compiled bathymetry data.
• Analyzing coastal and marine habitats based on the mapping of coral reefs, sand cays, and intertidal zones.
• Studying geological features like drowned river valleys and slope canyons based on the high-resolution depth model.
• Supporting environmental management and protection efforts for Northern Australia based on the comprehensive seafloor mapping.

Strengths

• High 30-meter spatial resolution provides detailed seafloor topography.
• Integrates multiple data sources including multibeam surveys, airborne LiDAR, satellite-derived bathymetry, and a dedicated intertidal model.
• Covers a vast region spanning a continental shelf over 400 km wide and approximately 1500 km long.
• Data were extensively edited and standardized to consistent WGS84 and MSL datums.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and total file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Some coverage gaps in source data were supplemented, which may affect local consistency.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, Geoscience Australia, Australian Hydrographic Office

Collection Method

Compilation and editing of point cloud data from multibeam surveys, airborne LiDAR bathymetry, satellite-derived bathymetry, and the Geoscience Australia Intertidal Elevation Model.

Time Range

2018

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06 04 06:11:45.198693; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northern Australia, including the continental shelf off Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the Sahul Banks, and adjacent Indian Ocean and Timor Sea areas.