AusBathyTopo: Torres Strait Bathymetry and Topography at 30m Resolution

A 30-meter resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the Torres Strait region compiled from all available depth and elevation data. The dataset integrates sources including deep-water multibeam surveys, shallow-water multibeam surveys, airborne LiDAR bathymetry, satellite-derived bathymetry, and the National Intertidal Digital Elevation Model (NIDEM). It is intended to underpin marine habitat mapping and hydrodynamic modeling for the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.

Use Cases

• Modeling water mixing and currents for the Great Barrier Reef based on the high-resolution bathymetry.
• Mapping marine habitats and seafloor features based on the integrated depth and elevation data.
• Supporting safe navigation planning by providing a detailed depth model of the extensive reef and shoal system.
• Analyzing continental slope canyons and delta deposits based on multibeam survey data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Integrates multiple high-quality data sources, including multibeam surveys, LiDAR, and satellite data.
• Provides a consistent 30-meter resolution grid covering the complex Torres Strait region.
• Data were extensively edited and standardized to WGS84 horizontal and MSL vertical datums.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset is explicitly not to be used for navigational purposes, limiting its application scope.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, utilizing data from the CSIRO Marine National Facility and other surveys.

Collection Method

Compilation and integration of edited point cloud data from multiple bathymetric surveys into a gridded DEM.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-16 19:43:35.430257; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Torres Strait region, bounded by Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef.