Torres Strait Bathymetry and Topography Model at 30-Meter Resolution

AusBathyTopo (Torres Strait) is a 30-meter resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) integrating depth and elevation data for the region. It was compiled by the Australian Ocean Data Network from multibeam surveys, LiDAR, and satellite data, with the dataset last updated in 2026. The model covers the Torres Strait, a critical area at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

Use Cases

• Modeling water mixing and currents for the whole-of-Great Barrier Reef scale using the depth and elevation grid in hydrodynamic simulations.
• Mapping marine habitats like reefs and shoals by analyzing the 30m-resolution bathymetric and topographic features.
• Supporting safe navigation planning by identifying shallow areas and complex submarine canyon topography from the depth model.
• Studying sediment transport and delta deposits from the Fly River by analyzing the bathymetric contours and slope data.

Strengths

• High 30-meter spatial resolution for detailed seafloor and coastal elevation modeling.
• Integrates multiple data sources including multibeam surveys from 13 voyages, airborne LiDAR, and satellite-derived bathymetry.
• Covers the ecologically and commercially significant Torres Strait region, bounded by Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and total temporal coverage of source data are unknown.
• Coverage gaps in some areas were supplemented with satellite-derived bathymetry, which may have lower accuracy than direct surveys.
• Vertical datum is only approximate Mean Sea Level (MSL) where possible, which may introduce inconsistencies for precise measurement.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, utilizing data from the CSIRO Marine National Facility and the Australian Hydrographic Office.

Collection Method

Compilation and extensive editing of point clouds from multibeam surveys, airborne LiDAR bathymetry, satellite data, and the National Intertidal Digital Elevation Model (NIDEM).

Time Range

Source data includes surveys from the past ten years, but exact start year is unspecified.

Freshness

Dataset record was last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Torres Strait, located at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef, straddling the Arafura and Coral Seas.