Australia's Seabed Map 2023: Bathymetry Grid Covering 92°E to 172°E

Australia's seabed map provides a three-dimensional picture of the seafloor across a vast area from 92°E to 172°E and 8°S to 60°S, including areas adjacent to the continent and surrounding islands. It is based on the revised AusBathyTopo 250m 2023 grid, compiled from 1582 individual surveys using multibeam echosounders, LiDAR, and other sources. The map represents decades of data collection and collaboration from Australia's seabed mapping community and is a significant improvement since its last revision in 2009.

Use Cases

• Model offshore infrastructure placement based on seabed topography.
• Support area-based environmental management based on regional-scale bathymetric context.
• Conduct scientific research on seafloor morphology based on the 3D picture of the seafloor.
• Educate the public about marine geography based on the continental-scale compilation.
• Improve coastline definition for coastal studies based on integrated satellite-derived bathymetry.

Strengths

• Compiled from 1582 individual surveys using diverse methods like multibeam echosounders and LiDAR.
• Covers a vast geographic extent from 92°E to 172°E and 8°S to 60°S.
• Integrates new innovations like satellite data from Digital Earth Australia for seamless land-sea transition.
• Represents decades of data collection and collaboration, with a significant improvement since 2009.

Limitations

• The 250m resolution is only supported where direct bathymetric observations are sufficiently dense.
• The map is not suitable for use as an aid to navigation or to replace Australian Hydrographic Office products.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Compilation from 1582 surveys, higher-resolution regional compilations, Electronic Navigation Charts, and satellite-derived bathymetry.

Time Range

Data collection spans decades, with a major revision in 2023.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-16 13:44:56.898581; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Area from 92°E to 172°E and 8°S to, including Australian continent, Tasmania, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.