Version 2 of the Australian Multibeam Guidelines provides standardized procedures for survey planning, data acquisition, and submission of swath acoustic data. Developed by the AusSeabed consortium, these guidelines aim to improve interoperability and meet international initiatives like Seabed2030 for mapping activities in Australian waters.
Use Cases
- Apply the guidelines for survey planning to standardize acquisition of bathymetry, backscatter, and water column backscatter data.
- Use the data submission recommendations to improve interoperability and discoverability of multibeam sonar system data.
- Reference the procedures to complement purpose-based requirements for specific surveys like hydrographic or seabed infrastructure planning.
Strengths
- Guidelines integrate information from the Seafloor Mapping Field Manual for Multibeam Sonar, consolidating two reference documents.
- Provides recommendations for all three types of swath acoustic data relevant across all water depths.
- Designed to comply with international initiatives such as Seabed2030 for global impact.
Limitations
- Document does not include instrument preparation activities, personnel requirements, or survey costing information.
- Content is procedural guidelines, not a quantitative dataset with rows or columns for direct analysis.
Provenance
- Source
- AusSeabed consortium and Geoscience Australia Data.
- Collection Method
- Established guidelines compiling recommended procedures and integrating prior published manuals.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- Last updated March 2026.
- Geography
- Australian waters.