AUV Sidescan Sonar Data: Caswell Sub-basin Marine Survey

Between 9 October and 9 November 2014, Geoscience Australia conducted a marine survey in the north-eastern Browse Basin (Caswell Sub-basin). The survey aimed to acquire seabed and shallow geological information to assess the CO2 storage potential of the basin, specifically looking for indicators of fluid seepage. This dataset contains high and low frequency sidescan sonar data collected by an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), covering 71 line km.

Use Cases

• Assessing seal integrity for CO2 storage sites based on seabed seepage indicators.
• Mapping seabed morphology and texture using high-resolution sidescan sonar imagery.
• Correlating sonar backscatter data with seabed samples (grabs and cores) for geological interpretation.
• Supporting marine spatial planning with detailed bathymetric and backscatter data over specific survey areas.

Strengths

• Data collection involved multiple platforms, including shipboard multibeam sonar over 455 km2 and an AUV for higher-resolution coverage.
• Survey design targeted specific geological questions, with 48 seabed sampling stations providing ground-truth data.
• Sidescan sonar parameters are explicitly documented, including frequencies (98-111 kHz and 390-430 kHz), pulse lengths, and ranges.

Limitations

• Column names and data schema are unknown, limiting immediate understanding of the data structure.
• Key metadata such as license, author, and precise data size are not provided in the sources.
• The dataset appears to be a specific subset (AUV sidescan sonar) of a larger survey, requiring integration with other datasets for a complete picture.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, with collaboration from NIWA and Fugro Survey Pty Ltd.

Collection Method

Collected during the TAN1411 survey aboard RV Tangaroa using an Edgetech FS sidescan sonar system mounted on an AUV.

Time Range

9 October to 9 November 2014

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-16 according to the most recent platform entry.

Geography

North-eastern Browse Basin (Caswell Sub-basin), within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).