Beagle Marine Park Seafloor Backscatter Grids at 1-Meter Resolution

Geoscience Australia and the University of Tasmania collected multibeam sonar backscatter data for Beagle Marine Park in June 2018. The dataset comprises 11 backscatter grids at 1-meter spatial resolution, covering a combined area of 364 square kilometers. This survey was funded by the National Environmental Science Program Marine Biodiversity Hub to establish baseline information for the park's 10-year management plan.

Use Cases

• Map seafloor composition and texture based on backscatter intensity data.
• Establish baseline habitat models for environmental monitoring programs based on the survey's stated purpose.
• Integrate with other survey phases (AUV imagery, sediment samples, BRUVs) for multi-modal benthic analysis.

Strengths

• Data is gridded at a high 1-meter spatial resolution.
• Covers a defined area of 364 square kilometers.
• Collected through a collaborative project by two authoritative institutions (Geoscience Australia and University of Tasmania).
• Associated with a detailed, publicly cited post-survey report.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the single survey period and location.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia and the Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania).

Collection Method

Collected via multibeam sonar from the RV Bluefin during a dedicated survey voyage.

Time Range

17–26 June 2018.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 02:56:06.175796; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Beagle Marine Park, Bass Strait, Australia.