Beagle Marine Park Seafloor Backscatter Grids at 1-Meter Resolution

Geoscience Australia and the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies 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. It was created to establish baseline information on benthic habitats for the park's 10-year management plan.

Use Cases

• Classify benthic habitat types by analyzing spatial patterns in the 1-meter resolution backscatter grids.
• Model sediment distribution and seafloor hardness using backscatter intensity values across the 364 km2 survey area.
• Establish a baseline for change detection in marine park management by comparing future surveys to the 2018 backscatter grids.
• Integrate backscatter data with other survey phases (AUV imagery, BRUVs) for multi-faceted analysis of demersal fish communities and their habitats.

Strengths

• High-resolution 1-meter gridded data for detailed seafloor analysis.
• Covers a substantial 364 square kilometer area within the marine park.
• Data collection is documented in a detailed 2019 post-survey report.

Limitations

• Dataset size and specific row/column counts are unknown.
• Limited to a single temporal snapshot from June 2018.
• Geographic scope is restricted to Beagle Marine Park in Bass Strait.

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

Data is from 2018; the record was last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Beagle Marine Park, Bass Strait, within the South-east Marine Park Network, Australia.