Darwin Harbour Predicted Seabed Sand Content Grid

Darwin and Bynoe Harbour regions contain a 10-meter resolution raster grid predicting seabed sand content. The predictions are based on 395 physical samples and seven environmental variables derived from multibeam sonar data, with a reported predictive accuracy improvement of 84.8% over common methods.

Use Cases

• Model sediment transport using the predicted seabed %sand grid and underlying bathymetry variables.
• Analyze habitat suitability by correlating the sand content predictions with known biological survey data.
• Validate and improve spatial interpolation methods by comparing these predictions, which have a VEcv of 39% for sand, against other datasets.
• Support marine resource management decisions with the thematic habitat maps enabled by this baseline sand content data.

Strengths

• Predictive accuracy for sand content was improved by 84.8% over the commonly used IDW method.
• Model is based on 395 physical seabed samples collected between 2011 and 2017.
• Data provides spatially continuous predictions at a high 10-meter resolution.
• Compilation integrates surveys from multiple authoritative agencies: Geoscience Australia, AIMS, and the Northern Territory Government.

Limitations

• Absences in predictions occur due to non-availability of predictive variables in some areas.
• The dataset is a static model snapshot based on surveys from 2011-2017 and may not reflect recent changes.
• As a predicted grid, it contains modeled estimates rather than direct point measurements at all locations.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data, Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Northern Territory Government Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NTG-DENR).

Collection Method

Predictions derived from a compilation of multiple seabed surveys, using 395 samples and seven environmental variables from multibeam sonar bathymetry and backscatter.

Time Range

Survey data collected between 2011 and我们发现2017.

Freshness

Dataset was last updated in March 2026, but underlying survey data is from 2011-2017.

Geography

Greater Darwin Harbour and Bynoe Harbour region, northern Australian marine margin.