Predicted Seabed Sand Content for Darwin and Bynoe Harbour, 10m Resolution

A predicted seabed sand content grid for the greater Darwin Harbour region in northern Australia. The dataset provides spatially continuous predictions of seabed %sand (63-2000 µm) content at a 10-meter resolution, derived from 395 samples and seven environmental variables from multibeam sonar data collected between 2011 and 2017. The project was funded by an INPEX-led Ichthys LNG Project offset to the Northern Territory Government, with co-investment from Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Use Cases

• Modeling marine habitat suitability based on predicted seabed sand content.
• Informing marine resource management decisions using baseline seabed composition data.
• Validating sediment transport models with high-resolution (10m) raster predictions.
• Assessing changes in seabed composition by comparing with previous survey predictions.

Strengths

• Predictive accuracy is high, with a VEcv of 39% for sand.
• Predictive accuracy was increased by 84.8% for sand compared to a commonly used method (IDW).
• Data is derived from a compilation of multiple surveys conducted between 2011 and 2017.
• Spatial predictions are provided at a 10-meter resolution.

Limitations

• Absences in predictions occur due to non-availability of associated predictive variables.
• Row count and total file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, aggregating data from Geoscience Australia, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Northern Territory Government's Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Collection Method

Predictions are based on 395 samples and seven environmental variables derived from high-resolution multibeam sonar bathymetry and backscatter data.

Time Range

Surveys were undertaken between 2011 and 2017.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 21:43:22.180560; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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