Elizabeth and Middleton Reef Bathymetry Survey at 5m Resolution

A 2020 survey collected bathymetry data for Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs within the Lord Howe Marine Park. The dataset comprises two bathymetry grids derived from multibeam sonar data, gridded at 5 m spatial resolution and covering a combined area of 312 km². The survey was conducted by Geoscience Australia and partners to collect baseline information for benthic habitats.

Use Cases

• Map seafloor topography based on multibeam sonar data gridded at 5m resolution.
• Establish baseline habitat maps for environmental monitoring based on the survey's purpose for the National Park and Recreational Use Zones.
• Support marine park management plans based on the data's stated role in the 10-year management plan (2018-2028).
• Integrate seabed data with other marine datasets based on the concurrent collection of AUV imagery, sediment samples, and BRUV footage.

Strengths

• High-resolution bathymetry grids at 5-meter spatial resolution.
• Covers a combined survey area of 312 square kilometers.
• Data collection integrated multiple methods: multibeam sonar, AUV imagery, sediment grabs, and BRUVs.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The dataset is explicitly not to be used for navigational purposes.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, funded by the National Environmental Science Program Marine Biodiversity Hub.

Collection Method

Seabed mapping via multibeam sonar (Kongsberg EM 2040C HD, 300 kHz), with supplementary data from AUV, sediment grabs, and BRUVs.

Time Range

Survey conducted from 31 January to 6 February 2020.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 04:16:16.501560; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs within the Lord Howe Marine Park, Australia.