Bathymetry Survey of North Wollongong Coastline

NSW Department of Planning and Environment acquired bathymetry data from Bellambi Point to Stanwell Park. The survey was conducted from August 2017 to March 2022 using an R2Sonic 2022 multibeam sonar aboard the RV Bombora. This dataset provides 5-meter resolution geotiff files of seabed depth and backscatter intensity.

Use Cases

• Modeling coastal erosion by analyzing bathymetry depth changes over the 5-year survey period.
• Classifying seabed types using backscatter intensity data to map sediment distribution.
• Creating baseline maps for marine spatial planning from the 5m resolution geotiff files.

Strengths

• Data collection spanned nearly 5 years, from August 2017 to March 2022.
• High-resolution 5m grid for both bathymetry and backscatter data.
• Detailed survey methodology documented in a standard operating procedures document.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and total area covered are not provided.
• Data is not intended for navigational purposes, limiting its application.
• Survey report and rigor statement are not included in the public dataset and must be requested.

Provenance

Source

NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Acquired via multibeam sonar onboard the RV Bombora, processed through Hypack, Qimera, and FMGT software.

Time Range

13 August 2017 to 4 March 2022.

Freshness

Data acquisition ended in March 2022, with metadata last updated in April 2026.

Geography

North Wollongong coastline from Bellambi Point to Stanwell Park, New South Wales, Australia.