Multibeam Echosounder Survey of Bass Strait Shipping Routes

Multibeam echosounder data from a 2018 research voyage in Bass Strait, Australia, focused on primary shipping routes near Wilson's Promontory. The dataset contains 372 raw bathymetry and backscatter files (119 GB) and 241 raw watercolumn backscatter files (269 GB), collected by the RV Investigator. Data acquisition and processing were conducted by the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Use Cases

• Generate high-resolution bathymetry grids from *.all files to map seafloor depth variations for nautical charting.
• Analyze backscatter intensity from processed GeoTIFFs to classify seabed sediment types and habitats.
• Process watercolumn backscatter data from *.wcd files to detect and quantify suspended particulate matter.
• Apply sound velocity profiles and tide corrections to raw *.all data for precise geospatial positioning of seafloor features.

Strengths

• 372 raw bathymetry files totaling 119 GB provide detailed seafloor coverage
• 241 raw watercolumn files totaling 269 GB enable analysis of suspended materials
• Data is corrected for motion, position, tides, and outliers in processed streams

Limitations

• Data is from a single 12-day voyage in May-June 2018, limiting temporal analysis
• Spatial coverage is restricted to specific transit paths and the Wilson's Promontory area in Bass Strait
• Raw data volume of 388 GB requires significant storage and specialized processing software

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Collected using a Kongsberg EM710 MKII multibeam echosounder aboard RV Investigator voyage IN2018_C01.

Time Range

28 May 2018 to 8 June 2018

Freshness

null

Geography

Bass Strait, near Wilson's Promontory, and transit routes to/from Hobart, Australia.