IN2017_V01: Seabed Imagery from the Sabrina Coast, East Antarctica

January to March 2017 imagery from six camera tow transects on the RV Investigator, targeting the Sabrina Coast seafloor in East Antarctica. The survey collected oblique downward-facing still images and high-definition video from depths between 480 and 1680 meters, with associated sensor data for CTD, altitude, and pressure. The dataset is published with the permission of Geoscience Australia and the Marine National Facility.

Use Cases

• Classifying benthic fauna and substrate types based on high-definition seafloor imagery.
• Analyzing seafloor topography and habitat structure using altimeter and depth sensor data.
• Studying oceanographic conditions (temperature, salinity) in relation to benthic communities using co-located CTD measurements.
• Developing computer vision models for automated annotation of marine imagery using the provided scale guides.

Strengths

• Imagery includes a 10cm scale guide on images via MicroSeaLasers for accurate measurement.
• Sensor suite attached to the towed body includes CTD, altimeter, and pressure sensors for environmental context.
• Six camera tow transects provide spatial coverage of the upper slope and outer continental shelf.

Limitations

• A timing error created an offset between image frames and sensor (CTD, altimeter, pressure) data.
• USBL positioning failed for one tow (A008CAM02), requiring location estimation from ship's position and layback calculations.
• Image capture failed on one tow (A004CAM01), with only two images saved.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data, Marine National Facility.

Collection Method

Collected via Deep Tow Camera system with still and video cameras during survey IN2017-V01 on the RV Investigator.

Time Range

January to March 2017.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 02:34:33.601499; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Sabrina Coast seafloor, East Antarctica.