Solitary Islands Marine Park Bathymetry and Backscatter Survey (2022-2023)

A bathymetry and backscatter survey was acquired by the NSW government onboard the RV Bombora from 31 Aug 2022 to 31 Jul 2023. The dataset contains 32-bit floating point geotiff files at 5-meter resolution, processed using Hypack, R2Sonic GUI, POSView, POSPac, Qimera, and FMGT software. It was created to provide a baseline dataset and map the spatial distribution of seabed types within the Solitary Islands Gumbaynggirr Yaegl Marine Park.

Use Cases

• Create high-resolution seabed terrain models based on the 5m bathymetry data.
• Classify seabed substrate types based on the backscatter intensity data.
• Establish a baseline for monitoring coastal erosion or sediment transport based on the detailed seabed map.
• Support marine spatial planning and habitat conservation efforts based on the spatial distribution of seabed types.

Strengths

• Survey conducted over an 11-month period from August 2022 to July 2023.
• Data is provided at a high 5-meter spatial resolution.
• Processing followed documented standard operating procedures from the SeabedNSW program.
• Data collection was funded through established government programs like Coastal Reforms and HabMap.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

NSW Government Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Acquired using a R2Sonic 2022 multibeam sonar system onboard the RV Bombora.

Time Range

31 Aug 2022 – 31 Jul 2023

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 03:45:13.541212; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Solitary Islands Gumbaynggirr Yaegl Marine Park, New South Wales, Australia