Eastern Recherche Marine Park Seabed Depth Survey

Multibeam echosounder data captures seabed bathymetry and features along a proposed subsea cable route within the Eastern Recherche Marine Park. The survey was conducted by EGS aboard the RV Bold Explorer in April 2024 for the SUBCO Subsea Cable Network project. This dataset is part of a broader investigation that also included a subsequent geotechnical sampling program.

Use Cases

• Model seabed terrain and slope using bathymetry point-cloud data for subsea cable route engineering.
• Identify potential seabed hazards like rock outcrops or sediment waves from high-resolution bathymetric features.
• Analyze water column backscatter data from the multibeam echosounder to infer seabed composition.
• Correlate bathymetric profiles with subsequent geotechnical sampling data to validate subsurface geology.

Strengths

• Data collection followed a defined calibration protocol for DGPS, gyros, and multibeam systems on April 17-20, 2024.
• Survey covers a specific, confined area within a designated marine park for a cable route investigation.

Limitations

• Dataset explicitly states it is not to be used for navigational purposes, limiting its application.
• The exact spatial extent, resolution, and point density of the bathymetry data are not specified.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, collected by survey company EGS for client SUBCO.

Collection Method

Acquired via hull-mounted and towed multibeam echosounder systems onboard the RV Bold Explorer.

Time Range

Primary data acquisition occurred in April 2024.

Freshness

Survey data was collected in April 2024 and last updated in the catalog in April 2026.

Geography

Eastern Recherche Marine Park, offshore Western Australia.