Data

Benthic and substrate cover data derived from photo-transect surveys in Heron Reef.

The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema (Aggregated by) Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema (Aggregated by) Roelfsema, Christiaan (Aggregated by)
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ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=info:doi10.1594/PANGAEA.790775&rft.title=Benthic and substrate cover data derived from photo-transect surveys in Heron Reef.&rft.identifier=10.1594/PANGAEA.790775&rft.publisher=The University of Queensland&rft.description=Underwater georeferenced photo-transect survey was conducted on September 23 - 27, 2007 at different sections of the reef flat, reef crest and reef slope in Heron Reef. For this survey a snorkeler or diver swam over the bottom while taking photos of the benthos at a set height using a standard digital camera and towing a surface float GPS which was logging its track every five seconds. A standard digital compact camera was placed in an underwater housing and fitted with a 16 mm lens which provided a 1.0 m x 1.0 m footprint, at 0.5 m height above the benthos. Horizontal distance between photos was estimated by three fin kicks of the survey diver/snorkeler, which corresponded to a surface distance of approximately 2.0 - 4.0 m. The GPS was placed in a dry-bag and logged its position as it floated at the surface while being towed by the photographer. A total of 3,586 benthic photos were taken. A floating GPS setup connected to the swimmer/diver by a line enabled recording of coordinates of each benthic. Approximation of coordinates of each benthic photo was done based on the photo timestamp and GPS coordinate time stamp, using GPS Photo Link Software (www.geospatialexperts.com). Coordinates of each photo were interpolated by finding the gps coordinates that were logged at a set time before and after the photo was captured. Benthic or substrate cover data was derived from each photo by randomly placing 24 points over each image using the Coral Point Count excel program (Kohler and Gill, 2006). Each point was then assigned to 1 out of 80 cover types, which represented the benthic feature beneath it. Benthic cover composition summary of each photo scores was generated automatically using CPCE program. The resulting benthic cover data of each photo was linked to gps coordinates, saved as an ArcMap point shapefile, and projected to Universal Transverse Mercator WGS84 Zone 56 South.&rft.creator=Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema&rft.creator=Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema&rft.creator=Roelfsema, Christiaan&rft.creator=Roelfsema, Christiaan&rft.date=2012&rft.coverage=152.022454,-23.405524 151.891235,-23.405524 151.891235,-23.482180 152.022454,-23.482180 152.022454,-23.405524&rft_rights=2012, University of Queensland&rft_rights= http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US&rft_subject=eng&rft_subject=PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCE&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCES&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data

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Contact Information

c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au

Full description

Underwater georeferenced photo-transect survey was conducted on September 23 - 27, 2007 at different sections of the reef flat, reef crest and reef slope in Heron Reef. For this survey a snorkeler or diver swam over the bottom while taking photos of the benthos at a set height using a standard digital camera and towing a surface float GPS which was logging its track every five seconds. A standard digital compact camera was placed in an underwater housing and fitted with a 16 mm lens which provided a 1.0 m x 1.0 m footprint, at 0.5 m height above the benthos. Horizontal distance between photos was estimated by three fin kicks of the survey diver/snorkeler, which corresponded to a surface distance of approximately 2.0 - 4.0 m. The GPS was placed in a dry-bag and logged its position as it floated at the surface while being towed by the photographer. A total of 3,586 benthic photos were taken. A floating GPS setup connected to the swimmer/diver by a line enabled recording of coordinates of each benthic. Approximation of coordinates of each benthic photo was done based on the photo timestamp and GPS coordinate time stamp, using GPS Photo Link Software (www.geospatialexperts.com). Coordinates of each photo were interpolated by finding the gps coordinates that were logged at a set time before and after the photo was captured. Benthic or substrate cover data was derived from each photo by randomly placing 24 points over each image using the Coral Point Count excel program (Kohler and Gill, 2006). Each point was then assigned to 1 out of 80 cover types, which represented the benthic feature beneath it. Benthic cover composition summary of each photo scores was generated automatically using CPCE program. The resulting benthic cover data of each photo was linked to gps coordinates, saved as an ArcMap point shapefile, and projected to Universal Transverse Mercator WGS84 Zone 56 South.

Issued: 2012

Data time period: 23 09 2007 to 27 09 2007

Data time period: Data collected from: 2007-09-23T00:00:00Z
Data collected to: 2007-09-27T00:00:00Z

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152.02245,-23.40552 151.89124,-23.40552 151.89124,-23.48218 152.02245,-23.48218 152.02245,-23.40552

151.9568445,-23.443852

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Other Information
Integrating field data with high spatial resolution multispectral satellite imagery for calibration and validation of coral reef benthic community maps

local : UQ:229027

Roelfsema, Chris and Phinn, Stuart (2010). Integrating field data with high spatial resolution multispectral satellite imagery for calibration and validation of coral reef benthic community maps. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 4 (1) 043527, 043527.1-043527.28. doi: 10.1117/1.3430107

A manual for conducting georeferenced photo transects surveys to assess the benthos of coral reef and seagrass habitats version 3.0

local : UQ:244565

Roelfsema, C. M. and Phinn, S. R. (2009). A manual for conducting georeferenced photo transects surveys to assess the benthos of coral reef and seagrass habitats version 3.0. Centre for Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Research Data Collections

local : UQ:289097

School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management Publications

local : UQ:161208

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