Data

CSIRO Multibeam Backscatter Mapping of the Continental Shelf Backscatter 75m 2013 (20130147C)

Geoscience Australia
Geoscience Australia
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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:doi10.26186/151014&rft.title=CSIRO Multibeam Backscatter Mapping of the Continental Shelf Backscatter 75m 2013 (20130147C)&rft.identifier=10.26186/151014&rft.publisher=Geoscience Australia&rft.description=A multi-beam sonar (MBS) has been used to map Australia's continental margin seabed from the marine national facility vessel Southern Surveyor on opportunistic transit and research voyages since 2004 with 0.35 M km2 mapped. The MBS data are used to infer key ecological features based on bathymetry (e.g. seamounts, canyons, terraces, banks and deep reefs) and backscatter data for ecological hard (consolidated, e.g. rock for attachment of fauna) and soft (unconsolidated, e.g. mud for burrowing fauna) substrate. Seabed consolidation inference is consistent with a seabed scattering model. To consistently infer ecological significant hard and soft substrate from the backscatter data requires minimisation of errors due to changing absorption (̃2 dB) with temperature and depth, calibration drift, changes in pulse length and estimates of area insonified due to seabed slope (60°). A data collection and processing framework is described that works towards a national backscatter mapping program for environmental seabed mapping. Data collected and automated processing for depth, sound absorption and area insonified at level 2 of a possible 5 level data processing hierarchy is available. The final data was gridded at 75m resolution.Not to be used for navigational purposesMaintenance and Update Frequency: asNeededStatement: The source surveys are identified in the attached spreadsheet and the procoessing steps are identified in the following reference: Kloser, R.J. Keith G., Seabed Multi-beam Backscatter Mapping of the Australian Continental Margin, Acoustics Australia Vol 4 No. 1 p65 (https://www.acoustics.asn.au/journal/Vol41No1.pdf)&rft.creator=Geoscience Australia &rft.date=2026&rft.coverage=westlimit=112.1786; southlimit=-44.2002; eastlimit=153.9818; northlimit=-9.00; projection=4326&rft.coverage=westlimit=112.1786; southlimit=-44.2002; eastlimit=153.9818; northlimit=-9.00; projection=4326&rft.coverage=uplimit=7; downlimit=-70; projection=5715&rft.coverage=uplimit=7; downlimit=-70; projection=5715&rft_rights=Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0 International https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/&rft_rights=(c) Commonwealth of Australia (CSIRO) 2026&rft_rights=Australian Government Security Classification System https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/pspf-annual-release&rft_subject=geoscientificInformation&rft_subject=AusSeabed&rft_subject=Resourcing Australia's Prosperity&rft_subject=Marine&rft_subject=Backscatter&rft_subject=Multibeam&rft_subject=Oceans&rft_subject=Echo Multiplier (EM300)&rft_subject=Australia-wide geoscience data&rft_subject=Offshore Mapping&rft_subject=Bathymetry&rft_subject=Pacific Ocean&rft_subject=South Pacific Ocean&rft_subject=Tasman Sea&rft_subject=Torres Strait&rft_subject=Bass Strait (Great Australian Bight)&rft_subject=Coral Sea&rft_subject=Great Australian Bight&rft_subject=Gulf of Carpentaria&rft_subject=Gulf of Guinea&rft_subject=Indian Ocean&rft_subject=Java Sea (East Indian Archipelago)&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCES&rft_subject=Published_External&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0 International
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

(c) Commonwealth of Australia (CSIRO) 2026

Australian Government Security Classification System
https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/pspf-annual-release

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Full description

A multi-beam sonar (MBS) has been used to map Australia's continental margin seabed from the marine national facility vessel Southern Surveyor on opportunistic transit and research voyages since 2004 with 0.35 M km2 mapped. The MBS data are used to infer key ecological features based on bathymetry (e.g. seamounts, canyons, terraces, banks and deep reefs) and backscatter data for ecological hard (consolidated, e.g. rock for attachment of fauna) and soft (unconsolidated, e.g. mud for burrowing fauna) substrate. Seabed consolidation inference is consistent with a seabed scattering model. To consistently infer ecological significant hard and soft substrate from the backscatter data requires minimisation of errors due to changing absorption (̃2 dB) with temperature and depth, calibration drift, changes in pulse length and estimates of area insonified due to seabed slope (<8 dB). Area insonified corrections were required for both across and along-ship slopes. Highest corrections were needed for along-ship slopes in canyon regions and large incidence angles ( >60°). A data collection and processing framework is described that works towards a national backscatter mapping program for environmental seabed mapping. Data collected and automated processing for depth, sound absorption and area insonified at level 2 of a possible 5 level data processing hierarchy is available. The final data was gridded at 75m resolution.

Not to be used for navigational purposes

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Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded
Statement: The source surveys are identified in the attached spreadsheet and the procoessing steps are identified in the following reference: Kloser, R.J. Keith G., Seabed Multi-beam Backscatter Mapping of the Australian Continental Margin, Acoustics Australia Vol 4 No. 1 p65 (https://www.acoustics.asn.au/journal/Vol41No1.pdf)

Notes

Purpose
To derive seabed information for the purpose of supporting the sustainable use of our marine environment and jurisdiction; strengthening our resilience to natural hazards and enabling location-based decisions and actions through best practice digital mapping, Earth observations and precise positioning.

Issued: 24 03 2026

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153.9818,-9 153.9818,-44.2002 112.1786,-44.2002 112.1786,-9 153.9818,-9

133.0802,-26.6001

text: westlimit=112.1786; southlimit=-44.2002; eastlimit=153.9818; northlimit=-9.00; projection=4326

text: uplimit=7; downlimit=-70; projection=5715

Subjects
AusSeabed | Australia-wide geoscience data | Backscatter | Bass Strait (Great Australian Bight) | Bathymetry | Coral Sea | EARTH SCIENCES | Echo Multiplier (EM300) | Great Australian Bight | Gulf of Carpentaria | Gulf of Guinea | Indian Ocean | Java Sea (East Indian Archipelago) | Marine | Multibeam | Oceans | Offshore Mapping | Pacific Ocean | Published_External | Resourcing Australia's Prosperity | South Pacific Ocean | Tasman Sea | Torres Strait | geoscientificInformation |

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Other Information
CSIRO Multibeam Backscatter Mapping of the Continental Shelf Backscatter 2013 (zip) [66.5 MB]

url : https://files.ausseabed.gov.au/survey/CSIROMultibeamBackscatterMappingoftheContinentalShelf-Backscatter-75m-2013.zip

Identifiers
ACN 633 798 857