Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

The modern broad scale acoustic and electro-acoustic data acquisition systems have super fast onboard data processing capabilities that enables much of the " Habitat Characterisation" survey work of obtaining the depth measurements, backscatter , seabed imagery etc to be done either in real time or at least on-line during the survey. This has become a very desirable and recommended component of how to conduct this phase of the habitat mapping survey as it enables the planning of the underwater video and seabed sampling to be done before the survey vessel leaves the area so that savings can be made by not having to come back at a later stage for this survey work to be done effectively. The Habitat Characterisation and Habitat Classification can take place in a more efficient way. As the data often has to be worked on by groups in different localities, the use of Geographical Information Systems ( GIS ), such as ESRI's and MapInfo's GIS systems. Web enabled data delivery of maps and reports has helped speed up the whole process of sharing information and the interpretation of results by getting survey map products moving faster between the field survey team and the scientists that produce the benthic habitat maps. Coastal CRC's stakeholder, Fugro, has developed its own marine survey data model to deliver the survey deliverables, see decision tree - survey deliverables, through a web site using Arc IMS. Arc-IMS (Image Map Server), which is a powerful and useful means of Internet delivery.

Derivatives from the seafloor such as slope, aspect, rugosity are generated, and presented as GIS layers for fast analysis of potential habitats. Backscatter processing of the Multibeam data generates a raster file of seafloor texture, which can be used to identify variations in seafloor bottom types.

Marooned

Click on the link below to see a video demonstration of how the Arc GIS information that can be made available through the web using Arc IMS. The right hand half of the image shows a section of seabed imagery with a black line indicating where towed video was obtained. The bottom left window displays the underwater video of the seabed at the point indicated by the blue marker dot shown on the video track, the black line in the right hand window. The imagery is of Point Addis , shown in the next right hand image. Click here to download video. (1.7 MB MOV) (Apple QuickTime format)

Parks Victoria Survey Mapping Products "Point Addis Marine Park Benthic Habitat Mapping Digital Data Deliverables",
Paul Kennedy, Fugro Survey Pty Ltd, May 2005 The above image is a map of Point Addis created from a hydro-acoustic multi-beam survey.
Click here to download report. (5 MB PDF)
Click here to go to the case study on this area.

Marine survey data model

The Fugro Survey Marine Survey Data Model (MSDM) is designed to accommodate all of the above data in a single integrated GIS environment. The MSDM runs within the ESRI ArcGIS Desktop 9.0 SP2 platform. It only requires the basic ArcView licence to operate. The file is an ESRI Personal GeoDatabase, built using ESRI ArcObjects 9.0. A personal GeoDatabase is a Microsoft Access MDB file, and can be opened in Microsoft Access. All data in the MSDM uses the GDA94 geodetic datum.

The MSDM has many featureclasses representing the datasets described above. It supports many additional feature classes, which, for clarity have been removed from this MSDM. The MSDM provides an integrated environment for the management and delivery of habitat mapping data. It permits users to start using the data immediately. The data is presented in a cohesive, robust and reliable format. Maps can easily be generated, spatial data analysis can be undertaken, and management decisions requiring spatial input can be rapidly serviced via the MSDM. Since the MSDM is delivered in a GIS industry standard format, skilled users of the ESRI GIS platform need very little, if any training.

The MSDM can easily be incorporated into a data warehouse such as Arc SDE, Oracle Spatial, using off the shelf import tools. No custom code is required.

Here is a snapshot of the MSDM for PtAddis

An internet-based Geographical Information System (GIS) can provide ready access to the seabed maps by a wide range of end-users at local, regional, national and international levels. Users can build customised maps using the data sets available on-line and download these data for their local use. This web enabled delivery of map data can deliver habitat polygon data sets that can be linked to other data sources to deliver a more complete seabed mapping solutions. Our knowledge and understanding of the marine environment and its processes are increasingly dependent on advanced technologies for acquiring, analysing and visualizing geospatial information. The ability and need to accurately combine and visualize high resolution environmental data at regional and global scales have driven the rapid co-evolution of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and satellite global positioning (GPS) instrumentation for use in both terrestrial and marine environments. Geospatial modeling across the land/sea interface can greatly enhance our ability to interpret the relationships between coastal and near-shore marine patterns and processes. An example of the delivery of digital seabed marine survey data in a GIS is given below using the Fugro Survey Data Deliverables for the Parks Victoria point Addis MPA survey for Victoria Marine Parks conservation agency ( and other government agencies who are able to make their marine sample data available through the internet). With Arc IMS it is possible for data to be be accessible through a website, so as to link broader scale habitat maps with detailed biological and physical sample data.

3D (three dimensional) models were generated by Ozestuaries' research projects to help scientists better understand and interpret their data. They are a useful interactive tool to communicate often complex geographical relationships to other scientists and the wider community. Click here to go to the OzEstuary website to download mapped data in layers that can be turned on and off and be manipulated in models by rotating, zooming and panning to explore spatial relationships between parts of the model from any aspect.