Bathymetry Working Group (BWG)

Purpose

The Bathymetry Working Group was established in August 2011 with an acknowledgement that a greater amount of bathymetric data was being acquired by jurisdictions throughout Australia and that there was a requirement to catalogue this fundamental national dataset so that is was discoverable and accessible by a range of stakeholders.

Traditionally bathymetric data has been acquired by or supplied to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Hydrographic Service to support the safety of navigation through the production of charts and other publications. Geoscience Australia and other research bodies also manage large data repositories to support mineral exploration or scientific research.

A large amount of additional bathymetry data is now being acquired by other jurisdictions through bathymetric LiDAR surveys predominately in near shore zones to a depth of 30 metres. This data is being used to support the requirements of environmental and climate change programs associated with modelling the risk on marine habitats or other factors such as inundation due to storm surge events.

The BWG will conduct a national audit of available bathymetry data and recommend a model by which this data can be stored and discovered so as to facilitate greater access and exchange of this fundamental dataset.

The BWG is also working closely with Dr Nathan Quadros from CRCSI to determine the applications and challenges associated with the use bathymetry data. Users of bathymetry data are encourage to complete and submit the following questionnaire to the CRCSI.

BWG Terms of Reference

1. Identify, engage and liaise with stakeholder agencies, including peak government and industry groups responsible for the custodianship and use of bathymetric data;
2. Conduct a national audit of bathymetric data and recommend a federated custodianship model for storage, discovery and access to data that aims to reduce duplication and redundancy; and
3. Develop and promote best practice standards for data registration, storage and exchange through the collection of metadata and the adoption of a common and open digital format.

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