The SeaBed NSW program provides data on the structure and composition of the seabed adjacent to our beaches. This program is funded through the NSW Coastal Reforms, combined with data from other sources. It improves our understanding of connectivity between coastal (beaches, estuaries) and marine environments, enabling improved approaches to managing and predicting the impacts of human activities, severe storms and climate change.
The program builds on the research expertise and specialist capabilities developed in 2005 as part of the HABMAP program mapping seabed habitats of our marine estate. The SeaBed NSW project maps large areas of the seafloor on the inner continental shelf using airborne laser mapping (LADS) in shallow water depths and vessel-based multi-beam sonar further offshore.
The program contributes to the goal of a continuous high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) for the entire NSW coast. This new marine LiDAR data builds significantly on our existing database; provides a more accurate 3D surface for our wave modelling tools, enables us to answer questions about how sand moves around the coastal-marine environment and provide baseline information from which to measure change.
Seabed data is generated by collating and analysing bathymetric and marine sediment datasets, and seabed habitats defined from swath acoustic surveys and aerial photography. Data from approximately 120 kilometres of vessel-towed underwater video surveys is also used to allow field validation of swath acoustic data and a description of the visually dominant sessile biota over large areas of the seabed.
An understanding of what type of seabed there is, what it is made of and what is living there is critical so we can better manage coastal hazards and risk for NSW and ensure there are viable and healthy marine ecosystems for the future.
The data are intended to inform coastal and marine management and should not be used for navigation without additional processing.
The Seabed NSW program has developed and issued the following datasets:
