Seabed Mapping and Characterisation

• Gulf of Carpentaria Reefs
• Geoscience for Marine Environmental Management
• GEOMACS: Modelling of sediment mobility on the continental shelf
• MARS: Marine Samples database
• National Benthic Marine Bioregionalisation

Project description

The Seabed Mapping and Characterisation (SMAC) project provides fundamental geoscience information on the nature of the seabed for Australia's marine jurisdiction. This project will coordinate the delivery of products to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism in support oif the Offshore Energy Security Initiative. This involves:

• conducting marine reconnaissance surveys
• deriving fundamental national marine datasets, including the national marine samples database (MARS);
• preparing seabed environmental assessments for acreage release areas
• developing scientific research in the use of abiotic variables to characterise seabed habitats and predict potential marine biodiversity; and
• providing scientific support for the development of web-based information systems to deliver high-quality data and scientific products to governments, the petroleum resource industry and the public.

Project outcome

A raised awareness of the use of geoscience data in marine environmental assessments by the governments and the petroleum resource industry.

Use of geoscience data in the Australian Government's decision-making processes for the management of the marine environment and its resources.

Project outputs

Undertaking three reconnaissance surveys to targeted areas of Australia's marine region with sub-sequent preparation of associated post-survey reports. Data collected during these surveys will include:

• multibeam bathymetry and backscatter;
• potential field (gravity and magnetics);
• sub-bottom profiler; and
• geological and biological samples.

The acquired data will be used for environmental analysis and to plan a program of industry-standard 2D seismic acquisition.

Preparing two reports characterising the main seabed environments in petroleum acreage release regions for the Australian margin.

Completing reviews that synthesise the geomorphology, sedimentology, and seabed habitats (including the analysis of 500 seabed samples for texture and composition) for both the Eastern and North-west marine Planning Regions. Preparing these reports involves providing geoscience advice on all regions (including the south-west, south-east and north) for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to support bioregional planning.

Updated geomorphic features, sea bottom substrates, and benthic environments ('seascapes') for Australia's marine region, incorporating new data collected from the marine reconnaissance surveys.

Tasks

• Geoscience for Marine Environmental Management
• Marine Reconnaissance Surveys
• Seabed Mapping Reports
• Seascapes for the Australian margin
• GEOMACS: Modelling of sediment mobility on the continental shelf
• MARS: Marine Samples database