Benthic Habitat Mapping

Utilisation of Multi-beam Backscatter for Ecological Study of the Seafloor

The establishment of multi-beam echo sounders (MBES) as a mainstream tool in ocean mapping has revolutionised approaches towards nautical charting, seafloor geotechnical/geological surveys and benthic habitat mapping. The resolution of bathymetric and backscatter data collected by MBES has improved significantly in recent years through technological improvements of these acoustic systems. Furthermore, developments in data collection and processing of MBES backscatter have resulted in the increasing preferential use of multi-beam technology over conventional side-scan sonar or single beam sonar for these applications. This article explores some recent developments in the methods used to generate benthic habitat maps using multi-beam sonar systems.... (read more)

2012-07-26 02:55:45

Mapping Underwater Habitat

Biosonics’ Visual Habitat DT-X is a software product for the rapid assessment and mapping of aquatic habitat features. With Visual Habitat software, users can present information in a clear and visually captivating display. DT4 data files can be processed to generate full colour maps displaying transects as data layers highlighting bathymetry, plant coverage, plant canopy height and substrate type. When viewing each file echogram, simultaneously the synchronised transect map view can be monitored. This dual-viewing mode of Visual Habitat DT-X allows for visual ground truthing of a plan (map) view with a cross-section (echogram) view. An integrated utility automatically provides... (read more)

2013-08-01 08:36:44

Habitat Mapping - Increasing Importance

Two decades ago as CO of a survey ship, I interpreted the SSS-registrations (still on wet paper) twice. Once was for nautical charting purposes and the second, in my own time, was simply to ‘get the most from data collected at high costs’ (my hobbyhorse) when I made a bottom texture chart for those institutions interested. Since then, for various reasons e.g. a growing concern about the environment, more and more habitat studies are now conducted, ranging from baseline surveys to full-blown scientific studies. The multidisciplinary studies are mostly based on hydrographic charting specifications and data quality methods (which I... (read more)

2008-08-27 12:00:00

Visual Habitat 2 Offers GIS Utilities for Aquatic Habitat Mapping

BioSonics, USA, has released Visual Habitat 2.0 (VH2), specialised software for the assessment and mapping of aquatic habitat features including seagrass, bathymetry, and various substrate types. This upgraded version includes tools to generate full-colour, interpolated maps with bathymetric contours. VH2 allows users to interpolate and form gridded data using 3 different methods; Triangulated Linear Interpolation, Inverse Distance Weighting, and Ordinary Kriging. Users can print maps directly or export their results as KML, shapefile, or image files for use in Google Earth or ArcGIS. VH2 also automatically computes grid statistics including the area, water volume, and plant and volume. Existing users... (read more)

2016-03-02 09:39:27

International Seabed Habitat Mapping Conference - GeoHab 2013

The 12th Geological and Biological Seafloor Habitat Mapping (GeoHab) conference was held in Rome, Italy, from 6 to 10 May 2013, hosted by the Geological Survey of Italy (ISPRA) together with the Institute for Coastal and Marine Environment (CNR). The conference attracted approximately 200 participants from 25 countries and included a range of posters and oral presentations related to scientific and technical aspects of marine habitat mapping. Some key themes of the conference were: • Multidisciplinary and multiscalar approaches to habitat mapping • National Seabed Mapping Programmes • Predictive Habitat Modelling • Geoscience Characterisation of the Seabed for Environmental Assessment... (read more)

2013-07-12 02:32:48

HYPACK Selected for Fishery and Habitat Mapping Support

Five NOAA fishery survey vessels have been equipped with the HYPACK and HYSWEEP software solution. The vessels, outfitted with the Simrad ME70 scientific multibeam system on board, is used by NOAA for various missions to support fishery and habitat mapping. The latest version of HYSWEEP includes an interface for the ME70, for the data collection, and real time visualisation of the sonar. The software suite will provide the operator with all the visualisation tools included in the HYPACK and HYSWEEP software. The Real Time Cloud provides the operator with detailed views of the seafloor during the transect. This programme will... (read more)

2014-08-22 09:28:14

MESH Website And ‘Guide To Marine Habitat Mapping'

JNCC has launched the new MESH website. The site has been enlarged and completely redesigned to reflect the enormous number and range of products that the project has generated over the last four years. As well as the previously available MESH webGIS, Metadata Catalogue and Seabed Signatures Catalogue, a significant number of new features have been added, such as: MESH Guide to Habitat Mapping: describes the whole seabed mapping process from project planning and scoping, through the field work, to producing and using the final maps. MESH Confidence Assessment Tools: multi-criteria, systematic, confidence assessment methodology of its kind to... (read more)

2007-10-19 11:14:23

Fast-turnaround Habitat Mapping for Environmental Impact Assessments

Proteus FZC, UAE, has launched a fast-turnaround habitat mapping solution designed for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). Through the service, Proteus delivers high-resolution classification maps of terrestrial areas onshore and on the seafloor in shallow-water marine environments. The Proteus habitat mapping service can be completed in a fraction of the time and is cost effective compared with traditional mapping methods. The solution is designed for use by engineering and construction firms, environmental consultancies and government agencies involved in the development of energy infrastructure, pipelines, power stations, desalination plants, port facilities and other projects where EIAs are mandated. For its mapping solution,... (read more)

2014-08-08 12:00:00

Drone for Aquatic Habitat Surveys

BioSonics and The Oceanscience Group (USA) have released a portable, remotely operated habitat-mapping survey boat, the Z-Boat 1800MX. A combination of Oceanscience's remote hydrographic survey boat and BioSonics' MX echosounder, the Z-Boat 1800MX allows researchers to obtain quantitative measurements of aquatic vegetation and substrate distribution without the expense and effort of launching a manned boat. With the Z-Boat's position displayed on navigation software on the shore acquisition computer in real time, guiding the boat along planned survey lines is aided by on-board GPS. Simultaneously, BioSonics Visual Acquisition 6 software provides the operator with instant bathymetry and vegetation data courtesy of... (read more)

2014-02-12 09:55:49

Habitat Classification Added to Echoview

With the 2014 release of Echoview 6 comes the module Habitat Classification that sees Echoview’s processing capabilities extended to acoustic bottom data. The Habitat Classification module will enable the user to classify river-bed, lake-bottom and seafloor types from single, dual and split-beam echosounder data. Echoview saw a need for bottom classification capabilities in Echoview. Users can now process and analyse even more aspects of their hydroacoustic data, and benefit from the simplicity of doing this in a single workspace. The Habitat Classification module integrates into Echoview’s workflow. Users will be able to bring their echosounder data into Echoview, visualise, calibrate... (read more)

2014-02-18 10:01:40