Parks Australia - Indian Oceans Territory (IOT) Grants Project: Satellite-Derived Bathymetry and Seafloor Habitat Classification Mapping of Christmas Island Marine Park This project mapped Satellite-derived Bathymetry (SDB) and seafloor habitats at 2m horizontal spatial resolution, for the shallow waters (~0-25 m) of Christmas Island Marine Park. SDB data was processed using EOMAP's proprietary software and algorithm package Watcor-X, which generates SDB using multipspectral satellite data. The SDB is based on the physics-based inversion method of the radiative transfer equation which models the pathway of light and its interaction through different media (e.g. atmosphere and water column). The thematic classification of the seabed was based on multispectral satellite image analytics. Satellite imagery was pre-processed by applying a set of image correction procedures to reduce environmental noise, resulting in a standardised reflectance surface of the subsurface and seafloor. The information on seafloor reflectance at different wavelengths was used to run an object-based classification procedure which groups objects of similar spectral characteristics, shape and texture into different classes of major seafloor habitat type. These critical geospatial data layers provide the essential environmental baseline information for the long-term monitoring and management of the IOT Marine Parks. Having access to digital, georeferenced, high-resolution, satellite-derived maps of bathymetry and benthic habitats of shallow water areas, is of fundamental use in the areas of navigation and safety-at-sea, ecological research, environmental modelling, management and conservation, and monitoring the impacts from climate change.

Parks Australia - Indian Oceans Territory (IOT) Grants Project: Satellite-Derived Bathymetry and Seafloor Habitat Classification Mapping of Cocos (Keeling) Island Marine Park This project mapped Satellite-derived Bathymetry (SDB) and seafloor habitats at 2m horizontal spatial resolution, for the shallow waters (~0-25 m) of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park. SDB data was processed using EOMAP's proprietary software and algorithm package Watcor-X, which generates SDB using multipspectral satellite data. The SDB is based on the physics-based inversion method of the radiative transfer equation which models the pathway of light and its interaction through different media (e.g. atmosphere and water column). The thematic classification of the seabed was based on multispectral satellite image analytics. Satellite imagery was pre-processed by applying a set of image correction procedures to reduce environmental noise, resulting in a standardised reflectance surface of the subsurface and seafloor. The information on seafloor reflectance at different wavelengths was used to run an object-based classification procedure which groups objects of similar spectral characteristics, shape and texture into different classes of major seafloor habitat type. These critical geospatial data layers provide the essential environmental baseline information for the long-term monitoring and management of the IOT Marine Parks. Having access to digital, georeferenced, high-resolution, satellite-derived maps of bathymetry and benthic habitats of shallow water areas, is of fundamental use in the areas of navigation and safety-at-sea, ecological research, environmental modelling, management and conservation, and monitoring the impacts from climate change.

Parks Australia - Our Marine Parks Grants Round 2 Project: Nearshore marine habitat mapping of the Norfolk Marine Park (Grant Activity ID: 4-FIZ391E) The Norfolk Marine Park is the is the eastern-most Park in the Temperate East Network of Australian Marine Parks, located between the NSW coast and Norfolk Island. The Park encompasses 188,444 km² of ocean and ranges in depth from 0 m at the Norfolk Island high tide mark to more than 5,00 m off the edge of the Norfolk Ridge. The Park includes two key ecological features – the Norfolk Ridge, and the Tasman Front and associated eddy field – both of which are valued for their high productivity, aggregations of marine life, biodiversity, and endemism. Norfolk Marine Park supports a range of species, including those listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act (1999), and contains Biologically Important Areas for breeding, foraging, and migration of seabirds, marine turtles, and humpback whales. The objective of this project was to create the first marine habitat map for the nearshore shallow water surrounding Norfolk, Nepean, and Phillip Islands. This was conducted in collaboration with Norfolk residents to provide local knowledge input and to ground-truth the remotely-sensed habitat mapping. This high-level habitat map will be used for planning purposes, development applications, and EPBC Act referrals within the nearshore waters of the Norfolk Marine Park, where no specific zoning for recreational and commercial activities currently exists. The map provides a basis for any ongoing citizen-science-driven marine habitat impact and condition assessments, ecosystem monitoring, and to provide the Norfolk Island residents with ownership of any future zoning planning. The map can be further refined as more detailed information becomes available from subject matter experts in the future.

Parks Australia - Our Marine Parks Grants Round 3 Project: Satellite Mapping of Bathymetry and Habitats of Ashmore and Cartier Island Marine Parks This project aimed to map the satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) and benthic habitats at 2m horizontal spatial resolution, for the shallow waters (~0-25 m) of the Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island Marine Parks. These critical geospatial data layers provide the essential environmental baseline information for the long-term monitoring and management of these Marine Parks. Mapping the shallow water zone is of importance both from an environmental and socioeconomic perspective. Having access to digital, georeferenced, high-resolution, satellite-derived maps of bathymetry and benthic habitats of shallow water areas, is of fundamental use in the areas of navigation, ecological research, environmental modelling, management and conservation, and monitoring the impacts from climate change.