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Datasets / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN)

Multiscale bathymetric digital elevation models and derived topographic variables extending across the Great Barrier Reef

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Multiscale bathymetric digital elevation models (DEMs) and derived topographic variables used to characterise the seascape environment spanning the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) region. This data was collected to investigate the accuracy of open-source bathymetric DEMs and to assess the ecological relevance of multiscale bathymetric topographic variables for regional species distribution modelling (SDM) of coral species. The base DEMs were downloaded from two publicly available online sources: the Allen Coral Atlas (ACA; Allen Coral Atlas, 2022; www.allencoralatlas.org) at approximately 10m resolution and the DeepReef Explorer (www.deepreef.org) at approximately 30m (Beaman, 2017) and 100m (Beaman, 2010) resolutions. After processing, the base DEMs were generalised using a Gaussian pyramid algorithm: ACA from 15m to 30m, 60m, 120m, DeepReef from 30m to 60m and 120m, as well as DeepReef at 100m. From each DEM, eight topographic variables were derived: slope (SLO), eastness (EAST), northness (NORTH), vertical curvature (VCU), horizontal curvature (HCU), vector ruggedness measure (VRM), sky view factor (SVF), bathymetric position index (BPI). Variables are available as SAGA sdat files upon request. Variable values at all spatial resolutions from each bathymetry source are available as csv files: i) 15000 random points used to assess correlation and scatterplots, ii) 10000 random points used in MaxEnt SDM analyses, where points avoided areas that also contained presence data. Data was downloaded and processed by Annie Guillaume (EPFL, CH), under supervision of Stéphane Joost (EPFL, CH), Renata Ferrari (AIMS) and Line Bay (AIMS).

Script to reproduce the production of variables, along with the corresponding topographic variable values used in this study are provided in the indicated dryad repository. The DEM variables from which the variables are derived are also available via the dryad repository

Parameters associated with this collection: Depth (DEM), slope (SLO), eastness (EAST), northness (NORTH), vertical curvature (VCU), horizontal curvature (HCU), vector ruggedness measure (VRM), sky view factor (SVF), bathymetric position index (BPI)

Data and resources

Additional information

Date (revision)2026-10-24
Statuscompleted
Update frequencynotPlanned
Metadata languageen
LicenseCreative Commons Attribution 4.0
Source metadataISO 19115 XML
Last updated2026-11-05
Created2026-11-05
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