BATHYMETRIC MAPPING – NATMAP’S UNFINISHED PROGRAM
Prepared by Paul Wise, February - October 2014
Updated by Charlie Watson, June 2015; further updates 2020
Introduction
When first envisaged, National Mapping’s Bathymetric Mapping program was planned to run for some 10 years at a projected cost of $18 million. Approved by Cabinet Decision 206 of 11 March 1970, the final cost of the work completed was $12,739,700 (in 1970 Dollars refer Annexure G). Commenced in 1971, by 1987 after 17 years of steady progress within annually reduced budgets, it was thought that at the current level of funding the bathymetric mapping program could have been completed within five years. However, it was not to be!
The administrative arrangements associated with the formation of the Australian Surveying and Land Information Group within the Department of Administrative Services in 1987, transferred the Bathymetric Mapping function from National Mapping to the Royal Australian Navy's Hydrographic Service as of 1 July 1988. At that time, only 76% of the bathymetric survey program had been completed and 60% of the planned 279, 1:250,000 scale bathymetric map sheets had been published,
Former Natmap Senior Surveyor Bathymetry, Bruce Willington, recalled that after the Bathymetric Mapping program was moved to the Navy there was one last survey season in the Great Barrier Reef. Only Swain Reefs, the northern Great Barrier Reef, Archipelago of the Recherche and an area off the Arnhem Land Coast was then left in the bathymetric survey program. The latter two areas, however, were considered to be too dangerous for the MV Cape Pillar to survey, without extensive small boat assistance. The decision by the Department of Transport to sell the MV Cape Pillar and without a suitable replacement available at short notice, the survey program had to be curtailed. The planned survey work was thus only 90% completed.
With the ex-Natmap bathymetry group’s own dedicated draughting resources in the Navy, however, the cartography was able to be accelerated completing 26 bathymetric map compilations in one year alone. By 1991, it was reported that 75% of the bathymetric map publication program was complete. After this date no map publication statistics are available but information indicates that 81% of the planned bathymetric maps were finally published. Even though the bathymetric mapping program was not completed it was not for want of commitment by those directly involved who were Natmappers in the first instance. This paper therefore attempts to summarise the completed Bathymetric Mapping program.
Why Bathymetric Mapping in Natmap?
When exploration began to show that resource-rich regions extended beyond the Australian landmass, the need to know what was below our neighboring off-shore waters became an initial imperative. Any offshore development of oil and gas in the quest to make Australia self-sufficient, required bathymetric maps.
Australia had participated in the 1958 United Nations First Conference on the Law of the Sea, in Geneva. This Conference as part of its work, produced the Convention on the Continental Shelf, which Australia ratified. The first article of this Convention defined the continental shelf as follows :
For the purpose of these articles, the term continental shelf is used as referring (a) to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas adjacent to the coast but outside the area of the territorial sea, to a depth of 200 meters or, beyond that limit, to where the depth of superjacent waters admits of the exploitation of the natural resources of the said areas; (b) to the seabed and subsoil of similar areas adjacent to the coasts of islands.
This conference then led to the Conventions on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone and on the Continental Shelf. Australia became a signatory to these Conventions in 1963. In so doing, Australia undertook to learn as much as possible about the nature and extent of its own continental shelf. This knowledge was required so that this region could be delineated and any exploitation adequately controlled. The extent of the continental shelf around Australia overlaid with the bathymetric map sheet index is shown at Figure 1.
Figure 1 : The extent of the Continental Shelf around Australia, as seen from space, overlaid with the bathymetric map sheet index. The 200 metre isobath as per the 1958 Convention is represented by the black dotted line and the approximate limit of the Continental Shelf under the 1982 Convention is represented by the solid red line.
As the major client for the bathymetric maps was the then Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR), bathymetric mapping was considered a civil program (at this time BMR also had divisional status alongside Nat Map within the Department of National Development. For this reason, responsibility for the program was given to the Division of National Mapping. The then Naval Hydrographic Service, as a defence agency could not guarantee the continuity of effort required to complete such a large survey and mapping program. In addition, at the time the Hydrographer’s resources could scarcely manage the existing demand for safe navigation lanes required by the increasing number of very large bulk ore carriers then transiting Australian shipping routes.
Pragmatically the Department of Shipping and Transport also had interests at that time in coastal maritime operations. With changing lighthouse re-supply logistics, as more automated lights were commissioned, the Department’s Navaids support and maintenance vessels had spare capacity. These vessels could not only operate to the limit of the continental shelf, their operations unlike those of the Navy were managed to maximise time at sea. It was thus seen as indefensible that the Navy was solely capable of bathymetric surveying and mapping.
What is Bathymetric Surveying and Mapping?
Bathymetry is the measurement of the depth of large bodies of water. In a surveying sense, bathymetry is not only measuring the depth of water at a location but also fixing, by co-ordinates such as latitude and longitude, the position of that location. A bathymetric map then portrays these positions and depths as contours of the sea floor or isobaths. In addition, any features such as islands, reefs and cays which break the surface of the sea are also depicted.
The traditional hydrographic chart does not depict the topographic relief of the area. It is designed to portray matters relating to navigation and provide a plot sheet on which the navigator can plan his route and plot his progress. Hydrographic surveys place emphasis on examining an area to ensure that no reefs, shoals or pinnacles exist which may constitute a hazard to shipping or, where these do exist, to show their relationship to landmarks or navigation aids. The vertical datum to which depths are reduced is usually related to the level of the lowest tide expected in the area. In open waters, deeper than the draught of vessels likely to sail there, only a general indication of water depth is usually shown.
When the bathymetric mapping program was established no map specifications for a bathymetric map existed. In the first years of the program, the map specifications had to be developed in parallel with operations. The 1:250,000 scale was adopted to maintain continuity with the similar land-based topographic series. Printing colours were restricted to brown for the land and blue with layer tints for the offshore elements. The isobath interval originally adopted was 20 meters, but from 1977 this was reduced to 10 meters. Although the continental shelf notionally extended to the 200 metre isobath, the bathymetric survey throughout was taken to the 300 metre isobath. This procedure ensured that the ship had passed the edge of the continental shelf and not mistaken a depression in the shelf for its edge.
The bathymetric map carried an important Caution Note to the effect, as outlined above, that it was not produced for navigation purposes as, unlike hydrographic charting, no effort was made to indicate possible hazards to shipping or depict navigational information, nor were the depths related to the type of datum used for hydrographic charts.
The choice of the 1:250,000 scale also permitted composite topographic/bathymetric maps to be made along the coastline as required. Nineteen such composite map sheets are known to have been printed and they are listed in Table 1 below (Knight, 2014).
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Table 1 |
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List of known composite (topographic/bathymetric) 1:250,000 scale map sheets by map number and name |
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SF56-13 |
Rockhampton |
|
SG49-08 |
Shark Bay |
|
SG56-02 |
Bundaberg |
|
SH52-14 |
Eucla |
|
SH52-15 |
Coompana |
|
SH52-16 |
Nullarbor |
|
SH53-13 |
Fowler |
|
SI50-08 |
Newdegate |
|
SI50-12 |
Bremer Bay |
|
SI51-03 |
Balladonia |
|
SI51-04 |
Culver |
|
SI52-01 |
Burnabbie |
|
SI52-02 |
Noonaera |
|
SI53-01 |
Nuyts |
|
SJ54-02 |
Naracoorte |
|
SJ54-11 |
Portland |
|
SJ54-12 |
Colac |
|
SJ55-07 |
Bairnsdale |
|
SJ55-11 |
Sale |
Bathymetric Surveying
The bathymetric survey program necessitated two different, albeit similar methodologies. One for operating in deep off-shore waters, the other for shallow waters or waters where marine features could endanger a vessel. In deep open water a large vessel could be used with the endurance to stay at sea for long periods and so maximise survey time as well as to carry the necessary crew and equipment. This equipment not only included that for accurate on-line navigation but also for accurate position fixing out of the sight of land as well as that for water depth measurement. In shallower water a smaller more manoeuvrable vessel was required where endurance and capacity was less of an issue. The Department of Transport Navaids vessel, the MV Cape Pillar mostly fulfilled the role in off-shore waters while various vessels were chartered for the in-shore role. A list of the known vessels used, when and where is at Annexure D (more about the vessels used during the bathymetric mapping program can be found via this link). An indicative arrangement of the then equipment used in off-shore bathymetric surveying is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 : An indicative arrangement of the then equipment used in off-shore bathymetric surveying. In-shore bathymetric surveys used a less complex selection of equipment.
It should be noted that in the first few years of the bathymetric survey program, as Natmap had little to no knowledge in the field, contracts for data supply were let. These contracts not only accelerated the program’s initial acquisition of data but also let Natmap see how it was done. Details of the five contracts let for bathymetric data supply are in Table 2 below. The initial tender specifications were developed under the guidance of Royal Australian Navy Hydrographer, Commander Edward Ronald Ron Whitmore RAN, who had retired as Hydrographer RAN in March 1970.
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Table 2 |
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Details of five Contracts let by National Mapping for bathymetric data supply |
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Contract |
Contractor |
Surveyor-in Charge |
Vessel(s) |
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1 |
Australian Maritime Services |
Commodore Tony Cooper RAN (Rtd) |
MV Coralita and MV Murphy Star |
|
2 |
Australian Hydrographic Services |
Commander Hugh Vaughan RN (Rtd) |
HV Ataluma |
|
3 |
Engineering Surveys Oceanographic |
Commander Rae Schofield RAN (Rtd) |
MV Manly Cove |
|
4 |
Australian Hydrographic Services |
Commander Hugh Vaughan RN (Rtd) |
HV Ataluma then MV Bluff Creek |
|
5 |
Australian Hydrographic Services |
Commander Hugh Vaughan RN (Rtd) |
MV Bluff Creek |
The experience gained from observing these contractors was used to acquire the necessary instrumentation for Nat Map to equip and man future charter vessels to undertake the survey work itself. Len Turner and later Peter O’Donnell were behind much of this early development (McLean, 2014).
In order to depict the continental shelf in sufficient detail for the 1:250,000 scale bathymetric maps, lines of echosounder depths were usually spaced 1500 or 3000 meters apart depending on the nature of the seabed topography. In areas of complex seabed topography special patterns were created to obtain sufficient echosounder depths to adequately indicate the relief of the area on the published map. In the Great Barrier Reef lines were spaced at 2000m.
During the survey, the positioning and uncorrected echosounder depth data were plotted continuously as well as being recorded in a log book. Refer to Figures 4 and 5 below and Annexures B and C. In this way the predetermined lines of echosounder depths were maintained, positioning data checked and areas of seabed relief requiring further echosounding brought to notice whilst in the area. The plot sheet was then used to provide a base from which the manuscript map was drawn at a scale of 1:150,000. The map showed each fixed position, usually at approximately 1000 meter spacings along the lines of echosoundings, and the echosounder depth data corrected to mean sea level from which the contours were interpolated.
An overview of the bathymetric survey task is provided by these Sounding Instructions produced by Natmap in 1978.
Figure 3 : MV Coralita on bathymetric work for National Mapping.
Figure 4 : September 1971 aboard the Australian Maritime Services’ MV Coralita. Contractor Tim Archer with the plot of positioning and uncorrected echosounder depth data and log book. The echosounder chart recorder (left) and RAYDIST positioning equipment (right) can be seen in the background.
Figure 5 : Section of a plot chart showing positioning and uncorrected echosounder depth data for both in-shore and off-shore surveys along with the location of the on-shore Decca Hi-Fix installation at Cape Cuvier.
Echosounder : The common piece of equipment used in all bathymetric surveys was the echosounder. The echosounder measured the depth of water by timing an electronic pulse reflected off the seabed and recording this either as a continuous trace on chart paper or later, by digital display. Pulses were transmitted at frequencies around 30kHz and 210kHz depending on the make of echosounder. The lower frequency was more efficient in deeper water and the high frequency was better in shallow water. To achieve survey accuracy, the equipment was carefully calibrated and checked at frequent intervals by measuring echosounder depths to a bar lowered from the vessel to known depths. Later a disk check or for deep water an Expendable Bathythermograph was used to measure a profile of water temperature from which a mean velocity of sound in water was calculated. In Australian waters the speed of sound in water ranges from 1526 metres per second in the south of Tasmania to 1540 metres per second in the northern tropics. These speeds are about three times faster than the speed of sound in air. A sample of an echosounder trace or echogram is shown at Figure 6.
As necessary echosounder depths were corrected for any tidal variations from the selected datum, before being finally plotted on the map manuscript.
Figure 6 : Sample of an echosounder trace or echogram.
As explained above, water depth was of no value if its location was not accurately known. The position was recorded at two minute intervals during echosounding operations. Additional depths were added by interpolation depending on the nature of the seabed.
Initially position fixing from systems like Decca HiFix or RAYDIST, was used. Such radio positioning equipment relied on the phase comparison of signals transmitted from known stations on shore. Depending on the location of the survey and shore terrain, two or three transmitting stations were established to cover the survey area and provide the signals for suitable fixes. One bathymetric survey off the New South Wales central coast during November 1974 used only basic triangulation to fix the positions of echosoundings. Three observers with theodolites at locations with known co-ordinates on-shore, simultaneously read the horizontal angle to a light on the MV Cape Pillar (see Figure 7) at each sounding location. The angles were already referenced to a known azimuth and basic trigonometry established the ship’s position. The procedure was slow in that the ship was stopped while the angles were read and as the ship moved further off-shore the light could only be observed at night. Mick Skinner explains this work in a letter to his son Mark which can be read via this link.
Satellite Doppler Positioning : Satellite Doppler positioning, an early form of GPS (Global Positioning Systems), really impacted bathymetric survey position fixing. The then Navy Navigation Satellite System (NNSS) provided approximate geographical coordinates of the ship's position and an accurate estimate of the course and speed maintained throughout the period between the fixes. The ship’s position at any instant between satellite fixes corrected to the Australian Geodetic Datum could then be computed. Satellite Doppler fixes in conjunction with other sophisticated equipment freed the bathymetric survey from the need to position and operate shore based transmitting equipment for position fixing.
Sonar Doppler Positioning : The accuracy of a satellite fix at sea was dependent on a number of factors the most critical being the vessel’s course and speed used in the computation. A one knot error in speed produced an error in position of as much as 500 meters while a one degree error in heading could mean a 50 metre shift off course. As the then satellite constellation could only provide an accurate fix once every few hours such errors had to be minimised. Course and speed data, when derived from gyrocompass and sonar Doppler, indicated positional accuracies of around ±75 meters could be achieved and while adequate for bathymetric mapping at 1:250,000 scale, it was insufficient for detailed hydrographic survey.
Figure 7 : Department of Shipping and Transport Navaids vessel, the MV Cape Pillar, used by National Mapping for the majority of the off-shore bathymetric surveys.
A marine gyrocompass used an electrically powered, fast-spinning gyroscope wheel to maintain an orientation to True North and is unaffected by external magnetic fields such as those created by ferrous metals in a ship's hull. The gyrocompass error was of the order of ± 0.5°.
A sonar Doppler system consisted basically of an electronics console with display panel and a hull mounted transducer array (simplistically a transducer converted electric impulses to sound waves). A signal was transmitted through the water in a 3° beam from each of four transducers set at 30° to the vertical towards the fore, aft, port and starboard of the vessel respectively. A portion of the signal was returned from the seabed and the effect of pitch and roll was cancelled by comparing the fore received signal with the aft and the port received signal with the starboard. The sonar system electronics then computed the velocity in each component and displayed the velocity and cumulative distance traveled along and across the longitudinal axis of the vessel. The addition of a synchro-output from the gyrocompass enabled the display to be related to a desired heading or, in an alternative mode, in respect of true north.
The sonar Doppler equipment could operate in water depths of 200-300 meters. At greater depths the sonar signal could be erroneously reflected off a moving sub-surface water layer. Generally the sonar Doppler provided results accurate to ±2-3 meters.
With adequate calibration and the adjusting of observed positions against satellite fixes as required, the total system produced positioning data with an average error of less than ±100 meters. Photographs of typical satellite and sonar Doppler equipment are at Annexure B.
Global Positioning System : When GPS started to become available a Magnavox MX1107 GPS/Transit receiver was purchased. GPS positions, however, were only available for part of the day. To increase the arability of GPS coverage an atomic clock was thus interfaced to the MX1107. As the height above sea level was fixed at the antenna height and time was now known accurately, it was possible to obtain GPS fixes from only two satellites instead of the four usually required. Production was also significantly increased using GPS, as the ship could now cruise at around 12 knots instead of at the previous limit of 10.5 knots.
HIFIX 6 : The Decca HiFix 6 system was used mainly in the Great Barrier Reef region. HiFix6 was a hyperbolic system using a chain of three transmitters, one as master and two as slaves. As with most such systems the operating principle was that the transmitters radiated a carrier phase locked to an accurate source, and the receiver (on the ship) measured the difference in phase between the signals received from the three transmitters. The phase differences produced a series of intersecting hyperboles called a lattice. By establishing the ship’s location along a hyperbola from each pattern, position was fixed. The diagram at Figure 8 shows a common arrangement of the HiFix 6 on a section of coastline. A Master or A station with B and C stations as Slaves generate the lattice. Accurate fixes required that the three shore stations be located at known survey points.
Figure 8 : Common survey arrangement of a HiFix 6 with a Master or A station and B and C stations as Slaves.
Points of zero phase difference were referred to as lanes. It was not necessary to rely on these however, since the receiver could measure phase differences at points in between lanes. The maximum resolution of the system was expressed as the smallest distance within a lane that could be measured and was limited by a number of factors. In the case of HiFix 6 the maximum resolution of the system was given as 0.01 lane, which at an operating frequency of 1905kHz was 1.6 meters. Since the distance between hyperbolae and hence lanes increased with distance away from the transmitters, the accuracy of the system was reduced in proportion. The operator would have to take this into account when a fix was obtained. The velocity of propagation of the signal was taken as 2,999,650 kilometres per second. The broadcast frequency of 1905kHz gave a wavelength of 157.2966 meters and a baseline lane width of 78.65 meters. Baselines used in the Great Barrier Reef ranged up to 90 kilometers and generally had a base angle of about 150 degrees at the Master station. This arrangement was necessarily dictated by the shape of the coastline and resulted in considerable lane expansion at the edges of the coverage area. The resultant accuracy was considered to be better than 20 metres. HiFix 6 was vulnerable to lane slip, where the whole number of lanes may be incorrect by one or two increments, and constant monitoring of position was necessary against known positions e.g. Miniranger positions, GPS or marker beacons.
Figure 9 : HiFix 6 installation.
The HiFix 6 transmitters used a 100 foot mast (Figure 9 refers) and required a steady power source and constant monitoring for stability of the transmission signal. Two men thus camped at each transmitter and in addition to monitoring the HiFix equipment could also position Miniranger transponders, as required.
Miniranger III : Miniranger was a product of the Motorola Corporation and went through many development stages as Miniranger I/II/III. It operated in the C-Band microwave region at around 5.5GHz, with a transmitter power of 400 watts. The system worked by measuring the time of flight of short (0.3 microseconds) pulses of radio energy. A fix was obtained by comparing the distance measurement or range obtained from 2 or more shore stations. Whilst the accuracy was good, as with all microwave systems the Miniranger was strictly limited to line of sight operation. The range could be extended by mounting the shore stations on high ground and/or tall structures, and the ship-borne antenna at the top of the mast. A rotating antenna was an add-on which improved range considerably, mainly as it was omni directional and did not suffer from blind spots especially when the ship was turning. The accuracy of the system was better than 3 meters with a maximum range of about 120 kilometres. Miniranger transponders were powered by 24 volts, supplied by two 12 volt batteries. As the batteries only lasted for two to three days, to reduce the need for battery changes solar panels and wind generators were used when possible. Theft of these items, however, was a problem on occasions.
Data Acquisition System : Most of the Data Acquisition Systems used were developed in-house. Eventually all navigation systems were combined with either Atlas Deso 10 or 20 or Elac echo sounders and at various times HP 1000, HP 21 MX, HP 85, Sanyo and Compaq PC computers. A typical Data Acquisition System is shown in schematic form in Annexure F.
Tidal Observations : Tidal observations were made using bottom mounted gauges such as NBA Controls model DNT1/2, Aanderra model WLRS5, Microsystems model TG12A and Endeco model SSM1O32. The Endeco was a fully digital model and the readout could be processed on a PC or HP 85 to obtain the resulting depths in the field. The data was also transferred direct to the automated data processing computer.
Analysis of tidal data was done on a HP A900 computer using a tidal program developed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. Cotidal charts were prepared by hand as required. A Cotidal chart showed contours of sea height ratios and time differences between a number of tidal stations. It was used to convert predictions or observations made at one point to any other point.
Diving Operations : To place tidegauges on the ocean floor in shallow waters (less than 20 meters) divers were used to select a suitable site, accurately record the depth of the site and ensure that the gauge was level and well secured. They were also used to ensure that the gauge was not snagged before retrieval and assisted in searching for a lost or damaged gauge. Initially, crew of the MV Cape Pillar performed these tasks, however, with crew cutbacks and operations commencing in the Great Barrier Reef Natmap trained its own squad of volunteer divers for this purpose.
Co-operative Activities including Opportune Data Collection whilst at Sea
Close liaison was maintained with the Hydrographer, Royal Australian Navy, to avoid duplication of effort and ensure that the bathymetric surveys assisted the hydrographic charting program as much as possible.
In addition, during the course of the bathymetric survey operations other scientific data were routinely collected. The acquisition of these data was with the proviso that its collection did not interfere with or impact fundamental bathymetric operations. These additional data sets included :
. Continuous sea surface temperature for the CSIRO Division of Fisheries;
. Six hourly weather reports telegraphed to the Bureau of Meteorology from its on-board equipment;
. Bathythermograph records transmitted to the National Oceanographic Data Base;
. Hydrographic Notes submitted to the Hydrographic Office reporting new shoals discovered and additional data about existing shoals;
. All tidal observations submitted to the Hydrographic Office and the National Tidal Facility at Flinders University in Adelaide;
. All Reports of Survey (compiled at the end of each project) together with completed manuscripts were submitted to the Hydrographic Office;
. Tide gauge calibrations for Harbor Authorities were completed when time was available, (usually at crew change time);
. Lighthouse positions fixed by satellite observations (MX1501) on an opportunity basis (the position of most lighthouses had never been properly surveyed);
. Magnetometer observations using equipment provided by the Bureau of Mineral Resources to provide detailed magnetic anomaly data;
. Seabed profiles used by the Bureau of Mineral Resources to study the micro- geomorphology of the seabed; and
. Echosounder charts used by the Division of Fisheries of the Department of Primary Industry to extract information on the nature of the seabed and fish distribution to assist in trawling operations.
Figure 10 : TSMV Febrina on bathymetric survey operations for National Mapping.
Incidents and Accidents
The bathymetric surveys were truly of unchartered waters. Survey vessels became grounded near Vashon Head (Cobourg Peninsular NT), Truant Island (near Gove) and Elphingstone Rock (Melville Island). The most serious incident however, occurred in 1984. While on survey to the east of the Archipelago of the Recherche, southern Western Australia, the MV Cape Pillar struck an uncharted rock pinnacle and only the quick actions of the crew saved it from sinking. More detail can be found via this link.
More tragic was the death of Natmapper John Ellis Wright (1953-1980) in an innocuous personal accident that occurred while he was on land-based bathymetric survey duties at Lucinda NQ.
A list of personnel who worked on the bathymetric program can be found at Annexure A.
Bathymetric Mapping and Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Unmanned submersibles and Side-scan Sonar today provide information on the sea-bed never previously available, and certainly in much greater detail than the bathymetric maps of the 1970s-80s. Refer to Annexure E for a detailed bathymetric map sheet index showing work completed. Nevertheless, Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) today provides for jurisdiction over a marine area of some 10 million square kilometers and the basis of this zone can be traced back to data from the bathymetric mapping program (by comparison the Australian landmass is only 7.7M sq.km).
Acknowledgements
The assistance of Bruce Willington, Laurie McLean, Con Veenstra, Charlie Watson, Simon Cowling and John Knight in the preparation of this paper is greatly appreciated.
Annexures
A. Bathymetric Program Personnel
B. Photographs of typical satellite and sonar Doppler equipment
C. Further photographs of operations
D. Bathymetric Activity by Financial Year
E. Publication Status - Bathymetric Map Sheets
F. Schematic Diagram of Data Acquisition on GBR Project
G. Summary of Expenditure and Progress on Bathymetric Program
References
Denoon, Donald John Noble (2009), The Hundred Fathers of the Torres Strait Treaty, Talk delivered as part of RG Neale Lecture Series at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 5 November 2009, text courtesy Con Veenstra.
Department of Resources and Energy (1987), Annual Report, Australian Government Publishing Service.
Division of National Mapping (1987), Bathymetric Survey Report : Cape Pillar Surveys : No. 1 of 1987, 23 November 1986 to 12 May 1987.
Division of National Mapping (1988), Bathymetric Survey Report : Great Barrier Reef Survey : No. 2 of 1988, TSMV Febrina, 18 July to 3 November 1988.
Lines, John Dunstan (1992), Australia
on Paper: The Story of Australian Mapping, Fortune Publications, Box Hill,
Victoria, ISBN 0646097695. Knight, John (2014), Personal Communication, March 2014. McLean, Laurie
(2014), Len Turner (1932-2002): Nat Map’ s Consistent Quiet Achiever,
XNATMAP website article. NATMAP (1972 - 1986), Statement
of Activities, Division of National Mapping, as published annually between 1
July 1972 and 30 June 1986. O’Donnell, Peter (1982), Bathymetry – The Decade Ahead, Technical
Papers, Australian Congress of Survey and Mapping, Canberra 1982, pp.
79-83. O’Donnell, Peter (2014), Personal Communication, April 2014. Turner, Leonard George (1974),
Mapping Australia's Continental Shelf, Technical Papers, Australian Survey
Congress, Melbourne, February 1974, pp. 128-135. Turner, LG and Mitchell, HL
(1977), Satellite Imagery and its Applications to Offshore Mapping in Australia,
Technical Papers, Australian Survey Congress, Darwin, May 1977, pp. 89-97. Veenstra,
Con (1984), Mapping the Australian
Continental Shelf, Technical Papers of the 12th Conference of the
International Cartographic Association, Perth, August, 1984, Vol. 1, pp.
411-421. Willington, Bruce
(2014), Personal Communication, July 2014. Bathymetric Program
Personnel Dave Abreu Mark Hankensen Bob Scott Phil Allen T Henshaw Doug Sharp Fulvio Bagliani Steve Hodgkin F Sheilman Gordon Baker Gavin Holmes Reg Sheridan Steve Bartlett Gordon Homes All Simonkevicious Steve Bennett Anthony Hunter Dave Skinner Frank Blanchfield Dave Hunter Mick Skinner Joe Blicharz Vance Inghram Barry Sloane Grant Boyes Bill Jeffery Rod Small Chris Boyldew Peter Kaczerepa John Sparrow Graham Brassil F Kidman Mick Spellacy John Bray Ron Knight Geoff Starkey Ken Brown Jack Lamb Rod Streeter Bob Bryant Maris Legzde John Sutton Vicky Charmen Tony Lewis Peter Talty Jim Clarke Gerry Liengme Matthew Taylor Col Cochran Richard Littlejohn Noel Templeman John Corcoran Margaret Lucas Noel Ticehurst Simon Cowling John Manning Len Turner Alan Deck Paul McCormack Bob Twilley Phill Doolan Lyn McDonald Con Veenstra Michael Dowhy Mark McMahon Klaus Voigt Martin Drury Tiernan McNamara Mark Vilima Michael Dwyer Tom Meuller Peter Walkley Jack Edmonstone Harvey Mitchell Charlie Watson Mark Elphick Peter Mortimer John Wenborn Oscan Ertok Brian Murphy Don Wilcox Brad Eyre Ian Norton George Williams Chris Fergusson Barry Obst Bruce Willington Danny Gardner Peter O'Donnell Joe Winter Brian Gibson Greg Pepper Richard Witrzens Ted Graham Wayne Petschack Phil Woodward Don Gray Allan Pilley Adrian Wright Dave Griffin Jack Pittar Barry Wright Steve Hadobas Richard Proudfoot John Wright Steve Hall Andy Rogers Steve Yates Photographs of typical satellite and sonar Doppler
Equipment Further photographs of the equipment September 1971 aboard the Australian Maritime
Services’ MV
Coralita. Then contractor and later Natmapper John Sutton
monitoring the RAYDIST positioning equipment. September 1971 aboard the Australian Maritime
Services’ MV Coralita.
Contractor Robert Crooks with the PDP 8L mini-computer. Undated aboard the Dept. of Shipping and Transport Navaids
vessel, the MV Cape Pillar. Natmap’s Mick Skinner (holding torch) with
probably the Decca Hi-Fix representative and Natmap’s Con Veenstra. Undated aboard the Dept. of Shipping and Transport Navaids
vessel, the MV Cape Pillar. Computer and positioning equipment. BATHYMETRIC MAPPING ACTIVITY BY FINANCIAL YEAR Financial Year Survey Vessel(s) Region(s) Na[C1] utical Miles of Soundings 1971/72 MV
Coralita & MV Murphy Star Southern Queensland 1971/72 HV Ataluma New South Wales 8,000 1972/73 MV Cape Pillar Timor Sea 1972/73 MV Manly Cove Port Hedland 11,600 1973/74 HV Ataluma then MV Bluff
Creek Broome 1973/74 MV Cape Pillar Timor Sea 20,120 1974/75 MV Cape Pillar Ashmore Reef, Mellish Reef and NSW coast 1974/75 MV Bluff Creek Cape Londonderry 17,305 1975/76 MV Cape Pillar Gulf of Carpentaria 1975/76 MV Cape Don Bunbury 1975/76 DT Burrowaree Tasmania East Coast 25,900 1976/77 MV Cape Pillar Gulf of Carpentaria and Timor Sea 1976/77 MV Cape Don Bremer and Shark Bays 1976/77 MV Lumen Torres Strait 29,030 1977/78 MV Cape Pillar Timor Sea 1977/78 MV Cape Don Bremer and Shark Bays 1977/78 MV Candela Spencer Gulf 26,560 1978/79 MV Cape Pillar Barrow Is. - Darwin 1978/79 MV Cape Don Shark Bay 21,780 1979/80 MV Cape Pillar Timor Sea then Heard and McDonald Islands 1979/80 RV Kalinda & other charters Great Barrier Reef 11,790 1980/81 MV Cape Pillar North-west Shelf 1980/81 MV Cape Pillar Coral Sea 1980/81 RV Kalinda & other charters Great Barrier Reef 26,970 1981/82 MV Cape Pillar Arafura and Coral Seas, West coast of Tasmania and
McDonald Is 1981/82 TSMV Febrina Ingham – Townsville 21,450 1982/83 MV Cape Pillar Tasmania and Great Australian Bight 28,212 1982/83 TSMV Febrina Townsville 3,450 1983/84 MV Cape Pillar Tasmania and Great Australian Bight 22,239 1983/84 TSMV Febrina Townsville – Bowen 3,921 1984/85 MV Cape Pillar Bass Strait 25,141 1984/85 TSMV Febrina Townsville - Bowen 1,683 1985/86 MV Cape Pillar Arafura Sea 28,050 1985/86 TSMV Febrina Cairns - Bowen 1,700 1986/87 MV Cape Pillar (#) Gulf of Carpentaria, Joseph Bonaparte Bay, Middleton
and Elizabeth Reefs 29,473 1986/87 TSMV Febrina Great Barrier Reef 3,070 1987/88 MV Cape Pillar Gulf of Carpentaria and Melville Is 24,739 1987/88 TSMV Febrina Great Barrier Reef 2,914 1988/89 MV Cape Pillar Gulf of Carpentaria and Coral Sea 13,912 1988/89 TSMV Febrina (#) Great Barrier Reef 2,550 1989/90 TSMV Febrina Great Barrier Reef 1,975 Total 413,471 Bathymetric Surveying Program Summary Sheets Surveyed 238 Sheets part Surveyed 17 Sheets not Surveyed 24 Total Sheets in Series 279 (#) Indicative Bathymetric Survey Report available (courtesy Charlie Watson) Bathymetric Map Sheets - PUBLICATION STATUS Publication
Summary Published Maps 227 Compiled but Not Published 11 Unpublished 41 Total Sheets in Series 279
DIVISION OF NATIONAL MAPPING SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURE AND PROGRESS ON BATHYMETRIC PROGRAM (IN
JUNE 1970 DOLLARS) Financial Year FY
Mean ABS-CP
Index Base
100 At
Dec 1980 FY
Mean Base
100 at
Jun 1970 Bathymetric Program Cost
for FY Program Cost
in 1970
Dollars Cumulative Bathymetric Program Cost
Cumulative Bathymetric Program Cost
1970 $ Line
Miles Surveyed in
FY Cumulative Line
Miles Surveyed 1970-71 36.5 103.1 $20,400 $19,800 $20,400 $19,800 1971-72 39.0 110.2 $428,600 $388,900 $449,000 $408,700 8000 8000 1972-73 41.3 116.7 $444,300 $380,700 $893,300 $789,400 11600 19600 1973-74 46.7 131.9 $988,000 $749,100 $1,881,300 $1,538,500 20120 39720 1974-75 54.5 154.0 $1,161,000 $753,900 $3,042,300 $2,292,400 17305 57025 1975-76 61.5 173.7 $1,490,700 $858,200 $4,533,000 $3,150,600 25900 82925 1976-77 70.0 197.7 $1,200,000 $607,000 $5,733,000 $3,757,600 29030 111955 1977-78 76.7 216.7 $1,752,100 $808,500 $7,485,100 $4,566,100 26560 138515 1978-79 83.0 234.5 $1,301,800 $555,100 $8,786,900 $5,121,200 21780 160295 1979-80 91.4 258.2 $1,309,400 $507,100 $10,096,300 $5,628,300 11790 172085 1980-81 100.0 282.5 $2,730,300 $966,500 $12,826,600 $6,594,800 26970 199055 1981-82 110.4 311.9 $3,040,100 $974,700 $15,866,700 $7,569,500 21450 220505 1982-83 123.1 347.7 $2,870,800 $825,700 $18,737,500 $8,395,200 31608 252113 1983-84 131.6 371.8 $2,731,800 $734,700 $21,469,300 $9,129,900 26160 278273 1984-85 137.2 387.6 $3,033,900 $782,700 $24,503,200 $9,912,600 26824 305097 1985-86 148.7 420.1 $3,183,100 $757,700 $27,686,300 $10,670,300 29750 334847 1986-87 162.6 459.3 $3,582,800 $780,100 $31,269,100 $11,450,400 32534 367381 1987-88 174.5 493.8 $3,129,689 $633,800 $34,398,789 $12,084,200 27653 395034 1988-89 187.3 528.2 $3,027,559 $573,200 $37,426,348 $12,657,400 16462 411496 1989-90 202.3 572.5 $471,021 $82,300 $37,897,369 $12,739,700 1975 413471
