Authors: Beaman, R.J.
Year: 2026
Publication: Crowdsourced bathymetry on the Great Barrier Reef, FunGIS Conference 2026. Far North Queensland GIS Group Inc., Cairns, Australia
Abstract
Crowdsourced bathymetry (CSB) involves collecting water depth measurements from vessels using standard onboard navigation equipment. Across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), a wide range of vessels—including dive boats, fishing boats, and recreational craft—use echo sounders to measure water depth. Combined with GPS positioning, these systems support safe navigation throughout the GBR Marine Park.
The Crowdsourced Bathymetry on the GBR project began in 2018, engaging volunteer vessel operators to contribute bathymetric and navigation data collected using their own echo sounder and GPS sensors. These observations are integrated into larger datasets that help create comprehensive three-dimensional models of reef and seafloor topography.
This presentation outlines the development of the project, discusses key lessons learned from working with volunteer contributors and showcases examples of the resulting 3D depth models. The project demonstrates how community-generated data can enhance our understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and provide valuable information for public use, scientific research, marine management, and navigation.