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Roelfsema, Christiaan M (2012): Benthic and substrate cover data derived from photo-transect surveys in Heron Reef [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.790775

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Abstract:
Underwater georeferenced photo-transect survey was conducted on September 23 - 27, 2007 at different sections of the reef flat, reef crest and reef slope in Heron Reef. For this survey a snorkeler or diver swam over the bottom while taking photos of the benthos at a set height using a standard digital camera and towing a surface float GPS which was logging its track every five seconds. A standard digital compact camera was placed in an underwater housing and fitted with a 16 mm lens which provided a 1.0 m x 1.0 m footprint, at 0.5 m height above the benthos. Horizontal distance between photos was estimated by three fin kicks of the survey diver/snorkeler, which corresponded to a surface distance of approximately 2.0 - 4.0 m. The GPS was placed in a dry-bag and logged its position as it floated at the surface while being towed by the photographer. A total of 3,586 benthic photos were taken. A floating GPS setup connected to the swimmer/diver by a line enabled recording of coordinates of each benthic.
Approximation of coordinates of each benthic photo was done based on the photo timestamp and GPS coordinate time stamp, using GPS Photo Link Software (www.geospatialexperts.com). Coordinates of each photo were interpolated by finding the gps coordinates that were logged at a set time before and after the photo was captured.
Benthic or substrate cover data was derived from each photo by randomly placing 24 points over each image using the Coral Point Count excel program (Kohler and Gill, 2006). Each point was then assigned to 1 out of 80 cover types, which represented the benthic feature beneath it. Benthic cover composition summary of each photo scores was generated automatically using CPCE program. The resulting benthic cover data of each photo was linked to gps coordinates, saved as an ArcMap point shapefile, and projected to Universal Transverse Mercator WGS84 Zone 56 South.
Related to:
Kohler, Kevin E; Gill, Shaun M (2006): Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe): A Visual Basic program for the determination of coral and substrate coverage using random point count methodology. Computers & Geosciences, 32(9), 1259-1269, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2005.11.009
Roelfsema, Christiaan M; Phinn, Stuart R (2009): A manual for conducting georeferenced photo transects surveys to assess the benthos of coral reef and seagrass habitats. Centre for Remote Sensing & Spatial Information Science, School of Geography, Planning & Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072, Vers. 3.0, 1-33 (pdf 1.1 MB), hdl:10013/epic.39998.d001
Roelfsema, Christiaan M; Phinn, Stuart R (2010): Integrating field data with high spatial resolution multispectral satellite imagery for calibration and validation of coral reef benthic community maps. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 4(1), 043527, https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3430107
Coverage:
Median Latitude: -23.440735 * Median Longitude: 151.911889 * South-bound Latitude: -23.449153 * West-bound Longitude: 151.898827 * North-bound Latitude: -23.432317 * East-bound Longitude: 151.924951
Event(s):
Heron_Reef * Latitude Start: -23.432317 * Longitude Start: 151.898827 * Latitude End: -23.449153 * Longitude End: 151.924951 * Location: Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Comment:
A map is linked as kmz-file to view the 3,586 data points in a google-earth map at hdl:10013/epic.40074.d010.
Parameter(s):
#NameShort NameUnitPrincipal InvestigatorMethod/DeviceComment
1File formatFile format
2File sizeFile sizekByte
3Uniform resource locator/link to fileURL fileKohler, Kevin E
Size:
3 data points

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