Project description

The Field and Engineering Support project provides services which allow Geoscience Australia's research scientists to undertake marine geoscience and oceanographic research in the field and in the laboratory. Members of the project unit provide a diverse range of marine survey equipment and skilled personnel to support Geoscience Australia's survey operations. Data sets and samples are collected to the highest standards, allowing the marine program to successfully meet its goals. The design, construction and installation of specialist research equipment also is undertaken in workshops which are well equipped for marine and other geoscience related activities.

Project outcome

Field and Engineering Support services enable Geoscience Australia to complete resource assessment and environmental management tasks throughout the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone. These operations include the current Offshore Energy Security Program and various coastal and marine mapping projects which include environmental research, climate studies, boundary definition and natural disaster risk assessment. Support is also provided to other Geoscience Australia core areas and to external agencies such as Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), state agencies and universities which are undertaking complementary or collaborative geoscience related work.

Project outputs

Surveys

To obtain the information and background knowledge necessary for successful marine management a variety of survey methods and tools are required. Fortunately the information recovered from a survey can often be used for more than one purpose. For example geophysical and geological surveys are conducted offshore to assess areas for future petroleum exploration and acreage release. But the same data can also be useful for climate and ecological studies or fisheries and maritime boundary definition. Surveys are also conducted in remote and largely unexplored regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans and operations staff and equipment are sometimes required for research in Australian Antarctic waters. Small scale operations are also undertaken in bays and estuaries for environmental programs - often in collaboration with other agencies. The emphasis is to support Geoscience Australia mapping and research programs, but other federal, state, local and overseas government bodies benefit from Field and Engineering Support equipment and expertise.

Equipment

The Field and Engineering Support equipment list includes the following. Other specialist items are hired as required:

• high resolution multi-channel seismic system
• multibeam sonar system (MBES)
• sub-bottom profilers (a coastal and deep water parametric system)
• magnetometers
• towed underwater video systems - including a deep water camera and coastal system
• dual frequency sidescan (to 2000m depth)
• rock dredges
• grab samplers including mini van der Veen and Shipek grabs
• gravity and piston corers
• vibrocorers
• underwater rotary drill
• fluorometers
• benthic chambers (including fully automated ones)
• current profilers
• velocimeters
• laser particle size analyser (for suspended sediments)

The Field and Engineering Support unit is committed to providing high quality equipment and experienced personnel for marine science investigations. This is a basic requirement for world-class research and the successful ongoing management of Australia's vast marine jurisdiction.