fc6b9b66-132a-4091-9775-45528a16f0e5 eng dataset Digital and Data Solutions, JNCC data@jncc.gov.uk pointOfContact 2018-06-14 West Hebrides Biotope Mapping Project 2005-04-30 2005-04-30 fc6b9b66-132a-4091-9775-45528a16f0e5 This project attempts to map the broadscale biotopes and habitats of the rocky reef sites west of the Outer Hebrides through integrating multibeam echosounder data, acoustic ground discrimination system (AGDS) data, underwater video/camera surveys and grab data, facilitated through the use of GIS. Where possible, biotopes have been resolved and classified using the National Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland (Connor et al., 2004). Additional information source: Mitchell, A. 2009 Broadscale Subtidal Biotope Mapping to the West of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK (JNCC Report No 424) http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/jncc424_web.pdf Digital and Data Solutions, JNCC data@jncc.gov.uk originator Marine Seabed Habitats and Geology GB000443 Corpulent MNCR OF965;OF890; OF891; OF971 Show on webGIS Nature Conservation AGDS Drop camera Grabs Multibeam echo sounder Towed video Available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 otherRestrictions None eng biota -8.335659 -7.533115 56.48725 57.59333 2005-01-01 2005-04-30 Mitchell, A. 2009 Broadscale Subtidal Biotope Mapping to the West of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK (JNCC Report No 424) http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/jncc424_web.pdf Geospatial (vector polygon) Unknown http://data.jncc.gov.uk/data/fc6b9b66-132a-4091-9775-45528a16f0e5-GB000443.zip GB000443.zip Multibeam echosounder (MBES) datasets were collected using a Reson SeaBat 8101 multibeam system and Backscatter data were processed using CARIS SIPS for production of the UTM–projected data mosaic images at 1m resolution. Ground-truthing information was gathered at Barra Sites 1, 2, 3 and 5 by Matthew Service (DARDNI), James Strong (QUB) and Caroline Turnbull (JNCC) during the July 2004 RV Lough Foyle cruise and for the SW Barra site by Adam Mellor (QUB) during the November 2004 RV Aora cruise. The final habitat maps (shapefiles) were developed by combining the interpretation of each of the input datasets. Throughout this process, the following assumption was made: Where a habitat or biotope identified from ground-truthing occurs consistently upon similar topographic regions (eg depth, slope, rugosity), and upon a similar substrate (as shown from the topographic images combined with backscatter information and AGDS data), an area surrounding the ground-truthing site with similar properties can be considered to be the same habitat or biotope. However, extrapolation of such interpretations to areas far from any ground-truthing was not undertaken due to lack of knowledge of habitat heterogeneity and distinctiveness of each acoustic ‘signature’ (topography and substrate) for the habitat/biotopes. Habitat areas were delineated by hand within the GIS environment to create a series of non-overlapping polygons, each of which was given the relevant biotope/habitat code and description.