Bangor University School of Ocean Science (SOS) / Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Sidescan Data Collation and Archiving Project

Acoustic survey data for Welsh waters is collected by a variety of different organisations including Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the Bangor University School of Ocean Sciences (SOS).


The survey location encompasses the Irish Sea, including Liverpool Bay, Isle of Man and Northern Irish coast.


The majority of data collected from January 1998 onwards is stored in disk format at SOS, and requires a specialised disk reader to be used. In order to make these data more accessible to SOS, CCW and subsequently Natural Resources Wales (NRW), this project was carried out in two parts. The first part translated all the data into a new digital format and also produced GeoTiff images in both low and high resolution. The second part catalogued all the data available in a spreadsheet and mapped it spatially into a GIS based spatial index for easy visualisation and query. The data is now more readily available for use on projects such as for marine monitoring work or habitat mapping. This will give staff an easy to use spatial index of data available to them, as well as additional information such as linked student dissertations or other projects.


Please see the limitations on public access and use constraints section for further information on this dataset.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS115254
Alternative Title
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

Raw sidescan data in CM800 format converted into CM2 format using a data converter, then into Q'mips (.dat) format using MaxView software. Some manual adjustment of brightness and smoothing of navigation data was required as and when necessary in order to result in a suitable output. Geotiff files were then created using the Octopus 461 sidescan processing toolkit. These were then opened in MapInfo GIS and digitised around the boundaries of the data area to produce a polygon layer of data coverage. Additional notes were made from personal communication with Dr Jim Bennell, and from dissertation projects stored at SOS.


Source data collected by CCW and Bangor University School Of Ocean Sciences. The data was collated and indexed between May 2010 and January 2012. All data has been collected by experienced sidescan operators and is accompanied by a navigation data file for spatial referencing. Layback has been applied where the information exists for greater accuracy. Data where problems occur have been noted in the accompanying spreadsheet.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2013-03-31
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Owner
  University of Wales, Bangor. School of Ocean Sciences -
Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG
http://www.bangor.ac.uk
Originator
  Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) -
Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG
http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/
Originator
  University of Wales, Bangor. School of Ocean Sciences -
Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW
http://www.bangor.ac.uk
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
Celtic Sea
Geographic Extent
Irish Sea
Geographic Extent
Liverpool Bay
Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword
soil and sediment boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Geographic Information System ( Unknown )

    Specification

    [A] Report in pdf and work format (in ffynnon) DCT-13-071477 [B] Index file ESRI Feature Class [C] Sidescan tiles as GeoTiff [D] Raw data as Q'mips(.dat), .qpx, .CM2

 

Quality

Data quality

Quality Scope
Dataset
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation

This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree
false
Lineage

Raw sidescan data in CM800 format converted into CM2 format using a data converter, then into Q'mips (.dat) format using MaxView software. Some manual adjustment of brightness and smoothing of navigation data was required as and when necessary in order to result in a suitable output. Geotiff files were then created using the Octopus 461 sidescan processing toolkit. These were then opened in MapInfo GIS and digitised around the boundaries of the data area to produce a polygon layer of data coverage. Additional notes were made from personal communication with Dr Jim Bennell, and from dissertation projects stored at SOS.


Source data collected by CCW and Bangor University School Of Ocean Sciences. The data was collated and indexed between May 2010 and January 2012. All data has been collected by experienced sidescan operators and is accompanied by a navigation data file for spatial referencing. Layback has been applied where the information exists for greater accuracy. Data where problems occur have been noted in the accompanying spreadsheet.
 

Keywords

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • acoustic remote sensing
  • Irish Sea
  • indexes
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2025-01-08
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2024-06-19
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Keywords

IPSV Subjects List
  • Archives
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2020-11-18
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
Latitude and Longitude (EPSG::4326)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

CCW / Bangor University school of ocean sciences (SOS) side scan data collation and archiving project
 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

Side-scan Sonar Raw data and tiles: This data is comprised of a mixture of third party, Bangor University, owned records and NRW records. NRW may only disseminate the data that they own. NRW does NOT grant permission to third parties to re-use or disseminate any of the raw data or tiles that are owned by Bangor University. Side-scan Sonar Index: There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
 

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

Side-scan Sonar Raw data and tiles: © CNC/NRW and © Bangor University. NRW may only disseminate the data that they own. NRW does NOT grant permission to third parties to re-use or disseminate any of the raw data or tiles that are owned by Bangor University. Those seeking such permission should approach the originator directly. Side-scan sonar index: © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. © Bangor University
 

Licence

Other constraints
NRW Conditional
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313135323534 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T16:20:38.719Z
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

Access the portal