3D map of Western Isles seabed being created 20/5/14
An underwater survey to create a 3D map of the seabed around the Western Isles and west coast is underway.
Marine ecologists and oceanography experts from the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA) have embarked on a four-
Data and samples
will be collected from the sea floor to gauge the health and ecological condition
of coastal waters.
Scanning technology aboard SEPA’s survey vessel, Sir John Murray, will also be used
to create high quality 3D maps of the various habitats and physical features found
on the seabed, the first work of its kind to be carried out by SEPA.
A newly built
high definition underwater camera system for environmental monitoring will be put
into action to capture video footage of the seabed and underwater habitats. The system
was custom built by Marine Science Scotland and Scottish National Heritage specifically
for use on SEPA’s survey vessel.
David Ross, senior scientist from SEPA, said: “The
survey is an exciting opportunity to really broaden our scientific knowledge of these
coastal environments. We take what we can see in the world around us for granted,
however until now, getting maps and broad-
“Application of this cutting edge mapping technology
means that SEPA can now easily and affordably collect data to model how the environment
operates at a broad scale, as well as giving us detailed habitat maps of what lives
on the seabed. Using this data, we can better balance people’s desire to use Scotland’s
coastal resources, with protection of these delicate ecosystems.
“The type of multidisciplinary
and multi-
The first two weeks of the survey will see the Sir John Murray operating
in Loch Linnhe and Loch Tuath, in Argyll, with the second half of the survey carrying
out mapping and sampling work in Skye and the Western Isles.