1) The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center is mapping benthic habitats around 55 islands and atolls in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands using multibeam sonar and optical groundtruthing to characterize coral reef ecosystems. 2) From 2002-2007, multibeam mapping was conducted around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Main Hawaiian Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Pacific Remote Island Areas. 3) In 2008-2009, priority areas for additional mapping include French Frigate Shoals and Pearl and Hermes Reef in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to fill gaps in existing data.

1. Benthic Habitat Mapping
1
In the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands
U.S.-Affiliated
* Tide Gauges
* (18)
***
*
Wake Island **
* (24) Pacific Remote
Island Areas
(PRIA) (7)
*
*
* (6)
Monitoring & Mapping ~55 Island/Atoll Ecosystems
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center – Coral Reef Ecosystem Division

2. 2
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Goal
Produce comprehensive digital
maps of all shallow (<30m)
coral reef ecosystems in the
United States and characterize
priority moderate-depth reef
systems by 2009.

3. 3 PIFSC/CRED Benthic Habitat
Mapping Methods
IKONOS Imagery
IKONOS Imagery Multibeam Surveys
Optical Groundtruthing –
Optical Groundtruthing – Optical Groundtruthing
Optical Groundtruthing
ROV, TOAD, AUV
ROV, TOAD, AUV Towed Diver Surveys
Towed Diver Surveys

4. 4 NOAA CRED and PIBHMC
Multibeam Mapping Results (2002-2007)
(2002-2007)
R/V AHI
Reson 8101ER
(240 kHz)
NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai
EM300 (30 kHz)
EM3002 (300 kHz)
Moderate Depth Deep Coverage
Area Years 15-200 m (km2) % Covered > 200m ( km2)
NWHI 2002-2006 3,338/12,167 28% 38,367
MHI 2005-2006 3,018/5,430 95% n/a
CNMI/Guam 2003, 2007 400/464 86% 12,695
Am. Samoa 2004, 2006 410/410 100% 975
PRIA 2006 100/121 82% 4,300
7266/18592 39% 56,708

5. 5 PIFSC-CRED Mapping in American Samoa – 2004 & 2006
Tutuila Ofu and Olosega
Ta′u
Rose
Atoll
Swains
Island

6. 6 MHI Data Synthesis
PIFSC/CRED and Univ. of Hawaii
Shallow (15-300 m)
Shallow (15-300 m) Unmapped areas include
high resolution
high resolution harbor surveys and gaps
NOAA surveys
NOAA surveys between LIDAR and
2005-2006:
2005-2006: multibeam bathymetry
Ni′ihau, Kohala,
Ni′ihau, Kohala, Ni′ihau
Penguin Bank,
Penguin Bank, N. Shore
N. Shore Moloka′i
N. Shore Moloka′i Moloka′i
Kohala
Penguin Big Island
Bank
50-m grid available at http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/hmrg/Multibeam/explorer.php
50- grid available at http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/hmrg/Multibeam/explorer.php
50-m http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/hmrg/Multibeam/explorer.php

7. 7
PIFSC/CRED
Multibeam Data Collected
in NWHI 2002-2006
Gaps include ~ 9,000 km2 of banktop
(15-100 m) areas and most of the deep water
(15-
seafloor (> 100 m) within the boundaries of the
Papahā naumokuā
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

8. 8 Multibeam Data Collected in CNMI and Guam: 2003-2007
Maug Pagan
Saipan, Tinian
and Rota Harbors
surveyed to
IHO standards in
2007 using R/V AHI Guam
in collaboration
with OCS,
U.S. Navy and
CNMI Port
Authority.
Tinian
Aguijan
Areas that still need multibeam
Areas that still need multibeam
surveys are circled in black
surveys are circled in black

9. Bathymetry
Bathymetry
9 gaps
gaps
Baker Jarvis
Pacific Remote
Pacific Remote
Island Areas
Island Areas
2006
2006

10. 10 PIFSC-CRED Multibeam Mapping
PIFSC-CRED
at Wake Island -- 2007

11. 11 Bathymetric Mapping Completion
• Many areas completely mapped in 20-1000 m.
20-1000
• Guam, Rota, and Aguijan 15-300 m ~ 1 month
15-300
• Kingman & Johnston 15-50 m ~ 1 week
15-50
• MHI
– Harbor surveys using R/V AHI are currently under
discussion with NOAA Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
– Areas between LIDAR and deeper multibeam
coverage could be mapped with R/V AHI ~ 3-6 mos.
3-6
Need mandate and support from other mgmt. groups.
• NWHI
– ~9,000 km2 of bank tops (15-100 m) remain
2 (15-100
~ 10-20 years at 15-30 days/yr.
10-20 15-30
– Deep (> 100 m) mapping in MNM ~ 2 mos.
• LIDAR could be used in most areas in < 30 m

12. 12 Key Mapping •
• Pacific Consortium of Undersea
Pacific Consortium of Undersea
Habitat Centers (proposed)
Habitat Centers (proposed)
Partnerships •
• CNMI and Guam
CNMI and Guam
–
– U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy
–
– NOAA Office of Coast Survey
NOAA Office of Coast Survey
–
– CNMI Port Authority
CNMI Port Authority
–
– National Park Service
National Park Service
–
– U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Geological Survey
–
– Guam Fisherman’s Co-op
Guam Fisherman’ Co-
Fisherman’s Co-op
–
– University of Guam
University of Guam
•
• Hawaiian Archipelago
Hawaiian Archipelago
–
– Papahānaumokuā
Papahānaumokuākea MNM
Papahānaumokuākea MNM
–
– Div. of Land & Natural Resources
Div. of Land & Natural Resources
–
– U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
–
– University of Hawaii – HMRG, HURL
University of Hawaii – HMRG, HURL
–
– NOAA Office of Coast Survey
NOAA Office of Coast Survey
–
– NOAA Pacific Services Center
NOAA Pacific Services Center
•
• American Samoa
American Samoa
– National Park Service
– National Park Service
– NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
– NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
•
• PRIA
PRIA
– U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
– U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Saipan Anchorage Habitat
– U.S. Air Force
– U.S. Air Force
Survey for U.S. Navy in 2004

13. 2008 - 2009 Mapping Priorities and Acitivities
13 Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED)
30-day April/May cruise aboard Hi’ialakai using 25’ R/V AHI survey launch is the only
30-day April/May cruise aboard Hi’ialakai using 25’ R/V AHI survey launch is the only
scheduled mapping cruise in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
scheduled mapping cruise in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
(PMNM) in three field seasons (2007-2009). Multibeam and optical validation data
(PMNM) in three field seasons (2007-2009). Multibeam and optical validation data
will be collected at French Frigate Shoals and Pearl and Hermes Reef as first priority.
will be collected at French Frigate Shoals and Pearl and Hermes Reef as first priority.
If time allows, surveys may also be done at St. Rogatien bank or Nihoa Island.
If time allows, surveys may also be done at St. Rogatien bank or Nihoa Island.

14. 14 French Frigate Shoals
Existing Multibeam, IKONOS, and Optical Validation Data
Yellow circles indicate
areas scheduled for
multibeam mapping
on May 2008 cruise.
Optical validation data
will also be collected.

15. Pearl and Hermes Reef
Existing Multibeam, IKONOS, and Optical Validation Data
Yellow circles indicate
15 areas scheduled for
multibeam mapping
on May 2008 cruise.
Optical validation data
will also be collected.
collected.

16. IKONOS or Land Sat Imagery
A Layered
Multibeam Bathymetry GIS Approach
& Estimated Depths
Multibeam
to Benthic
Backscatter Habitat Mapping
Slope
Rugosity
Bathymetric
Appropriate Position Index
layers used for
supervised and
unsupervised Integrated
classifications: Arc GIS
e.g. hard/soft
Projects
Optical Data
and Linked
Positions
16

17. 17 Multibeam Data Products,
Standards and Issues
•
• Data collected using standard hydrographic techniques and equipment with
Data collected using standard hydrographic techniques and equipment with
documented calibrations
documented calibrations
–
– Few tide stations
Few tide stations
–
– No DGPS in most areas until 2007 (NavCom)
No DGPS in most areas until 2007 (NavCom)
(NavCom)
–
– Much more (10-20 x) expensive to collect all data to IHO standards because of
Much more (10-
(10-20 x) expensive to collect all data to IHO standards because of
bottom coverage requirements and documentation required to meet IHO standards
bottom coverage requirements and documentation required to meet IHO standards
•
• Multibeam swath data in generic sensor format submitted to NGDC within one
Multibeam swath data in generic sensor format submitted to NGDC within one
year of collection
year of collection
– Request from State of Hawaii to not make Main Hawaiian Island data in 100-500 m
– Request from State of Hawaii to not make Main Hawaiian Island data in 100-
data 100-500 m
depths available to public because of Essential Fish Habitat concerns
depths available to public because of Essential Fish Habitat concerns
concerns
– Metadata creation very time consuming and as yet no “standard” for multibeam
standard”
– Metadata creation very time consuming and as yet no “standard” for multibeam
format – this needs to be automated
format – this needs to be automated
– Much of data is in areas with pre-WWII soundings, but is not being or will not be
– Much of data is in areas with pre-
pre-WWII soundings, but is not being or will not be
used for nautical chart updates
used for nautical chart updates
•
• Gridded bathymetric and backscatter data products (with metadata) available
Gridded bathymetric and backscatter data products (with metadata) available
on web at www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc within one year
on web at www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc within one year
– Metadata produced for all products, time consuming & needs automation
– Metadata produced for all products, time consuming & needs automation
automation
– Metadata sent to Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS) site
– Metadata sent to Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS) site
(CoRIS)

18. 18
Moderate Depth Optical Data
• Existing coverage is limited
• Need much more data
• Data collection
–
– Time consuming
Time consuming
–
– Inaccurate positioning
Inaccurate positioning
–
– Difficult in rugged coral areas
Difficult in rugged coral areas
–
– Need to use more sophisticated
Need to use more sophisticated
technique (e.g., terrain-
technique (e.g., terrain-
following AUV)
following AUV)
• Data processing
– Interpretation techniques
– Interpretation techniques
– Integration with other data
– Integration with other data
compromised because of
compromised because of
positioning issues
positioning issues
– Metadata, no standards
– Metadata, no standards
– Time intensive, automation?
– Time intensive, automation?

19. 19 Habitat Mapping Challenges
Shallow water habitats (<~15 m)
Need bathymetry and backscatter
LIDAR works well, but not accessible in remote areas
Moderate depth habitats (~15 – 400 m)
Very sparse biological cover information
Terrain-following AUV for optical validation needed
Terrain-following
Integration of shallow and deep mapping
Shallow maps based on optical imagery, lack structure
Moderate maps based on acoustic mapping, lack biology
Need seamless mapping products
Need Habitat Utilization Maps
Which organisms utilize which habitats