Cameron Buchanan
Bathymetry and Multi-beam data manager

Cameron work for the Marine and Petroleum Division, Geoscience Australia.

Cameron joined the Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) in 1991 as seismic observer on the RV Rig Seismic. BMR was renamed the Australian Geological Survey Organisation in 1994 and in 2003 it merged with National Mapping to form Geoscience Australia.

In the early 90s Cameron started compiling multibeam data from international science vessels operating in Australian waters. He1s been involved with many surveys, including French surveys of the Diamantina fracture zone off WA, the deepest waters of Australia.

Cameron is based in Canberra and when he1s not at sea he is involved with making computer models of the bathymetry (depth measurement) around Australia. He also manages data collected by approximately 20 multibeam vessels.

Since the Marine National Facility was fitted with the EM300 Multibeam System (Swath Mapper), Cameron has been to sea a great deal. Together with a team from GA, he supports the Swath Mapper and helps process the data collected. This reflects Geoscience Australia's commitment to the Marine National Facility.

To illustrate where we've come from with multibeam mapping, Cameron highlights the book 'The Silent Landscape' by Richard Corfield. In the 1872 expedition
of the HMS Challenger, 'The Scientifics' as the scientists were known, undertook the first seabed mapping exercise. They plumbed the depths using 4000 meters of piano wire weighted with lead. Those aboard also took samples with towed dredges similar to those used on the RV Southern Surveyor today.

Our mapping, however, has changed a great deal.

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Updated: 29/03/07