GMRT-AusSeabed PL-019 User Needs Survey Summary: Setting User Requirements

The GMRT-AusSeabed project aims to address the cost associated with processing, merging and reformatting of bathymetric data in marine modelling and management. This will be achieved by adopting and expanding the Global Multi-Resolution Topography Synthesis (GMRT) tool and becoming a local platform node focused on Australia’s region of marine responsibility. The GMRT is operated by Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory and funded by the US National Science Foundation. The implementation of GMRT for Australia is supported by funding from the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC).
One of the main deliverables for the project is a user needs analysis, which will inform the design of the platform. This report presents a summary of the outcomes of the engagement with the ocean and coastal modelling community to ensure the solutions are fit-for-purpose. The initial project plan included a proposal for in-person workshop with the modelling community to establish user requirements, however COVID-19 restrictions were in place during the project and this was not possible. Instead, requirements were gathered from the community via an online survey. An overview of the survey questions and responses is presented in Section 2, while Section 3 provides some further analysis of the results and recommendations for the design of the new platform.