EcoRRAP Habitat Complexity Metrics

The current habitat complexity metrics are extracted from 3D digital surface models (DSMs) of benthic communities at EcoRRAP study sites. DSMs are generated from raw imagery collected by divers (see SOP: AIMS_EcoRRAP_SOP14_V1_FIeld-Photogrammetry4D_Overview-infield-workflow_2024Update.pdf) and processed using photogrammetry software Agisoft Metashape (see SOP: AIMS_EcoRRAP_SOP16_V1_Field-Photogrammetry4D_3D-Model-Processing_2023_06.2025.pdf) and are available here: EcoRRAP Digital Surface Models - AIMS. Habitat complexity metrics are extracted from DSMs using 'metricsCalc' and 'complexitymetrics' tools developed by Ryan Krensel, Mitch Bryson and Will Figueira from the University of Sydney. A total of 38 habitat complexity metrics are generated for each DSM and include 2D and 3D measurements of model surface area, volume, rugosity, and a range of other structure metrics. Metric definitions are provided in the attached metadata documents.