Semi-automated mapping and characterisation of coral reef mounds : Mingulay Reef proof of concept

This report describes a new approach to map coral reef mounds. The study area used for this mapping exercise is located approximately 13 km east of the island of Mingulay (56°50′N, 7°30′W) and is known as the Mingulay Reef Complex. The approach adopted consists on the combination of the Bathymetric Position Index tool for habitat mapping and the semi-automated mapping method developed initially to map pockmarks at seabed. During this exercise, 354 coral reefs were successfully mapped. The results of this test-of-concept supported the creation of a customised tool for semi-automated mapping of cold-water coral reefs, to derive coral mound attributes from multibeam datasets without interpreter bias.