Vieques, Puerto Rico Benthic Habitat Map - Ground Validation Sites

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Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Vieques, Puerto Rico Benthic Habitat Map - Ground Validation Sites
Abstract:
Benthic habitat maps of the nearshore marine environment of Vieques, Puerto Rico were created by visual interpretation of remotely sensed imagery. The objective of this effort, conducted by NOAA's Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment - Biogeography Branch in partnership with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, was to provide spatially-explicit information on the habitat types, biological cover and live coral cover of Vieques' coral reef ecosystem. The data described herein represent ground validation (GV) sites explored by NOAA field scientists to further refine habitat map classification.
Supplemental_Information:
The creation of high-quality benthic habitat maps required extensive field work to enhance accuracies of habitat attribution and, to a lesser degree, habitat delineation. Data were collected on 137 ground validation sites over a two-week field mission from October 7-13, 2008 aboard a small research vessel.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Laurie Bauer, NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch, 2010, Vieques, Puerto Rico Benthic Habitat Map - Ground Validation Sites: NOAA's Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Silver Spring, MD.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Please use citation for the written document "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" when using these data.
    This is part of the following larger work.

    Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Program, 2010, Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD.

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Bauer, L.J., M.S. Kendall, A.G. Zitello, and T. Battista. 2010. Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico. pp. 9-46. In: Bauer and Kendall (eds.), An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico Part II: Field Studies of Habitats, Nutrients, Contaminants, Fish, and Benthic Communities. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 110. Silver Spring, MD. 174 pp.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.627695
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.338752
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.196053
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.067873
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 07-Oct-2008
    Ending_Date: 13-Oct-2008
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Entity Point (137)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 20
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -63.000000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
      False_Easting: 500000.000000
      False_Northing: 0.000000
      Planar coordinates are encoded using Coordinate Pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000001
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000001
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters
      The horizontal datum used is WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Vieques Ground Validation Sites
    Shapefile attribute table (Source: None)
    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI) Coordinates defining the features.
    Site_ID
    Unique identifier for each ground validation site (Source: None)
    Formal codeset
    Codeset Name:Arbitrarily defined unique code
    Codeset Source:Specific to this field mission
    Date_
    Date of site visit and data collection (Source: None)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2008 October 7
    Maximum:2008 October 13
    Time
    Time of site visit and data collection (Source: None)
    Range of values
    Minimum:06:00:00am
    Maximum:06:00:00pm
    Type
    Purpose of data collection (Source: None)
    ValueDefinition
    GVGround Validation
    Assessment
    Method used to obtain habitat characterization information (Source: None)
    ValueDefinition
    Drop CameraSeaViewer Sea-Drop 950 underwater camera
    SnorkelNOAA scientist visually characterized habitat by free diving or surface swimming with a mask and snorkel
    OtherAny other assessment technique, including inspection from the vessel deck with a "look bucket" or binoculars
    Maj_Struct
    Major Geomorphological Structure (Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010)) Unknown
    Det_Struct
    Detailed Geomorphological Structure (Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010)) Unknown
    Maj_Cover
    Major Biological Cover (Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010)) Unknown
    P_Maj_Cov
    Percent Patchiness of Major Biological Cover (Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010)) Unknown
    P_Coral_Cv
    Percent Cover of Live Coral (Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010)) Unknown
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Specific details of the attributes and values therein can be found in "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010)
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    Bauer, L.J., M.S. Kendall, A.G. Zitello, and T. Battista. 2010. Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico. pp. 9-46. In: Bauer and Kendall (eds.), An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico Part II: Field Studies of Habitats, Nutrients, Contaminants, Fish, and Benthic Communities. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 110. Silver Spring, MD. 174 pp.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Laurie J. Bauer
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
    Marine Ecologist/Primary Map Creator
    1305 East West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD

    301-713-3028 (voice)
    301-713-4384 (FAX)
    laurie.bauer@noaa.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of this survey data was to investigate areas of imagery where uncertainties existed on the photo interpreter's behalf during the decision making process of benthic habitat classification in Vieques. This information was incorporated into a fine-scale assessment of the status, abundance, and distribution of marine habitats of Vieques. The NOAA effort provides resource managers with increased technical capacity for ocean exploration, management, and stewardship. Direct implications to management measures include evaluation of management efficacy, a spatial framework for improved monitoring sampling design, improved assessment of human-use impacts, and marine spatial planning to support alternative marine protected area boundary alternatives.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Trimble SSF files (source 1 of 1)
    NOAA, 2008, GPS Data.

    Type_of_Source_Media: GPS data
    Source_Contribution:
    GPS data, which were originally recorded as code-phase signals in Trimble SSF format, were differentially post-processed to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (VITH).
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2008 (process 1 of 4)
    A first draft benthic habitat map was generated by delineating all features that could be identified by visual inspection of the remotely sensed imagery. During the creation of this first draft, the interpreter placed discrete points on the map that were difficult to distinguish and that warranted further field investigation. These sites were labeled as "ground validation" (GV) positions. Person who carried out this activity:
    Laurie J. Bauer
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
    Marine Ecologist/Primary Map Creator
    1305 East West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD

    301-713-3028 (voice)
    301-713-4384 (FAX)
    laurie.bauer@noaa.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST
    Date: 2008 (process 2 of 4)
    NOAA field scientists explored the ground validation locations with a suite of assessment techniques depending on the conditions at each site. A combination of underwater video (primary method), free diving, snorkeling and surface observations were used to survey the ecological characteristics at each location. At the start of every morning, the boat captain selected a general region to begin the day's work. Navigating to field locations was accomplished using a Garmin GPS 76 device with the uploaded GV site coordinates. The boat captain maneuvered the vessel to within 5 m of the target location and made every effort to maintain that location without jeopardizing crew and equipment safety. Once on site, NOAA scientists would simultaneously deploy a SeaViewer Sea-Drop 950 camera and begin logging a waypoint on a Trimble GeoXT GPS receiver.While the video camera was capturing bottom imagery, an observer viewed the video real-time on a Panasonic Toughbook aboard the survey vessel. They categorized each site according to the levels of the habitat classification scheme: major and detailed geomorphological structure, major biological cover, percent major biological cover and percent coral cover. Data was entered into a custom data dictionary generated in Trimble Pathfinder Office software and loaded onto the Trimble data logger. Person who carried out this activity:
    Laurie J. Bauer
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
    Marine Ecologist/Primary Map Creator
    1305 East West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD

    301-713-3028 (voice)
    301-713-4384 (FAX)
    laurie.bauer@noaa.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST
    Date: 2008 (process 3 of 4)
    Trimble Pathfinder Office software was used to post process and differentially correct the raw GPS data to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (VITH). Person who carried out this activity:
    Tim Battista
    NOAA National Ocean Service
    Researcher
    1305 East West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD
    USA

    (301) 713-3028 x171 (voice)
    (301) 713-4388 (FAX)
    Tim.Battista@noaa.gov
    Date: Unknown (process 4 of 4)
    Precisely positioned GPS positions and its associated classification data were viewed in a GIS to enhance the accuracy of the draft benthic habitat map. Polygon boundaries and habitat classifications were revised where field data necessitated changes. Person who carried out this activity:
    Laurie J. Bauer
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
    Marine Ecologist/Primary Map Creator
    1305 East West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD

    301-713-3028 (voice)
    301-713-4384 (FAX)
    laurie.bauer@noaa.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The points in this thematic data layer were acquired by GPS data using a Trimble GeoXT receiver with a customized data dictionary designed to reflect the habitat classification scheme described in "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010). All habitat determinations were made in the field by trained NOAA scientists, recorded in the GPS data logger and seamlessly transferred to ArcGIS shapefiles using Trimble Pathfinder Office software. Attributes are all expected to be correct.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The true positional accuracy of individual epics was determined to be within 1 m for 96% of the logged points. For each survey site, individual epics were averaged to generate a mean GPS point for each location.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    137 field positions were occupied and habitat characterizations were conducted for ground validation during this work. These data were included in the mapping dataset as a GIS layer and the draft habitat map was edited based on this ground condition. All areas where uncertainty existed on the part of the photo interpreter during habitat delineation were investigated in the field. All data were collected and integrated into the mapped products as planned.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Data points with accompanying attribute information were collected with mapping-grade GPS receivers. The data were post processed for differential correction to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (VITH). Site information was recorded in the field both in a data dictionary within the GPS receiver and on waterproof field sheets. A comparison between soft and hard copy data records were completed to ensure attribute collection consistency.

    Furthermore, underwater video was recorded at each site to maintain a record of habitat condition. This video was reviewed by NOAA staff in the office to ensure correct habitat attribution was made in the field.

    All errors were identified through these quality assurance techniques and corrected. This file is believed to be logically consistent.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: Not for navigation.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Program
    1305 East West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD

    301-713-3028 (voice)
    301-713-4384 (FAX)
    laurie.bauer@noaa.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) is publishing this data on their website. NCCOS Biogeography Branch does not guarantee the accuracy of the geographic features or attributes. Please see the written report and metadata records for each data set for complete information on the source, limitations, and proper use.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. Is there some other way to get the data?
    Contact NOAA for distribution options (see Distributor).

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 29-Mar-2020
Last Reviewed: 22-Jun-2010
Metadata author:
Laurie J. Bauer
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
Marine Ecologist/Primary Map Creator
1305 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD

301-713-3028 (voice)
301-713-4384 (FAX)
laurie.bauer@noaa.gov
Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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